Acromegaly

Acromegaly is a condition which occurs due to the hypersecretion of the Growth Hormone from the somatotrope adenoma. Acromegaly literally means enlarged fingers. Other lesions which can give rise to this condition are mixed mammosomatotrope tumors, acidophilic stem-cell adenomas and some extra pituitary lesions. Rare causes include mixed plurihormonal tumors and ectopic GH secretion by tumors of pancreatic,ovarian, or lung origin.
Typical features of this condition are frontal bossing, increased hand and foot size, mandibular enlargement with prognathism and widened space between the lower incisor teeth. They also have increased heel pad thickness due to the soft tissue swelling. Other commonly encountered clinical features include hyperhidrosis, deep and hollow-sounding voice, oily skin, arthropathy, kyphosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, proximal muscle weakness and fatigue, acanthosis nigricans, and skin tags.
Generalized visceromegaly occurs, including cardiomegaly, macroglossia, and thyroid gland enlargement.
Most of the time diagnosis of this condition is clinical. To confirm the condition, serum GH level can be done. MRI or CT scan of the brain is essential to locate the lesion. Usually mode of treatment is surgical .Now safe surgical procedures are available to remove the tumor.