SOMATOSTATIN-RECEPTOR-NEGATIVE CARCINOID-TUMOR RESPONSIBLE FOR CUSHINGS-SYNDROME

A 30-year-old man presenting with Gushing's syndrome was admitted in 1 995. A diagnosis of ectopically ACTH-secreting, primary-unknown abdomi nal carcinoid tumour was made. The patient's plasma ACTH and cortisol levels failed to decrease after short-term treatment with octreotide, and somatostatin-receptor scintigraphy did not shea any accumulation i n the tumour. The patient died 1 year after admission. This is a relat ively rare somatostatin-receptor-negative case of this disease and it appears necessary to test for the presence of somatostatin receptors b efore treating with octreotide.