Acromegaly
Interesting Facts:
1. Only about 6 new cases occur every year in the entire United Kingdom.
2. Gigantism is the term used to describe childhood onset and acromegaly is used to describe when the disease occurs in adulthood.
3. Difference between gigantism and acromegaly: Gigantism occurs when the growth plates are open, causing excessive height, whereas acromegaly occurs when the growth plate cartilage has fused, leading to the enlargement of bones.
4. Great Khali, Andre the Giant, and Zeng Jinlian are three celebrities with this disease.
5. 3-4 of every 1,000,000 are affected.
Testing
Diagnostic Tests
Growth Hormone blood tests
CAT scan
MRI
Carrier Testing
Anyone could be a carrier.
Accuracy of Tests
MRI is most accurate in diagnosis. Usually by the time they are tested for it, though, all of the tests are accurate because of how large the tumor has grown and how much growth hormone has been secreted by that point.
Citations
"Genetic Mutation Responsible for 'gigantism ' Disease -- or Acromegaly -- Identified." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.
"Gigantism and Acromegaly ." Gigantism and Acromegaly. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.
"Symptoms, Causes And Treatments: What Is Acromegaly?" Essortment. N.p., n.d. Web. 25. Sept. 2014.
"You & Your Hormones." You & Your Hormones. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.
Gigantism/ acromegaly
Genetic Causes
Abnormally high linear growth due to excessive action of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) while the epiphyseal growth plates are open during childhood. A tumor pushing on the pituitary gland causes it to secrete IGF-I. This affects the eleventh and thirteenth chromosome.
Results
Causes abnormal growth throughout the body, most noticeable in the hands, feet, height, weight and forehead.
Symptoms
Tall, Mild to moderate obesity, Macrocephaly (big head), Headaches, Visual changes, Hypopituitarism, Soft tissue hypertrophy (increase in growth), Exaggerated growth of the hands and feet, with thick
1. Only about 6 new cases occur every year in the entire United Kingdom.
2. Gigantism is the term used to describe childhood onset and acromegaly is used to describe when the disease occurs in adulthood.
3. Difference between gigantism and acromegaly: Gigantism occurs when the growth plates are open, causing excessive height, whereas acromegaly occurs when the growth plate cartilage has fused, leading to the enlargement of bones.
4. Great Khali, Andre the Giant, and Zeng Jinlian are three celebrities with this disease.
5. 3-4 of every 1,000,000 are affected.
Testing
Diagnostic Tests
Growth Hormone blood tests
CAT scan
MRI
Carrier Testing
Anyone could be a carrier.
Accuracy of Tests
MRI is most accurate in diagnosis. Usually by the time they are tested for it, though, all of the tests are accurate because of how large the tumor has grown and how much growth hormone has been secreted by that point.
Citations
"Genetic Mutation Responsible for 'gigantism ' Disease -- or Acromegaly -- Identified." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.
"Gigantism and Acromegaly ." Gigantism and Acromegaly. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.
"Symptoms, Causes And Treatments: What Is Acromegaly?" Essortment. N.p., n.d. Web. 25. Sept. 2014.
"You & Your Hormones." You & Your Hormones. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.
Gigantism/ acromegaly
Genetic Causes
Abnormally high linear growth due to excessive action of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) while the epiphyseal growth plates are open during childhood. A tumor pushing on the pituitary gland causes it to secrete IGF-I. This affects the eleventh and thirteenth chromosome.
Results
Causes abnormal growth throughout the body, most noticeable in the hands, feet, height, weight and forehead.
Symptoms
Tall, Mild to moderate obesity, Macrocephaly (big head), Headaches, Visual changes, Hypopituitarism, Soft tissue hypertrophy (increase in growth), Exaggerated growth of the hands and feet, with thick
Citations: "Genetic Mutation Responsible for 'gigantism ' Disease -- or Acromegaly -- Identified." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. "Gigantism and Acromegaly ." Gigantism and Acromegaly. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. "Symptoms, Causes And Treatments: What Is Acromegaly?" Essortment. N.p., n.d. Web. 25. Sept. 2014. "You & Your Hormones." You & Your Hormones. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.