title: Direct sampling of the cavernous sinus in Cushing's disease.
abstract: Sampling of the petrosal sinus is a sensitive and accurate method of diagnosing Cushing's disease. Sampling of the inferior petrosal sinus has been performed with a steam-shaped no. 4 or 5 French soft catheter in some centres. However, a recent report described two patients who suffered major injury to the brain stem as a result such sampling. The authors describe a series of five patients who underwent simultaneous, direct sampling of the cavernous sinuses with a Tracker microcatheter (Target Therapeutics, Fremont, Calif.) for the diagnosis of Cushing's disease. No complications occurred in this small group. The authors conclude that this procedure is a safe and accurate means of diagnosing Cushing's disease; the technique is also helpful in locating adrenocorticotropin-producing microadenoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, NS.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vandorpe
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pelz
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D002426:Cavernous Sinus; D002648:Child; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017591:Petrosal Sinus Sampling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone