Pituitary gland controls normal growth, reproduction and metabolism. Acromegaly is caused by the uncontrolled hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary gland. Most commonly the cause of acromegaly is pituitary adenoma (GH producing tumor).

This disease is hard to diagnose in the early stages and is frequently missed for many years. Symptoms of acromegaly may include: enlarged organs (heart, tongue, feet and hands, hypertension, pain in joints, abnormal stoppage of menstrual periods in women, impotence in men, heart failure, kidney failure and more.

MRI imaging and medical laboratory investigations are generally used together to confirm or rule out the presence of this disease. CT may also be used for diagnostics.

The goals of treatment are to reduce GH production to normal levels.

Pituitary tumors are treatable and in many cases curable. Surgery is considered first-line therapy for most patients. Another treatment options are drug or radiation therapy (Gamma Knife). Endonasal Transsphenoidal surgery is a new minimal invasive surgery procedure with a shorter recovery time than the older method of Transsphenoidal surgery.

After the surgery patients must be carefully monitored for years for possible recurrence.

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