Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Prueba de inhibición con atropina
Atropine suppression test (A-troh-peen suh-PREH-shun …)
A test used to help find out if secretion of pancreatic polypeptide (a protein released by the pancreas) is normal or caused by a tumor. A drug called atropine sulfate is injected into the patient’s vein and level of pancreatic polypeptide in the blood is measured. If there is a tumor, the injection will not change the level of pancreatic polypeptide. If there is no tumor, the level of pancreatic polypeptide will drop.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.