Acromegaly

Alternative names

Somatotroph adenoma; Growth hormone excess

Definition

Acromegaly is a chronic metabolic disorder caused by the presence of too much growth hormone. It results in gradual enlargement of body tissues including the bones of the face, jaw, hands, feet, and skull.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Acromegaly occurs in about 6 of every 100,000 adults. It is caused by abnormal production of growth hormone after normal growth of the skeleton and other organs is complete. Excessive production of growth hormone in children causes gigantism rather than acromegaly.

The cause of the increased hormone secretion is usually a benign tumor of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland, which is located just below the brain, controls the production and release of several different hormones including growth hormone.

There are no known risk factors for acromegaly other than a prior history of a Pituitary tumor.

Symptoms

• enlarged hands
  
• enlarged feet
  
• widened fingers or toes due to skin overgrowth with swelling, redness, and pain
  
• enlarged jaw (prognathism) and tongue
  
• enlarged facial bones
  
• thickening of the skin, skin tags
  
• enlarged sebaceous glands
  
• hoarseness
  
• headache
  
• easy fatigue
  
• excessive sweating
  
• decreased muscle strength (weakness)
  
• limited joint mobility
  
• Joint pain (hip pain, Knee pain, ankle pain, foot pain, pain over the small joints of the foot, shoulder pain, elbow pain, wrist pain, hand pain, pain over the small joints of the hand, or pain in any other joint)
  
• carpal tunnel syndrome
  
• widely spaced teeth
  
• swelling of the bony areas around a joint
  

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• weight gain (unintentional)
  
• hair, excessive on females
  

Signs and tests