Clinical manifestation of excess GH.

GH is produced in the anterior pituitary

Causes

The most common cause is unregulated growth hormone secretion by a pituitary adenoma.

Rarely, acromegaly can also be secondary to a cancer, such as lung or pancreatic cancer, that secretes ectopic growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) or growth hormone.

Presentation

Space Occupying Lesion

• Headaches
• Visual field defect (“bitemporal hemianopia”) - A pituitary tumour of sufficient size will start to press on the optic chiasm.

Overgrowth of tissues

• Prominent forehead and brow (“frontal bossing”)
• Large nose
• Large tongue (“macroglossia”)
• Large hands and feet
• Large protruding jaw (”prognathism”)
• Arthritis from imbalanced growth of joints

GH can cause organ dysfunction

• Hypertrophic heart
• Hypertension