Treatments For Cushing's Syndrome

Radiation Therapy

If surgical methods are not an option for treatment or have been previously unsuccessful, doctors may recommend radiation therapy to shrink the tumor. This type of treatment takes time to resolve Cushing's syndrome. However, Gamma Knife radiation may typically be administered to the patient during one session, because the tumor is non-cancerous.

Patients pursuing this treatment route may also need to take additional hormones after treatment, depending on its success. Even if a patient has no detectable tumor, this radiation may be focused directly on the whole pituitary gland to adequately treat the patient's Cushing's syndrome. If neither surgical methods nor radiation is an option or is deemed unnecessary, medications are available to reduce a patient's overall cortisol levels.