Abdominal Striae
Atrophic linear bands of skin, with a tendency to occuring the abdomen. Unlike the striae in simple obesity, the striae of Cushing’s syndrome are thicker (> 1cm) and violaceous (due to dermal thinning).
Patient 1:
This is a previously healthy young man who presented with rapid weight gain, and was ultimately diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome from an ectopic source of ACTH. Despite imaging, the source was never located and the patient ultimately underwent bilateral adrenalectomy. Note that in addition to the abdominal wall, striae can occur in other places of the body.
This patient also has moon facies, a buffalo hump, easy bruising, and thin skin.
Patient 2:
This patient has Cushing’s syndrome.
Patient 3:
This is a young man with severe asthma who developed Cushing’s syndrome related to exogenous corticosteroids.
