What is Acromegaly?

Acromegaly is a medical condition resulting from the excess production of Growth Hormone (GH) in adults. This results in enlargement and overgrowth of many organs, bones and soft tissues of the body as well as metabolic and biochemical changes. The most common cause is a benign pituitary tumor, secreting GH in an uncontrolled and unregulated manner.

Growth hormone, besides its own action within the body, also works through the hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 which is synthesized in the liver in response to GH stimulation is the main workhorse in causing the somatic and biochemical changes seen in Acromegaly.

The Pituitary

The pituitary gland is the 'master' endocrine gland secreting hormones that control other endocrine glands and many vital functions in the body. It is comprised of an anterior and posterior lobe each secreting separate sets of hormones. It is a pea-size gland situated in the midline, at the base of the brain, about 1.5 inches behind the bridge of the nose. The gland sits in a bony concavity, the sella turcica , above the sphenoid sinus.