The disorder may take years to diagnose and can cause serious complications if left untreated.
Specialists at the University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Silesia in the southern Polish city of Katowice said the condition is usually caused by a benign pituitary gland tumor, causing the gland to produce too much growth hormone.
The resulting hormonal imbalance changes a person’s appearance over time and can enlarge internal organs, raising the risk of cardiovascular disease and other problems.
Left untreated, the disease can lead to life-threatening complications, doctors said. They listed high blood pressure, thickening of the heart muscle, heart valve problems, and, over time, heart failure.
Patients may also develop breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, linked in part to enlarged tongue and throat tissues.
Specialists said patients face a higher risk of certain cancers, particularly in the digestive tract.
Acromegaly is a rare condition, which makes difficult any estimates of its prevalence. Worldwide, these range broadly, with between three and six people per 100,000 having the disease, and some two to 10 estimated new cases per million per year.
Clinicians advise that the number of diagnosed cases appears lower than expected, suggesting some patients remain undiagnosed.
Most often it affects people aged 40 to 60, though doctors said they also see patients around 30.
“You can diagnose it by looking at the patient,” said Prof. Beata Kos-Kudła, who heads the University Clinical Center's Endocrinology and Neuroendocrine Tumors Department.
She said she has spotted cases in everyday life, describing moments when she noticed characteristic features and thought, “Oh, here is a patient with acromegaly.”
Doctors said excess growth hormone leads to gradual bone overgrowth, especially in the face. The brow becomes more prominent, cheekbones stand out more, and the lower jaw widens. Hands and feet grow larger, too.
Kos-Kudła added that internal organs may also enlarge, including the heart, liver and kidneys.
She said some patients develop metabolic problems, including diabetes and abnormal blood lipid levels.
The standard first-line treatment is neurosurgery to remove the pituitary tumor.
Kos-Kudła added that it offers a chance of a full cure, especially when the tumor is small.
Neurosurgeon Dr. Piotr Paździora said the procedure is performed through the nose using endoscopic techniques.
For tumors under 1 centimeter, surgical success exceeds 90 percent, he said, while larger tumors may require additional treatment and cannot always be fully removed.
He noted that tumors can range from just a few millimeters to as large as 4 centimeters.
Dr. Maciej Wojtacha, head of the center’s Neurosurgery Department, said the Katowice team has used endoscopic pituitary surgery for almost 30 years and performs about 100 such operations annually.
He said newer reconstruction techniques have reduced complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and minimally invasive surgery typically shortens hospital stays and limits pain.
Doctors said many patients still need long-term specialist follow-up, including hormone testing and imaging.
If hormone levels remain high after surgery, they said treatment may include modern medications or radiotherapy, including gamma knife, a precise form of radiation used to target remaining tumor tissue.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP