Acromegaly Causes, Tests and Treatments

By J.P. Sperring

Acromegaly is progressive, acquired condition caused by the development of a benign tumor in the pituitary gland (pituitary adenoma). When the condition impacts children prior to the end of puberty, extra growth hormone can cause gigantism. If untreated, the disease can possibly induce life-threatening complications. This must-have book outlines the causes, tests and treatment options for this devastating disease.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andale LLC
• Release date: Jan 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466184268

Book preview

Acromegaly

Causes, Tests and Treatments

J.P. Sperring, MA

M. Juliette Smith, MD (Ed.)

Smashwords Edition

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Copyright 2011 J.P. Sperring, MA; M. Juliette Smith, MD (Ed.)

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Contents

Introduction

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Acromegaly Resources

Appendix A: Internet Resources / Further Reading

Appendix B: Complete Directory of Holistic Physicians Listed By State

Introduction

Acromegaly is progressive, acquired condition caused by the development of a benign tumor in the pituitary gland (pituitary adenoma). When the condition impacts children prior to the end of puberty, extra growth hormone can cause gigantism. If untreated, the disease can possibly induce life-threatening complications.

Acromegaly is an uncommon disorder that affects males and females equally. This disorder occurs in roughly 50 to 70 persons per million. Researchers estimate that 3-4 out of every million develop acromegaly every year. However, since the symptoms may develop slowly, the disorder may well be unrecognized and underdiagnosed, making it difficult to establish the correct incidence of acromegaly in the common population.

Acromegaly can occur at any age just after puberty, but usually occurs through the fourth and fifth decades. If the condition occurs just before puberty, the disorder is called gigantism, not acromegaly.

Symptoms

The symptoms of acromegaly usually occur gradually and develop more as affected individuals age. The symptoms that develop may differ greatly from individual to individual. Acromegaly can cause a wide variety of symptoms.

Overgrowth of soft tissues and cartilage can affect facial features. For example, facial bones gradually come to be more prominent, including a protruding lower jaw and an underbite (prognathism). This may lead to malocclusion – a misalignment of the teeth. Affected individuals may also have a massive tongue (macroglossia) and unusually large, thick lips. Patients with acromegaly ultimately develop a deep and husky voice because of thickening of vocal cords.

Acromegaly also results in a gradual enlargement of hands and feet. Affected individuals may possibly notice that rings and shoes feel tighter or perhaps they no longer fit at all. Bone and cartilage overgrowth may lead to osteoarthritis -- inflammation and degeneration of joints. Joint and muscle pain frequently develops, especially affecting the shoulders, hands, wrists, knees and hips.

Some patients with acromegaly may develop:

• kyphoscoliosis, a condition where the spine may possibly abnormally curve from side to side and from front to back

• tissue overgrowth, which may possibly trap nerves, such as median nerve causing carpal tunnel syndrome

• acanthosis nigricans == abnormal darkening and thickening of skin in specific locations with the body, such as neck, groin, axilla and umbilicus

• hirsutism -- an excessive growth of hair in women.

• skin tags (acrochordon) -- abnormal outgrowths of additional skin

• organ enlargement (organomegaly) -- which may include the heart. Symptoms may perhaps incorporate difficulty breathing (dyspnea) upon exertion or arrhythmias (irregular rate or rhythm of the heart). This may lead to congestive heart failure

• abnormal liver, spleen, thyroid, pituitary, adrenal or kidney enlargement

• hypertension -- elevated arterial blood pressure

• elevated metabolic rate

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