Which result would be consistent with a diagnosis of Cushing diseas
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with adrenal causes of Cushing’s syndrome have low blood ACTH levels and patients with the other causes of Cushing’s syndrome have normal or high levels. A doctor can diagnose too much ACTH by measuring its level in the blood.
Inferior Petrosal Sinus Sampling (IPSS)
The best test to distinguish an ACTH-producing tumor on the pituitary from one in another part of the body is a procedure called inferior petrosal sinus sampling or IPSS. This involves inserting small plastic tubes into both the right- and left-sided veins in the groin (or neck) and threading them up to the veins near the pituitary gland. Blood is then taken from these locations and also from a vein not connected to the pituitary gland.
During the procedure, a medication that increases ACTH levels from the pituitary is injected. By comparing the levels of ACTH produced close to the pituitary gland in response to the medication with those produced by other parts of the body, a diagnosis can be made.
Further Tests
There are other tests used for the diagnosis of Cushing’s disease such as the dexamethasone suppression and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation tests. However, these are not as reliable in distinguishing between the causes as IPSS. A doctor may want to do multiple tests to confirm the results. It is also possible to visualize the pituitary gland using a process called magnetic resonance imaging (>MRI). This involves an injection of an agent that will help the tumor to show up on the MRI scan. If this test shows a definite tumor above a certain size and the CRH and dexamethasone test results are compatible with Cushing’s disease, IPSS may not be needed. However, up to 10% of healthy people have an abnormal area on their pituitary consistent with a tumor. Therefore, the presence of an abnormality alone is not diagnostic of Cushing’s disease. Also, in about 50% of patients with Cushing’s disease, the tumor is too small to be seen. Thus the absence of a tumor on a MRI scan does not necessarily exclude Cushing’s disease.
Glossary
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Inferior Petrosal Sinus Sampling (IPSS)
The best test to distinguish an ACTH-producing tumor on the pituitary from one in another part of the body is a procedure called inferior petrosal sinus sampling or IPSS. This involves inserting small plastic tubes into both the right- and left-sided veins in the groin (or neck) and threading them up to the veins near the pituitary gland. Blood is then taken from these locations and also from a vein not connected to the pituitary gland.
During the procedure, a medication that increases ACTH levels from the pituitary is injected. By comparing the levels of ACTH produced close to the pituitary gland in response to the medication with those produced by other parts of the body, a diagnosis can be made.
Further Tests
There are other tests used for the diagnosis of Cushing’s disease such as the dexamethasone suppression and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation tests. However, these are not as reliable in distinguishing between the causes as IPSS. A doctor may want to do multiple tests to confirm the results. It is also possible to visualize the pituitary gland using a process called magnetic resonance imaging (>MRI). This involves an injection of an agent that will help the tumor to show up on the MRI scan. If this test shows a definite tumor above a certain size and the CRH and dexamethasone test results are compatible with Cushing’s disease, IPSS may not be needed. However, up to 10% of healthy people have an abnormal area on their pituitary consistent with a tumor. Therefore, the presence of an abnormality alone is not diagnostic of Cushing’s disease. Also, in about 50% of patients with Cushing’s disease, the tumor is too small to be seen. Thus the absence of a tumor on a MRI scan does not necessarily exclude Cushing’s disease.
Glossary
©2015 PITUITARY SOCIETY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. E&OE.
USER AGREEMENT AND TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY | SITE MAP
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