Vertebral growth arrest lines after Cushing's syndrome. A case report.

An advanced case of Cushing's disease developing in a boy during adolescence is cured by bilateral adrenalectomy at the ages of 18 and 21 years. There is complete restitution of the previous osteoporosis. Due to appositional growth also the codfish deformity of the vertebral bodies shows an almost complete reversibility. The indented vertebral plates with their marginal condensation remain visible permanently as growth arrest lines. The long tubular bones of the extremities were not involved by Cushing's disease and showed normal development without appearance of growth arrest lines.