Acromegaly

Question 1

What is acromegaly?

Answer 1

A condition where there is excess growth hormone production

Question 2

Where is growth hormone produced?

Answer 2

Anterior pituitary gland

Question 3

What is the commonest cause of acromegaly?

Answer 3

Pituitary adenoma

Question 4

Define adenoma?

Answer 4

A benign tumour formed from glandular structures in epithelial tissue.

Question 5

What visual field defect can a pituitary adenoma cause?

Answer 5

Bitemporal hemianopia

Question 6

Features of acromegaly?

Answer 6

Visual field defect
Frontal bossing
Large nose
Macroglossia
Large feet and hands
Prognathism = large jaw
Arthritis
Hypertrophic heart
Hypertension
T2DM
Colorectal cancer
Development of new skin tags
Excessive sweating

Question 7

What do we use are the initial screening test for acromegaly?

Answer 7

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)

Question 8

What other tests do we do in suspected acromegaly?

Answer 8

OGTT
MRI brain
Ophthalmology referral

Question 9

Treatment for pituitary ademona?

Answer 9

Trans-sphenoidal pituitary adenoma removal

Question 10

Drugs used to block growth hormone?

Answer 10

Pegvisomat
Somatostatin analogue (ocreotide)
Dopamine agonist (bromocriptine)