Question: I had Cushing's due to a pituitary tumor. Because my MRI was negative, I had a petrosal sinus sampling test. I was not sedated. Is it usual to do this procedure without sedation? If so, why?
 
Answer: This study is performed with the person awake, as it is not necessary to give general anesthesia because the radiologists wish to be able to speak to the patient during the procedure. This is similar to what happens in a cardiac catheterization, to make sure the patient is feeling well. Additionally, general anesthesia can affect ACTH secretion, potentially affecting interpretation of the test results.