Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They listAcromegalyas arare disease.
Medical Books ExcerptsRead excertps from published book sections related to Acromegalyfrom the following published medical booksfor more detailed information about Acromegaly.Free access (no registration):read all online book sections about Acromegaly
Enlargement of bones of hands and feet and ce; often accompanied by headache and muscle pain and emotional disturbances; caused by overproduction of growth hormone by the anterior pituitary gland (due to a tumor)
Sandostatin LAR Depot Vs. Surgery for Treating Acromegaly- This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
Treatment of acromegaly is directed by an endocrinologist, a physician who specializes in diseases of the endocrine system.Treatment includes treating thepituitary tumorthat is at the root of the disease. This may include medications tacromegaly causeshat control the growth of thepituitary tumorand decrease the amount of growth hormone that the pituitarAcromegaly acromegaly causesy gland releases into the body. ...more treatments
Safety and Efficacy of Octreotide Long Acting Release (LAR) in Treatment Nave Acromegalic Patients- This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Octreotide LAR
Acromegalyis listed as arare diseaseby the Office ofRare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health(NIH). This means that Acromegaly, or a subtype of Acromegaly,affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
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Disorder caused by excessive secretion of somatotropin, characterized by bony enlargement of ce, hands, feet, head and thorax.
A diagnosis of acromegaly in adults is often overlooked or delayed because symptoms generally develop slowly over years. In addition, symptoms are often nonspecific and are common symptoms of many other conditions. These include aging,menopause,perimenopause,chronic tigue syndrome,arthritis,carpal tunnel syndrome,hypertension, andheart disease. Because of ...more misdiagnosis
Mild worm infections undiagnosed in children: Human worm infestations, esp.threadworm, can be overlooked in some cases,because it may...read more Mesenteric adenitis misdiagnosed as appendicitis in children: Because appendicitis is one of themore feared conditions for a child with...read more Blood pressure cuffs misdiagnose hypertension in children: One known misdiagnosis issuewith hyperension, arises in relation to the equipment used...read more Children with migraine often misdiagnosed: A migraine often ils to becorrectly diagnosed in pediatric patients.These patients are not the typical migraine sufferers, but migraines can also occur in children.See misdiagnosis of...read more Pituitary conditions often undiagnosed cause of symptoms: There are a variety of symptomsthat can be caused by apituitary disorder(seesymptoms of pituitary disorders).For example,tigue,headache,weight gain, diabetes...read more Read more aboutMisdiagnosis and Acromegaly
Acromegaly acromegaly causes,Acromegaly:A hormonal disorder involving excess growth hormone production by the pituitary gland. More detailed information about thesymptoms,causes, andtreatmentsof Acromegaly is available below.
Research quality ratings and patient safety measuresfor medical cilities in specialties related to Acromegaly:
Study of the Effect of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Antagonist on Growth Hormone Release in Acromegaly- This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
Symptoms of acromegaly vary depending on what age the disease occurs and other ctors. In children, acromegaly results in an excessively tall stature and is calledgigantism.Other symptoms develop gradually over years and are often subtle. They include cial abnormalities, such as overgrowth of the nose, mouth, and tongue. There can also be oily skin,headaches...more symptoms
The Treatment and Natural History of Acromegaly- This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
Some of the clinical trials listed onClinicalTrials.govfor Acromegaly include:
Acromegaly is a rare disorder in which a there is too high of a level of growth hormone in the body. Acromegaly is caused by a noncancerous tumor that grows on the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a small gland in the brain that produces hormones, including growth hormone. Thepituitary tumorcauses the pituitary gland to overproduce growth hormone, which results in oversized organs, bone deformities and other secondary disorders.In children acromegaly is also known asgigantism, because when it occurs in growing children it results in an excessively tall height. In children and adults, there are a wide variety of symptoms of acromegaly, including specific cial changes. Symptoms generally develop slowly over years. If acromegaly is not diagnosed and treated, it can lead to serious damage to vital organs, such as the kidneys, liver, thyroid gland, spleen, pancreas, and parathyroid glands. Life-threatening complications includecancer,diabetes, andcardiomyopathy. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer tosymptoms of acromegaly.Making a diagnosis of acromegaly begins with taking a thorough personal and mily medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination. A comparison of current cial features with those of years ago using old photos is often used when acromegaly is suspected.Diagnostic testing includes blood tests that can determine the amount of growth hormone and insulin-like growth ctor in the blood. High levels are diagnostic of acromegaly. X-rays can detect thickening or deformities of the bones that occur with the disease.Other tests, such as CT and MRI, are also done to evaluate the pituitary tumor that causes acromegaly. Extensive testing is also done to diagnose and treat any complications, such asthyroid disease,diabetesandheart disease.A diagnosis of acromegaly in adults is often delayed for years because the symptoms develop very slowly. In addition, some symptoms are similar to those of other conditions. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer tomisdiagnosis of acromegaly.Acromegaly can be successfully treated, minimizing the risk of developing serious complications. It is treated with medications and possibly surgery or radiation to treat thepituitary tumorthat causes it. For more information on treatment, refer totreatment of acromegaly. ...more
Measurement of Outcome of Surgical Treatment in Patients With Acromegaly- This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings Choosing the Best Hospital:More general information, not necessarily in relation to Acromegaly,on hospital performance and surgical care quality:
