Acromegaly
Acromegaly
Acromegaly (/ækroʊˈmɛɡəli/; from Ancient Greek: άκρος akros "high" and μεγάλος megalos "large") is a disorder that results from excess growth hormone (GH) after the growth plates have closed.
Signs and Symptoms
The most common symptoms of acromegaly include enlarged hands and feet, facial changes such as a protruding lower jaw, enlarged nose, thicker lips, and wider spacing of teeth, joint pain, thicker skin, and voice deepening. Other symptoms associated with acromegaly are sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis.
Causes
Acromegaly is most commonly caused by noncancerous tumors of the pituitary gland called adenomas, which produce excess growth hormone. Rarely, acromegaly is caused by tumors of the pancreas, lungs, and other parts of the brain.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of acromegaly is made through a physical examination, medical history, and blood tests to measure levels of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Imaging tests such as MRI or CT scan may also be used to locate the tumor.
Treatment
Treatment options for acromegaly include surgery to remove the tumor, medication to lower growth hormone production, and radiation therapy if other treatments are not effective.
Prognosis
With early diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis for a person with acromegaly is usually good, with most people able to live normal lives. However, if left untreated, acromegaly can lead to serious health complications and can be life-threatening.
See Also
References
- Endocrine Society
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Acromegaly
- Wikipedia's article - Acromegaly
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