Acromegaly
A GH-secreting pituitary adenoma diagnosed years late. Screen with IGF-1, confirm with a high IGF-1 or failed GH suppression on OGTT, image the pituitary, treat with transsphenoidal surgery first, then somatostatin analogues, pegvisomant or radiotherapy, and screen for heart, sleep, glucose and colon complications.
Tier 2Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Excess growth hormone, from a somatotroph pituitary adenoma in over 95%. About 70% are macroadenomas at diagnosis.
- Rare: around 3 to 14 cases per million a year. Diagnosis takes a median of about 5 to 10 years from symptom onset.
- Before epiphyseal fusion, GH excess causes gigantism.
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Sources
- Giustina A et al. Consensus on criteria for acromegaly diagnosis and remission. Pituitary 2024;27:7-22Acromegaly Consensus Group (14th Acromegaly Consensus Conference), 2024
- Consensus on acromegaly complications: an update. Pituitary 2026;29:76Acromegaly Consensus Group (16th Acromegaly Consensus Conference), 2026
- Katznelson L et al. Acromegaly: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2014;99:3933-51Endocrine Society, 2014
- Palsonify (paltusotine) European public assessment reportEuropean Medicines Agency, EU marketing authorisation 23 April 2026
- Endocrinology (Therapeutic Guidelines)AU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Ltd
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy