Common Causes And Risk Factors Of Acromegaly

Pituitary Adenoma

Over ninety-five percent of all individuals who develop acromegaly have a benign tumor in their pituitary gland that secretes an excessive amount of growth hormone. The majority of pituitary adenomas are considered macro-adenomas, which are tumors larger than one centimeter. A pituitary adenoma may secrete too much of other pituitary hormones in addition to the excessive amounts of growth hormone. The amount of hormones produced depends on the size of a patient's pituitary adenoma and how quickly it grows. Most individuals who develop pituitary adenomas do not develop them due to a genetically inherited factor, but spontaneously instead. Around seventeen percent of the population is affected by a pituitary adenoma, even though most are small and do not produce symptoms. Pituitary adenomas that do end up causing acromegaly by producing a problematic quantity of growth hormone take years to develop, so a patient has the tumor long before they realize it. An MRI scan of a patient's brain can help determine the size of their pituitary adenoma, and a CT scan may be used for those who are unable to have an MRI.

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