Fulminant Cushing's syndrome due to an ACTH-producing thymic carcinoid.

Case Description A 32-year-old man was hospitalized because of severe fatigue and blurred vision. Evaluation revealed glaucoma, hypertension, new-onset diabetes mellitus and severe hypokalemia with metabolic alkalosis. A month later he was admitted to the urology department because of a perianal and scrotal abscess, which was surgically drained. Following surgery, he developed shortness of breath and hypoxia. Chest X-ray and a spiral computed tomography scan showed massive atelectasis of the left lower lobe with consolidation of the left upper lobe and multiple thrombi in the right and left pulmonary tree. An anterior mediastinal mass was also seen. Three days later he was admitted to our medical intensive care unit with respiratory insufficiency. On admission the patient was in respiratory distress (40 breaths/min), with