Acromegaly or pituitary gigantism (Q39840)

Acromegaly is an acquired disorder related to excessive production of growth hormone (GH) and characterised by progressive somatic disfigurement (mainly involving the face and extremities) and systemic manifestations. The main clinical features are broadened extremities (hands and feet), widened thickened and stubby fingers, and thickened soft tissue. The disease also has rheumatologic, cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic consequences which determine its prognosis. In the majority of cases, acromegaly is related to a pituitary adenoma, either purely GH-secreting (60%) or mixed. Transsphenoidal surgery is often the first-line treatment. When surgery fails to correct GH/IGF-I hypersecretion, medical treatment with somatostatin analogs and/or radiotherapy can be used.