Question: A woman suffers from hyperglycemia, abdominal obesity, and skeletal muscle wasting. Lab tests rev…

A woman suffers from hyperglycemia, abdominal obesity, and
skeletal muscle wasting. Lab tests reveal high circulating levels
of ACTH. Which one of the following is the most likely cause of her
symptoms?

a. hypercortisolism due to an adrenal tumor that oversecretes
cortisol

b. hypercortisolism due to an ACTH-secreting tumor of the
anterior pituitary

c. a hormone-secreting tumor of the adrenal medulla

d. hypocortisolism due to autoimmune destruction of the adrenal
cortex

e. long-term treatment with exogenous glucocorticoids