Acromegaly

• How is acromegaly diagnosed?

• How is acromegaly treated?

• Where can I learn more about acromegaly?

• What are the symptoms of acromegaly?

• What do I need to talk to my doctor about?

How is acromegaly diagnosed?

Several tests are useful in diagnosing and monitoring acromegaly. The most important are laboratory tests that measure the levels of GH and IGF-1 in the blood. Because these levels vary naturally depending on factors such as your age, the time of day, and when you last ate, there are 2 main approaches to measuring your GH and IGF-1 levels.

• Multiple tests

To compensate for the variation in levels, your doctor may average the values from a series of “random” blood tests.

• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)

Alternatively, a way to get an accurate reading in a single measurement is to take the blood sample after you do an overnight fast, followed by an early morning drink of concentrated glucose solution.

Other tests, such as head scans by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), are designed to look for a pituitary growth or tumor, the most likely source of the excessive GH secretion. Normally, these tests are performed on an outpatient basis inside a hospital or clinic and involve no special preparation on your part. Head scans are a way to provide your health care provider with “photographs” of the inside of your head.

Still other tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest x-ray, eye and visual field examination, and/or colonoscopy, will help your doctor check your overall health. These tests also usually do not require hospitalization and are performed by health care specialists in different fields. These specialists and/or technicians will send all test results directly to your health care provider. Your health care professional will then provide you with your test results, as well as specific information regarding your current levels of GH and IGF-1. You may want to understand the results of all of your tests and learn your GH and IGF-1 levels so that you can become an active participant in your own treatment.

 

How is acromegaly treated?

The key to controlling acromegaly is to understand that it is a treatable condition. To get the best results, you need to make a commitment to maintain your care over the long term. While surgery is considered the first-line therapy for most patients, it is not indicated for everyone, and its effectiveness as a cure depends on factors such as the size of the pituitary tumor, invasiveness of the tumor, and the skill of the surgeon. Patients with a microadenoma have a 59-88% chance of cure with surgery, whereas for those with macroadenoma, the chances of a cure are lower — between 22-65%.

 

Where can I learn more about acromegaly?

Visit www.acromegalyinfo.com

 

What are the symptoms of acromegaly?

The symptoms of acromegaly can affect both physical appearance and general health. Changes that affect outward appearance can be subtle and happen over years. Some of the early signs and symptoms of acromegaly can easily be mistaken for aging or symptoms of other diseases; however, some of the later signs and symptoms of untreated acromegaly can make the disease much easier to recognize. Although the list of symptoms is long, you may have only a few. The full range of potential symptoms is shown so that you can understand the challenge involved in monitoring and controlling this disease.

 

What do I need to talk to my doctor about?

If you have been diagnosed with acromegaly, it’ s important to build an open communication with your health care providers. One of the best ways to do this is to ask questions.

It’s normal to have difficulty remembering all of the questions you wanted to ask during your visit. That’s why it’ s a good idea to keep a list of questions as well as anything you may have noticed about your symptoms, and bring it with you on each visit. Below are some common questions that many patients have.

If you have recently been diagnosed with acromegaly, you may want to ask:

• Do I have any physical signs of acromegaly? If so, what are they?
• If left untreated, what is my risk of serious complications such as diabetes and heart disease?
• Do I need treatment right away?
• What are my treatment options?
• Am I a candidate for surgery?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of treatment?
• Will the treatment you recommend for me:
  • Normalize my GH and IGF-1 levels?
  • Control the tumor mass without harming normal pituitary function?
  • Relieve the signs and symptoms?
  • Improve my life expectancy?
• How quickly will I experience relief of my symptoms with each treatment?
• How is each treatment administered?
• How will each treatment affect my daily life?
• How will you be monitoring my condition (ie, pituitary tumor size, GH levels, IGF-1 levels, symptoms)?
• Should I alter my diet?

 

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