Acromegaly is a rare disorder caused by excess growth hormone due to a benign tumor in the pituitary gland, leading to enlargement of extremities and facial features. Symptoms include changes in appearance, joint pain, diabetes, and other serious health risks. Treatment options focus on tumor removal and hormone regulation, but changes in bony tissue growth are irreversible.

2.  Acromegaly is a disorder that results from
excess growth hormone (GH) after the
growth plates have closed
 •Acr/o = extremities.
 •-megaly= enlargement.
 •Rare disease of the pituitary gland in the
brain.
 •Caused by a benign tumor.

3.  Pituitary gland is a pea-
sized gland that releases
and regulates several
hormones, including
human growth hormone
(HGH) that is responsible
for regulating growth.

4.  It is not uncommon to find pituitary
tumors. 1 out of 10 people have tiny
tumors in the pituitary gland (pituitary
adenoma), but only 3.5 per million
people develop acromegaly
 About 98% of cases of acromegaly are
due to the overproduction of growth
hormone by a benign tumor of the
pituitary gland called an adenoma
 Other tumors. tumors of the pancreas,
lungs, and adrenal glands

5.  If the hypersecretion
of HGH occurs before
to epiphyseal plate
closes at puberty, it is
called gigantism.
 Gigantism causes a
growth in height,
whereas acromegaly
causes one's features
and extremities to
grow larger and wider.

6.  Symptoms include changes in voice
 Changes in face features, such as jaw, nose,
and forehead
 Excessive facial hair in women

8.  Enlarged tongue, hands, and feet.
 Weight gain
 Joint pain and muscle weakness.

9.  Diabetes Mellitus due
to excess insulin-like
growth factor-I (IGF-
1).
 Kidney failure
 Enlarged Heart
 Hypertension
 Heart failure

10.  Sleep apnea
 Arthriris and carpal
tunnel syndrome
 Infertility
 Vision loss
 Fatigue

11.  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
or computed tomography (CT)
scan
 Blood test for elevated level of GH
or somatomedin-C (IGF-1)
 In normal subjects, plasma GH
suppresses to below 0.5 µg/L
(approximately 2 mU/L).In
acromegaly, GH does not suppress
and in about 30%of patients there
is a paradoxical rise; IGF-1 is also
elevated

12.  Trans-sphenoidal surgery
is usually the frst line of
treatment and may result
in cure of GH excess
 Treatment is successful
depending on the size of
the tumor1 cm by 1 cm in
size has a higher cure rate
Larger size tumors lower
the cure rate
 Surgical removal of the
tumor.

13.  Gamma Knife cobalt
 Cyber Knife
 Hormone-regulating therapy
 Somatostatin analogues (such
as octreotide or lanreotide)

14.  Pegvisomant is a peptide GH
receptor antagonist administered
by daily self-injection and may be
indicated in some patients whose
GH and IGF-1 concentrations fail
to suppress suffciently following
somatostatin analogue therapy
 Dopamine agonists are less
effective at lowering GH but may
sometimes be helpful

15.  HGH levels and soft tissue* enlargement are
not expected to return to normal right away.
 *Note bony tissue growth cannot be undone.

16.  There is no way to prevent acromegaly.