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The limited role of midnight salivary cortisol levels in the diagnosis of subclinical hypercortisolism in patients with adrenal incidentaloma

Endocrinology and Diabetology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Milan, Pad. Granelli, Fondazione Policlinico, I.R.C.C.S., Via F. Sforza, 35, 20122 Milan, Italy¹ Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Policlinico San Donato I.R.C.C.S, University of Milan, San 20097 Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy² Unit of Endocrinology, ‘Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza’ Scientific Institute, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy

(Correspondence should be addressed to I Chiodini; Email: iacopo.chiodini{at}email.it)

Objective: The criteria for defining subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) are debated and a real gold standard test or combination of tests is lacking. Recently, late-night salivary cortisol (MSC) has been described as a sensitive and easy-to-perform marker for diagnosing overt hypercortisolism. No data are available on the role of MSC in the diagnosis of SH. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of MSC levels in the diagnosis of SH in patients with adrenal incidentalomas (AI).

Methods: In 103 (females/males, 69/34) patients with AI, MSC levels were studied. One milligram overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST), urinary-free cortisol (UFC), and ACTH plasma levels were also evaluated. Patients were defined as affected by SH if they showed two of the following criteria: DST>83 nmol/l, ACTH <2.2 pmol/l, and UFC >193 nmol/24 h.

Results: No difference in MSC levels in patients with SH (3.1±3.1 nmol/l) compared with patients without SH (2.2±2.8 nmol/l) was observed. In patients with SH, MSC levels were significantly correlated with DST (r=0.4, P<0.05). Using the cut-off of 5.1 nmol/l, the sensitivity and specificity of MSC levels for diagnosis of SH is 22.7 and 87.7% respectively.

Conclusion: In patients with AI, normal levels of MSC do not exclude SH, whereas high levels may suggest the presence of SH identified by conventional tests. Thus, MSC is not suitable as a screening test, although it may be used in conjunction with other tests as the confirming test in selected patients.