Nelson syndrome is more common in women than men. There is no medical treatment that will help to shrink the microadenoma, but drug therapy may assist in alleviating the symptoms caused by a high ACTH.
Nelson’s syndrome is a rare condition. Nelson syndrome is a disorder characterized by abnormal hormone secretion, extension of the pituitary gland (hypophysis), and the development of big and invasive growths known as adenomas. It occurs in an evaluated 15 to 25 percent of people who undergo surgical removal of the adrenal glands for Cushing disease. In Cushing’s disease, blood cortisol is elevated due to excessive secretion of the hormone ACTH by a pituitary adenoma. ACTH signals the adrenal gland to produce cortisol. The hormone ACTH, in excessive amounts, can stimulate pigment production in the skin.