Adrenal Weight-Maintaining Corticotropin in Carcinoma of Lung

Abstract

In two cases of carcinoma of the lung without Cushing's syndrome but with bilateral adrenal cortical hypertrophy, the tumor was found to be devoid of corticotropin with corticosteroid-releasing capacity. Both tumors, however, had an extractable "corticotropin-like material" with adrenal weight-maintaining capacity. These findings, suggesting two different kinds of corticotropin, may explain the bilateral cortical hypertrophy not infrequently found in patients with tumors but without Cushing's syndrome.