Recurrence after a surgically induced remission.

In December 1976, an 18-year-old woman had symptoms typical of Cushing's syndrome. Laboratory evaluations and roentgenograms documented pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease in a patient with a pituitary microadenoma. In May 1977, she underwent transsphenoidal pituitary exploration. A 2-mm pituitary microadenoma was removed. The patient improved, and laboratory evaluation documented remission of the disease. In June 1978, she again complained of symptoms compatible with Cushing's disease. Laboratory evaluation confirmed a pituitary-dependent hypercortisonism. This case report marks the first recurrence of Cushing's disease in a patient previously cured by transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary tumor.