Acromegaly

Acromegaly (from Greek akros "high" and megalos "large" - extremities enlargement) is a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (hGH). Most commonly it is a benign hGH producing tumor derived from a distinct type of cells (somatotrophs) and called pituitary adenoma.

Related Topics:
Greek - Hormonal - Pituitary - Growth hormone

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Acromegaly most commonly affects middle-aged adults and can result in serious illness and premature death. Because of its insidious onset and slow progression, the disease is hard to diagnose in the early stages and is frequently missed for many years.

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Features that result from high level of hGH or expanding tumor include:

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• Soft tissue swelling of the hands and feet (early sign)
• Brow and lower jaw protrusion (enlarging jaw and hat size)
• Enlarging hands (ring size)
• Enlarging feet (shoe size)
• Arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome
• Teeth spacing increase
• Heart failure (major medical problem)
• Compression of the optic chiasm leading to loss of vision in the outer visual fields
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hypertension
 
Acromegaly: Causes ►