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Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 17 year old female patient has hirsutism, hyperglycemia, obesity, muscle wasting, and increased circulating levels of ACTH. The most likely cause of her symptoms is:
assistant
The correct answer is  This female patient's symptoms are classic for a primary elevation of ACTH (Cushing's Disease). Exogenous steroids would produce similar symptoms, except that circulating ACTH would be low because of negative feedback suppression at both hypothalamic (CRF) and anterior pituitary levels (ACTH). Addison's Disease is caused by glucocoicoid deficiency, not excess. Hypophysectomy would lead to a decrease in ACTH or remove the source of it.