Acromegaly

Question 1

What is acromegaly?

Answer 1

Too much GH is produced causing body tissues and bones to grow more quickly

Question 2

What ages does acromegaly typically present?

Answer 2

30-50

Question 3

What is the cause of acromegaly?

Answer 3

GH secreting pituitary tumour (adenoma)

Question 4

How does acromegaly present?

Answer 4

Increased size of hands and feet. facial features become coarser, frontal bossing of forehead, protrusion of chin, widely spaced teeth, enlarged tongue, carpel tunnel syndrome, galactorrhoea

Question 5

What is the pathophysiology of acromegaly?

Answer 5

Tumour secretes too much GH, causing the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), causing bones and body tissue to grow

Question 6

What investigations are done in acromegaly?

Answer 6

OGTT and IGF-1, failure to suppress GH after OGTT and elevated IGF-1 levels will be found

Question 7

What is the management for acromegaly?

Answer 7

Surgery to remove the tumour
Medical - somatostatin analogues may improve symptoms and control GH and IGF-1 levels, dopamine agonists
External beam or stereotactic radiotherapy

Question 8

What are the complications of acromegaly?

Answer 8

Hypertension, high cholesterol, cardiomyopathy, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, goitre, increased risk of bowel cancer, bitemporal hemianopia