Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone. This eMedTV article discusses this condition in detail, including information on possible symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Common acromegaly causes include tumors, either pituitary or non-pituitary. In over 90 percent of patients, a pituitary tumor is the cause. This eMedTV article offers an in-depth look at the different acromegaly causes.
A person with acromegaly may experience abnormal growth and swelling of the hands and feet. This eMedTV selection covers the most common acromegaly symptoms and includes information on why acromegaly is sometimes confused with other conditions.
To make an acromegaly diagnosis, the doctor uses information from the patient's medical history, physical exam, blood tests, glucose tolerance test, and MRI or CT scan. This eMedTV article explains the process of diagnosing acromegaly in detail.
Acromegaly treatment options include surgical removal of the tumor, drug therapy, and radiation therapy. This eMedTV article discusses each form of treatment for acromegaly and provides links to additional information about acromegaly.
Acromegaly research scientists are studying the genetic mutation that triggers the formation of the tumor in the first place. This page on the eMedTV site also covers other areas of current acromegaly research, like the search for new treatments.
It's estimated that 3 out of every 1 million people develop acromegaly each year and 40-60 people per 1 million have the disease at any given time. This page on the eMedTV site discusses these acromegaly statistics in more depth.
