About Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder
that develops when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone during adulthood.
When too much growth hormone is produced, bones increase in size.
In childhood, this leads to increased height and is called gigantism.
But in adulthood, a change in height doesn't occur. Instead, the increase in bone size is
limited to the bones of hands, feet and face, and is called acromegaly.
Because acromegaly is uncommon and the physical changes occur slowly over many years
, the condition sometimes takes a long time to recognize. Untreated, high levels of growth hormone can
affect other parts of the body, in addition to your bones.
This can lead to serious — sometimes even life-threatening — health problems. But treatment can reduce
risk of complications and significantly improve symptoms, including the enlargement of features.
01.
Symptoms
A common sign of acromegaly is enlarged hands and feet. you may notice that you aren't able to put on rings that used to fit, and that your shoe size has progressively increased. Acromegaly may also cause gradual changes in the face's shape, such as a protruding lower jaw and brow bone, an enlarged nose, thickened lips, and wider spacing between teeth. Because acromegaly tends to progress slowly, early signs may not be obvious for years. Sometimes, people notice the physical changes only by comparing old photos with newer
(current or recent) ones.
02.
Diagnosis
Doctors who suspect acromegaly may order these tests to diagnose the condition:
Blood tests: Growth hormone and IGF-I blood tests measure different types of growth hormone levels in the blood. If these levels are high, your doctor might order a glucose tolerance test to confirm an acromegaly diagnosis.
Imaging tests: If blood tests confirm that you have acromegaly, your doctor will probably recommend an MRI scan, which can clearly show the size and location of a tumor and help determine the proper treatments.
03.
What Causes Acromegaly?
A benign (noncancerous) tumor that produces too much growth hormone, called an adenoma, is the most common cause of acromegaly. The adenoma is in the pituitary, a gland located near the bottom of the brain. The pituitary regulates how the body makes several hormones, in addition to growth hormone.
04.
Prevention
Acromegaly can’t be prevented. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment may prevent the disease from getting worse and help to avoid complications associated with the disease.
About Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that develops when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone during adulthood.
When too much growth hormone is produced, bones increase in size. In childhood, this leads to increased height and is called gigantism.But in adulthood, a change in height doesn’t occur. Instead, the increase in bone size is limited to the bones of hands, feet and face, and is called acromegaly.
Because acromegaly is uncommon and the physical changes occur slowly over many years, the condition sometimes takes a long time to recognize. Untreated, high levels of growth hormone can affect other parts of the body, in addition to your bones. This can lead to serious — sometimes even life-threatening — health problems. But treatment can reduce risk of complications and significantly improve symptoms, including the enlargement of features.
01.
Symptoms
A common sign of acromegaly is enlarged hands and feet. you may notice that you aren’t able to put on rings that used to fit, and that your shoe size has progressively increased. Acromegaly may also cause gradual changes in the face’s shape, such as a protruding lower jaw and brow bone, an enlarged nose, thickened lips, and wider spacing between teeth. Because acromegaly tends to progress slowly, early signs may not be obvious for years. Sometimes, people notice the physical changes only by comparing old photos with newer
(current or recent) ones.
02.
Diagnosis
Doctors who suspect acromegaly may order these tests to diagnose the condition:
Blood tests: Growth hormone and IGF-I blood tests measure different types of growth hormone levels in the blood. If these levels are high, your doctor might order a glucose tolerance test to confirm an acromegaly diagnosis.
Imaging tests: If blood tests confirm that you have acromegaly, your doctor will probably recommend an MRI scan, which can clearly show the size and location of a tumor and help determine the proper treatments.
03.
What causes
Acromegaly?
A benign (noncancerous) tumor that produces too much growth hormone, called an adenoma, is the most common cause of acromegaly. The adenoma is in the pituitary, a gland located near the bottom of the brain. The pituitary regulates how the body makes several hormones, in addition to growth hormone.
04.
Prevention
Acromegaly can’t be prevented. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment may prevent the disease from getting worse and help to avoid complications associated with the disease.
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