Metyrapone test

Normal values:

blood:

• 11-deoxycortisol increased to more than 7 mcg/dl
• cortisol less than 10 mcg/dl

24-hour urine:

• baseline excretion of urinary 17-OCHS more than doubled

Note: mcg/dl = micrograms per deciliter

What abnormal results mean:

The test is useful in differentiating adrenal hyperplasia from a primary adrenal tumor. In patients with adrenal hyperplasia, the accumulation of 11-deoxycortisol is greatly increased. In contrast, there may be little or no response to metyrapone in Cushing's syndrome associated with adrenal adenoma or carcinoma since the normal amount of metyrapone used is insufficient to inhibit cortisol synthesis.