Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40765079›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuroendocrinology2025

Prolactin-adjusted inferior petrosal sinus sampling: Pituitary and ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone-dependent Cushing syndrome.

Vera E Sprenkeler, Antonius E van Herwaarden, Annenienke C van de Ven, Benno Kusters, Sjoerd F M Jenniskens, Romana T Netea-Maier, Joanne M de Laat

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neuroendocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Vera E SprenkelerDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0009-0008-8538-9495
Antonius E van HerwaardenDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Annenienke C van de VenDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Benno KustersDepartment of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Sjoerd F M JenniskensDepartment of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Romana T Netea-MaierDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Joanne M de LaatDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-3316-1540

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) is a diagnostic procedure used to differentiate between ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing syndrome (EAS) and pituitary ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome (CD). This study investigated the diagnostic value of IPSS, focusing on the use of prolactin adjustments and different calculation methods. We retrospectively analyzed data from patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome and inconclusive pituitary-MRI who underwent IPSS with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation between 2015 and 2025. The cohort included 19 patients (16 CD, 3 EAS), with diagnoses confirmed by pathology examination and/or biochemical remission 1 year post-surgery. A pituitary source was confirmed in all patients with CD (n = 16) through pathology and/or biochemical remission. An ectopic source was confirmed by pathology in two of three patients with EAS. Using unadjusted ACTH ratios and previously established cut-off values resulted in three incorrect diagnoses out of 20 procedures. In contrast, prolactin-adjusted peak ACTH ratios provided a more distinct separation between CD and EAS, enabling correct diagnosis in all cases. Optimal cut-off values determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were 1.0 for basal and 1.7 for concurrent prolactin-adjusted peak ACTH ratios, yielding 100% sensitivity and specificity. Basal prolactin-adjusted peak ACTH ratios were >1.5 in all patients with CD and <0.6 in all patients with EAS, while concurrent ratios were >1.1 in all patients with CD and <0.3 in all patients with EAS. Prolactin-adjusted peak ACTH ratios improve the diagnostic accuracy of IPSS and can effectively differentiate between ectopic and pituitary sources of ACTH. This study enhances the diagnostic accuracy of inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) for differentiating pituitary from ectopic ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome by incorporating prolactin measurements and exploring various calculation methods. The findings contribute to advancing diagnostic techniques and improving clinical management of endocrine disorders. By enabling more accurate identification of the underlying cause of ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome, this work supports clinicians in selecting optimal treatment strategies.

Indexed as

ACTH Syndrome, EctopicAdrenocorticotropic HormoneCushing SyndromePetrosal Sinus SamplingPituitary ACTH HypersecretionPituitary GlandProlactinAdultAgedDiagnosis, DifferentialFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultAdrenocorticotropic HormoneProlactinACTH hypersecretionpetrosal sinus samplingprolactin adjustment

Identifiers

PMID40765079
PMCPMC12404901

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.