Faculty Collaboration Database

Intraoperative adrenocorticotropin levels during transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing's disease do not predict cure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997 Jun;82(6):1776-9

Date

06/01/1997

Pubmed ID

9177381

DOI

10.1210/jcem.82.6.4005

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0031158841 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   33 Citations

Abstract

Recently, intraoperative rapid immunochemiluminometric assay (ICMA) ACTH measurements have been used to evaluate the completeness of resection of ectopic ACTH-secreting tumors. This study evaluates whether this method can be applied to patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for Cushing's disease to predict complete pituitary tumor resection. Eighteen patients with Cushing's disease undergoing TSS had plasma ACTH concentrations measured by a standard ICMA every 10 min for 1 h immediately after pituitary tumor removal. Patients were evaluated postoperatively for cure by standard criteria. ACTH levels were evaluated for percentage decrease from baseline at each time point. Patients who were cured (n = 11) had statistically greater decreases in ACTH levels (mean decrease 54%) than patients who were not (n = 7; 26% mean decrease, P < 0.04). By Receiver-Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis, a reduction of at least 40% best predicted which patients were cured and which were not cured. This level of reduction was observed in 82% of cured patients, and a reduction of less than 40% was observed in 71% of those not cured. The analysis misclassified 4 of the 18 patients, resulting in a diagnostic accuracy of 78%. Although the mean maximal decrease in ACTH concentrations after tumor removal was significantly different between cured and not cured patients with Cushing's disease, it was less dramatic than results in the previous ectopic ACTH study. This may relate to incomplete suppression and/or surgical manipulation of normal pituitary corticotrophs in patients with pituitary disease. In summary, in contrast to the ectopic ACTH syndrome, decline of plasma ACTH during TSS does not accurately predict complete tumor resection.

Author List

Graham KE, Samuels MH, Raff H, Barnwell SL, Cook DM

Author

Hershel Raff PhD Professor in the Academic Affairs department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Cushing Syndrome
Female
Humans
Immunologic Techniques
Intraoperative Period
Luminescent Measurements
Male
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome