Adrenal Disorders USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 35 year old woman presents with weight gain, proximal muscle weakness, easy bruising, and irregular menses. Her 24 hour urinary free cortisol is elevated. Low dose dexamethasone fails to suppress cortisol, but high dose dexamethasone causes a marked decrease in cortisol production. Which of the following is the most likely source of her hypercortisolism?
Answer choices
- AAdrenal cortical adenoma
- BAdrenal cortical carcinoma
- CEctopic ACTH secretion from small cell carcinoma
- DPituitary corticotroph adenomaCorrect answer
- EExogenous glucocorticoid use
- FEctopic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) secretion from a bronchial carcinoid tumor
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