Atypical Carcinoid Tumor of the Mediastinum Presenting as Cushing’s Syndrome in an Otherwise Healthy Young Male

Primary neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare types of malignancies that can have a variety of presentations due to the ubiquitous distribution of neuroendocrine cells within the body. While mediastinal masses are not uncommon, NETs arising from the anterior mediastinum are rare and often originate from the thymus gland. A subset of NETs, atypical carcinoids, are more commonly seen in the lungs or gastrointestinal organs and often present with endocrine syndromes, chiefly Cushing’s syndrome. The behavior of atypical carcinoid tumors within the mediastinum is often aggressive and clinical presentations vary widely. In this report, we describe a case of an atypical carcinoid tumor within the anterior mediastinum in an otherwise healthy young male with signs and symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome.