hormonal and metabolic disorders
Gigantism and Acromegaly
Diagnosis of Gigantism and Acromegaly
Blood tests Imaging tests In children, rapid growth may not seem abnormal at first. Eventually, however, the abnormality of the extreme growth becomes clear. In adults, because the changes induced by high levels of growth hormone occur slowly, acromegaly often is not diagnosed until many years after the first symptoms appear. Serial photographs (those taken over many years) may help a doctor establish the diagnosis. Imaging of the skull may show thickening of the bones and enlargement of the nasal sinuses. X-rays of the hands show thickening of the bones under the fingertips and swelling of the tissue around the bones. Blood sugar levels and blood pressure may be high. Computed Tomography (CT) (CT) or -like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Because growth hormone is released in short bursts and the levels of growth hormone often fluctuate dramatically even in people without acromegaly, a single high level of growth hormone in the blood is insufficient to make the diagnosis. Doctors must give something that would normally suppress growth hormone levels, most commonly a glucose drink (the Oral glucose tolerance test ), and show that normal suppression does not occur. This test is not necessary when the clinical features of acromegaly are obvious, the IGF-1 level is high, or a tumor is seen in the pituitary on CT or MRI. 