Acromegaly Overview
Learn About Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a condition in which there is too much growth hormone (GH) in your body.
Somatotroph adenoma; Growth hormone excess; Growth hormone secreting pituitary adenoma; Pituitary giant (in childhood)
Acromegaly is a rare condition. It is caused when the pituitary gland makes too much GH. The pituitary gland is a small endocrine gland attached to the bottom of the brain. It regulates, makes, and releases several hormones, including GH.
Usually, a noncancerous (benign) tumor of the pituitary gland releases too much GH. In rare cases, pituitary tumors can be inherited.
In children, too much GH causes gigantism rather than acromegaly.
Symptoms of acromegaly may include any of the following:
- Body odor
- Blood in the stool
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Decreased muscle strength (weakness)
- Decreased peripheral vision
- Dental problems, gaps between the teeth
- Easy fatigue
- Enlarged tongue
- Excessive height (when excess GH production begins in childhood)
- Excessive sweating
- Headache
- Heart enlargement, which can cause fainting or shortness of breath
- Hoarseness
- Jaw pain
- Joint pain, limited joint movement, swelling of the bony areas around a joint
- Large bones of the face, large jaw and tongue, widely spaced teeth
- Large feet (change in shoe size), large hands (change in ring or glove size)
- Large glands in the skin (sebaceous glands) causing oily skin, thickening of the skin, skin tags (growths)
- Sleep apnea
- Widened fingers or toes, with swelling, redness, and pain
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
- Colon polyps
- Excess hair growth in females (hirsutism)
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Thyroid enlargement
- Weight gain
Surgery to remove the pituitary tumor that is causing this condition often corrects the abnormal GH level. Sometimes, the tumor is too large to be removed completely and acromegaly is not cured. In this case, medicines and radiation (radiotherapy) may be used to treat acromegaly.
Some people with tumors that are too complicated to remove by surgery are treated with medicines instead of surgery. These medicines may block the production of GH from the pituitary gland or prevent the action of GH in other parts of the body.
After treatment, you will need to see your provider regularly to make sure that the pituitary gland is working normally and that acromegaly does not come back. Yearly evaluations are usually recommended.
Murray Gordon is an Endocrinologist in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Gordon is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acromegaly. His top areas of expertise are Acromegaly, Hypertrichosis-Acromegaloid Facial Appearance Syndrome, Acromegaloid Facial Appearance Syndrome, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and Thyroidectomy.
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Maria Fleseriu is an Endocrinologist in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Fleseriu is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acromegaly. Her top areas of expertise are Acromegaly, Cushing's disease, Cushing's syndrome, Acromegaloid Facial Appearance Syndrome, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
Andrea Giustina practices in Milan, Italy. Ms. Giustina is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Acromegaly. Her top areas of expertise are Acromegaloid Facial Appearance Syndrome, Hypertrichosis-Acromegaloid Facial Appearance Syndrome, Acromegaly, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and Thyroidectomy.
More information and support for people with acromegaly and their families can be found at:
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases -- www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/acromegaly
- National Organization for Rare Disorders -- rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/acromegaly/
Pituitary surgery is successful in most people, depending on the size of the tumor and the experience of the neurosurgeon with pituitary tumors.
Without treatment, the symptoms will get worse. Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease may result.
Surgery and radiation treatment may lead to low levels of other pituitary hormones. This can cause any of the following conditions:
- Adrenal insufficiency (adrenal glands do not produce enough of their hormones)
- Diabetes insipidus (extreme thirst and excessive urination in rare cases)
- Hypogonadism (body's sex glands produce little or no hormones)
- Hypothyroidism (thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone)
Contact your provider if:
- You have symptoms of acromegaly
- Your symptoms do not improve with treatment
Acromegaly cannot be prevented. Early treatment may prevent the disease from getting worse and help to avoid complications.
Summary: There is a variety of tumors affecting the pituitary gland in childhood; some of these tumors (eg craniopharyngioma) are included among the most common central nervous system tumors in childhood. The gene(s) involved in the pathogenesis of these tumors are largely not known; their possible association with other developmental defects or inheritance pattern(s) has not been investigated. The present...
Summary: The primary purpose of this study is to assess the effect of Debio 4126 in the maintenance of the levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) ≤1x upper limit of normal (ULN) in the double-blind period (Period 1) in comparison to placebo at week 36.
Published Date: April 24, 2025
Published By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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