Main Entry: Cush·ing's disease

Pronunciation: \ˌku̇sh-iŋz-\

Function: noun

: Cushing's syndrome especially when caused by excessive production of ACTH by the pituitary gland

Cushing, Harvey Williams (1869–1939), American neurosurgeon. Cushing first gained a reputation by publishing an important work on the pituitary gland in 1912. In 1930 he gave the first description of the condition named in his honor. Throughout his career he wrote numerous monographs on the surgery of the brain and worked on the classification of brain tumors. He also contributed to studies of blood pressure in surgery and developed the method of operating with local anesthesia.