Annals of Clinical Biochemistry > Volume 45, Number 3 > Pp. 328-330

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Hancock, S. Articles by Stephens, J. W PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Case Reports

A rare cause of Cushing's syndrome demonstrates analytical discrepancies between the Roche E170 and Bayer Centaur testosterone assays

Sian Hancock¹, Rachel A Still¹, Andrew M Fielding¹, John F Doran¹ and Jeffrey W Stephens²

¹ Chemical Pathology Services; ² Department of Medicine, Swansea NHS Trust, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA6 6NL, UK

Corresponding author: Dr Sian Hancock. Email: sian.hancock{at}swansea-tr.wales.nhs.uk

The initial biochemical investigations of a female patient with suspected Cushing's syndrome revealed abnormal endocrine results, including a marked elevation of serum testosterone. Overnight and low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests confirmed the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. Imaging investigations revealed an appearance compatible with adrenocortical carcinoma with metastases in the lungs and liver. This tumour is a rare cause of Cushing's syndrome. Two different automated testosterone immunoassays were used during the investigation of this patient, and analytical discrepancies in the patient's testosterone results were found. The two assays used, as well as potential causes of the difference in results will be discussed.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?