Acromegaly (redirected from acromegalia)

acromegaly /ac·ro·meg·a·ly/ (ak?ro-meg´ah-le) abnormal enlargement of limbs, caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone after maturity.

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ac·ro·meg·a·ly (kr-mg-l)

n.

A disorder marked by progressive enlargement of the head, face, hands, feet, and chest due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Also called Marie's disease.

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Acromegaly

A rare disease resulting from excessive growth hormone caused by a benign tumor. If such a tumor develops within the first 10 years of life, the result is gigantism (in which growth is accelerated) and not acromegaly. Symptoms include coarsening of the facial features, enlargement of the hands, feet, ears, and nose, jutting of the jaw, and a long face.

Mentioned in: Growth Hormone Tests, Thyroid Function Tests

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acromegaly (a·krō·meˑ·g·lē),

n chronic metabolic disorder of middle-aged and older individuals, in which excessive growth hormone secretion results in the progressive thickening and enlargement of the facial bones and jaw. Also called
acromeglia.

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acromegaly (akrmeg´lē),

n (Marie's disease), a condition caused by hyperfunction of the pituitary gland in adults. Characterized by enlargement of the skeletal extremities, including the feet, hands, mandible, and nose.

Acromegaly.

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acromegaly

abnormal enlargement of the extremities of the skeleton due to overgrowth of connective tissue and increased appositional growth of bone caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) from the pituitary gland in adults. The condition has been reported in cats and dogs. Called also hypersomatotropism.

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iatrogenic acromegaly

may be caused by the administration of drugs that stimulate growth hormone-secreting acidophils. Progestational agents, usually administered for estrus control, have been responsible for this disorder in dogs. Affected dogs show coarsening of facial features, widening of interdental spaces, enlargement of the abdomen, thickening of skin with excessive hair growth, and inspiratory stridor.