Endocrinology Health Guide

Acromegaly

What is acromegaly?
Acromegaly is the Greek word for "extremities" and "enlargement." When the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormones, this results in excessive growth -- called acromegaly. The excessive growth occurs first in the hands and feet, as soft tissue begins to swell. Acromegaly affects mostly middle-aged adults. Untreated, the disease can lead to severe illness and death.

What are the symptoms of acromegaly?
Symptoms of acromegaly vary depending on how long the patient has had the disease. The following are the most common symptoms. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently:

swelling of the hands and feet
facial features become coarse as bones grow
body hair becomes coarse as the skin thickens and/or darkens
increased perspiration accompanied with body odor
protruding jaw
voice deepening
enlarged lip, nose, and tongue
thickened ribs (creating a barrel chest)
joint pain
degenerative arthritis
enlarged heart
enlargement of other organs
strange sensations and weakness in arms and legs
snoring
fatigue and weakness
headaches
loss of vision
irregular menstrual
breast milk production in women
impotence in men

The symptoms of acromegaly may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult a physician for diagnosis.

How is acromegaly diagnosed?
Due to the subtlety of the symptoms, acromegaly is often not diagnosed until years later. In addition to a complete medical history and medical examination, diagnostic procedures for acromegaly may include:

serial photos taken over the years to observe physical changes in the patient
x-rays to detect bone thickening
blood tests to check the growth hormone level

Treatment for acromegaly:
Treatment of acromegaly depends on the cause of the disease. Ninety percent of acromegaly cases are caused by benign tumors on the pituitary gland. Because the tumor is compressing the pituitary gland, the hormone production can be altered. Some other acromegaly cases are caused by tumors of the pancreas, lungs, or adrenal glands.

The goal of treatment is to restore the pituitary gland to normal function, producing normal levels of growth hormone. Specific treatment for acromegaly will be determined by your physician based on:

your overall health and medical history
extent of the disease
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference

Treatment may include removal of the tumor, radiation therapy, and injection
of a growth hormone blocking drug.

Left untreated, acromegaly can lead to diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
The disease also increases a patient's risk for cardiovascular disease and
colon polyps that may lead to cancer.

This page was last updated on: May 23, 2006.

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