Visual diagnosis: Obese 11-month-old female with round facies

Cushing syndrome (CS) is a constellation of findings caused by an excess of cortisol. The most common cause of CS is exogenous corticosteroid administration. Cushing disease is hypercortisolemia specifically due to excess corticotropin production by the pituitary gland. Cessation of linear growth is nearly always present in CS, whereas children who have other causes of obesity usually have normal or advanced progression of height. Diagnostic approaches include determination of likely causes by patient age and determining whether the disorder is corticotropin-dependent. Prognosis and treatment are dependent on the cause of CS.