Dexamethasone-Suppressible Adrenocortical Tumor

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Abstract
ONE of the most widely employed tests in clinical endocrinology is the dexamethasone suppression test. The applications of this test fall into two broad classes. First of all, it helps distinguish the normal from states of hypercortisolism. Once hypercortisolism has been established the test is useful in distinguishing between hypercortisolism due to excessive pituitary ACTH secretion and that due to extrapituitary disorders.1 Secondly, in virilizing disorders without hypercortisolism, the test has been useful in separating tumorous from nontumorous causes.A virilizing syndrome in which excessive urinary 17-ketosteroids are not suppressed by dexamethasone has been considered presumptively diagnostic of a virilizing . . .