What is acromegaly?
Acromegaly is a growth disorder caused by the pituitary gland making too much growth hormone. Often, this is because of a benign (non-cancerous) tumour of the pituitary gland. This tumour causes the pituitary gland to make too much growth hormone (GH). As growth hormone is made it is released into the blood. In response, the liver creates another hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 triggers tissue growth in the body.
Acromegaly causes abnormal growth in the body. If you have acromegaly, you may notice your hands and feet becoming larger, or your jaw or face changing shape. These are just some of the symptoms of acromegaly.
How common is acromegaly?
Acromegaly is classed as a rare condition, with only around 4-6 people per million being diagnosed every year. This means about 1 in every 200,000 people will be diagnosed with acromegaly every year.
The diagnosis is often delayed as the symptoms develop gradually over time, and anyone with the condition may not notice the changes. People may have had acromegaly for several years before the condition is recognised.
Acromegaly and gigantism
Acromegaly most commonly occurs in adults aged between 30 and 50 years old, but it can occur at any age. If acromegaly develops before you have stopped growing (which usually occurs between the ages of 15 to 17) it can cause gigantism. This can make someone grow very tall because the excess growth hormone promotes growth of the legs and arms. This doesn’t happen in adults as the bones stop growing during puberty, so are not affected by growth hormone.
The name acromegaly comes from the Greek words for “extremities” (acro) and “great” (megaly).
