Acromegaly history and symptoms

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Symptoms

Features that result from high level of hGH or expanding tumor include:

Soft tissue swelling of the hands and feet
Brow and lower jaw protrusion
Enlarging hands
Enlarging feet
Arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome
Teeth spacing increase
Macroglossia [enlarged tongue]
Heart failure
Kidney failure
Compression of the optic chiasm leading to loss of vision in the outer visual fields (typically bitemporal hemianopia)
Headache
Diabetes mellitus
Hypertension
Enlarging heart
Increased palmar sweating and sebum production over the face (seborrhea) are clinical indicators of active growth hormone (GH) producing pituitary tumours. These symptoms can also be used to monitor the activity of the tumour after surgery although biochemical monitoring is confirmatory.

(Image courtesy of Charlie Goldberg, M.D., UCSD School of Medicine and VA Medical Center, San Diego, California)

Facial changes secondary to elevated growth hormone levels. Note in particular prominent supra-orbital ridge, jaw, and generally enlarged facial features.
Markedly enlarged hand resulting from excess growth hormone. For reference purposes, the comparison hand is size 6 1/2.
Facial changes secondary to elevated growth hormone levels. Note in particular prominent supra-orbital ridge, jaw, and generally enlarged facial features.