Adrenocortical activity in disseminated malignant disease in relation to prognosis.

Adrenocortical activity has been assessed in patients with inoperable carcinoma of the bronchus or with disseminated malignant disease of other organs. The mean basal plasma cortisol level was higher in the former than in the latter and both were higher than the controls. Each had abnormally high midnight levels, particularly those with oat cell carcinoma of the bronchus. After the administration of a single dose of dexamethasone both groups suppressed poorly compared with the controls. Failure to suppress was associated with a poor prognosis.