But too much cortisol can alter the normal function of these processes, resulting in the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome. Cushing's syndrome is fairly rare. For every one million people, 2-5 new cases are diagnosed each year, with about 10 percent of these being children and teenagers. Too much cortisol is produced when the pituitary and adrenal glands are not working properly. This, in turn, prompts the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol.
Doctors review the patient's medical records and do a physical exam.
If these suggest Cushing's syndrome, more tests are done. A urine test measures how much cortisol is being produced. If the level indicates Cushing's syndrome, the doctor will order other tests to discover the cause. The dexamethasone suppression test involves taking a man-made cortisol by mouth for several days during which time cortisol levels in the blood and urine are measured. If Cushing's syndrome is the result of taking hormones as treatment for another disease, the doctor will adjust the dosage.