Guide To Endocrine System Diseases

Acromegaly

Acromegaly results from the excessive production of growth hormone, which causes the bones and soft tissues to grow too much. Growth hormone is manufactured by the pituitary gland, and the most frequent cause of acromegaly is an adenoma (a benign tumor of the pituitary gland). This tumor is present in an estimated ninety-five percent of all acromegaly cases. The symptoms of acromegaly develop slowly over several months. Patients might notice their shoe or ring size gradually increases, and they could have excessive growth spurts, weight gain, and enlarged bones in the face, hands, and feet. Joints may become swollen and painful, and the toes and fingers could become splayed. Spaces might develop between the teeth, and the jaw or tongue could enlarge. Disrupted sleep, fatigue, headaches, muscle weakness, and heavy sweating have been reported. To diagnose acromegaly, physicians perform glucose tolerance tests, and they will also check the patient's levels of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1. Ultrasounds might be recommended to check the size of internal organs, and patients may need x-rays and MRI scans to look for excessive bone growth. If a tumor is present on the pituitary gland, patients will have this removed in surgery, and this typically reduces growth hormone levels. Medications such as somatostatin analogs and growth hormone receptor antagonists could be beneficial, and some patients might need to have radiation treatments if a pituitary gland tumor cannot be completely removed during surgery.

Discover additional endocrine system diseases now.