Acromegaly

Abstract

One of the most evocative clinical presentations is that of acromegaly. The facial coarsening with frontal skull bossing, enlargement of nose, lips, and tongue, mandibular prognathism, and acral enlargement are the main features that support the diagnosis. Moreover, acromegalic patients also describe paresthesias, headaches, hyperhidrosis, and menstrual or sexual function complaints. There is deepening of the voice resulting from modifications of the vocal cords and hyperpneumatization of sinuses, all of which are consequences of the excessive GH secretion. Untreated, acromegaly leads to increased mortality and impaired quality of life. Acromegalic patients are prone to cardiovascular complications, arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, colon polyps, and thyroid nodules. They also often develop sleep apnea syndrome and arthropathies.