[Follow-up study of non-neoplastic Cushing's syndrome followed by paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome after removal of a malignant pulmonary tumor. Role of the diffuse endocrine system and APUD (amine precursor uptake decarboxylase) cells].

A 27 year old woman had in 1965, a paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome was cured by removal of a pulmonary tumour. The case was published in June 1968. After a normal pregnancy, a recurrence of the Cushing's syndrome in 1969 led in 1970 to bilateral total adrenalectomy in two stages. Pathology showed hyperplastic adrenal glands. After 11 years follow up, we have not noted any relapse of the tumour nor of the Cushing's syndrome. The pathological appearance of the lung carcinoma removed in 1965 (endocrinoid or neuroid structures) suggests that this was an "apudoma" and that the recurrence of the Cushing's syndrome was perhaps an "apudomatosis" involving the pituitary ACTH cells.