What condition results from excessive secretion of ACTH typically due to a pituitary adenoma?

Cushing's disease is specifically characterized by excessive secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which is usually caused by a pituitary adenoma. This tumor arises in the pituitary gland and leads to hypersecretion of ACTH, stimulating the adrenal glands to produce increased amounts of cortisol. As cortisol levels rise, this causes a range of symptoms associated with Cushing's syndrome, including obesity, hypertension, and glucose intolerance.

Recognizing the distinction between Cushing's disease and other conditions is critical; while primary adrenal insufficiency refers to an underproduction of cortisol due to adrenal gland failure, secondary adrenal hyperplasia involves an enlargement of the adrenal glands due to over-stimulation by ACTH, but it is not a specific disease entity on its own without the presence of certain contextual factors. An adrenal adenoma is a tumor on the adrenal gland that can produce cortisol independently of ACTH, which is a different mechanism from what occurs in Cushing's disease. Cushing's disease denotes the process that originates from the pituitary gland, making it the best fit for the scenario described.