article_snippet: Cushing's disease is caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain.
article_snippet: Cushing's disease triggers excess levels of the steroid cortisol to be released in the body.
article_snippet: Untreated, Cushing's disease can be fatal, but the prognosis is good if the growth is surgically removed in time.
article_snippet: Cushing's diseaseaffects fewer than 50,000 people in the U.S. each year. '
article_snippet: Unbeknownst to Mr Trotman, the tumor on a whole person pituitary gland was causing a whole person brain to produce vast amounts of a natural steroid called cortisol.
highlights_snippet: The rare form of brain tumor triggers the release of excess weight-building steroids .
  