The name acromegaly comes from the Greek words for "extremities" and "enlargement," and reflects one of the most common
acromegaly symptoms: the abnormal growth of the hands and feet. Soft-tissue swelling of the hands and feet is often an early acromegaly symptom, with patients noticing a change in ring or shoe size. Gradually, bony changes alter the patient's facial features: the brow and lower jaw protrude, the nasal bone enlarges, and the spacing of the teeth increases.
Other common acromegaly symptoms include:
- Arthritis
- Fatigue and weakness
- Skin tags
- Sleep apnea
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Thick, coarse, oily skin
- Excessive sweating and skin odor
- Impaired vision
- Enlarged lips, nose, and tongue
- Deepening of the voice due to enlarged sinuses and vocal cords
- Headaches
- Impotence in men, also known as erectile dysfunction or ED
- Abnormalities of the menstrual cycle
- Breast discharge in women
- Enlargement of body organs, including the liver, spleen, kidneys, and heart.
Acromegaly and Other Health Conditions
Acromegaly can lead to the development of other health conditions. The most serious health consequences of acromegaly are:
In order to make an acromegaly diagnosis, the doctor will ask a number of questions about a person's medical history, including: current symptoms, whether there is a family history of any medical problems, and any medicines the patient is taking. The doctor will also perform a physical exam, looking for any signs of acromegaly, and will order certain tests.
Tests used to help diagnose acromegaly and determine the
acromegaly causes can include:
- Blood tests to measure GH and/or IGF-1 levels
- Glucose tolerance test
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
- Computed tomography (CT) scan.
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