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Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
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Ency. home > Disease > A > Acromegaly

Acromegaly   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Hyperpituitarism

Definition:

A chronic metabolic disorder caused by too much growth hormone that results in gradual enlargement of body tissues including the bones of the face, jaw, hands, feet, and skull.

Causes and Risks

Acromegaly occurs in about 6 out of 100,000 adults. It is caused by abnormal production of growth hormone after normal growth of the skeleton and other organs is complete. Excessive production of growth hormone in children causes gigantism rather than acromegaly.

The cause of the increased hormone secretion is usually a benign tumor of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain, controls the production and release of several different hormones including growth hormone.

There are no known risk factors for acromegaly other than a prior history of a pituitary tumor.

Ency. home > Disease > A > Acromegaly

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