What is acromegaly?

How is acromegaly defined?

Acromegaly is an infrequently diagnosed but treatable hormonal or endocrine disorder that is due to having too much growth hormone in the body.

Did you know?

The name Acromegaly comes from the Greek words:

‘ákros’, meaning tip or extremities and‘megaly’ meaning large or great.

So acromegaly literally means ‘large extremities’.

Acromegaly and gigantism are both rare conditions caused by too much growth hormone in the body.

Acromegaly is usually diagnosed in adults but can affect people of any age.  When it develops in children and adolescents, it is known as “gigantism”.

Gigantism occurs when excess growth hormone begins before the end of puberty when long bones are still growing.  This makes children affected grow very tall, very quickly.