Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder. Persistent excessive secretion of growth hormone leads to swelling, increased body part size and abnormal physiological functions. The onset of acromegaly is usually hidden and the progress is slow. Acromegaly is characterized by overgrowth of bone, soft tissue and internal organs. If the onset is before epiphyseal closure it will cause gigantism. If the onset is after epiphyseal closure it causes acromegaly. Patients with acromegaly has poor prognosis and has higher morbidity and mortality rate. It is because acromegaly patients have higher incidence of complications such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and lung diseases. Malignant lesions are also possible. The first choice for most acromegaly cases is removal of adenomas.
How is Acromegaly treated in practice?