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Acromegaly Abroad

Hospitals and medical centers performing Acromegaly.

Sourasky Medical Center

The Department of Endocrinology at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of the whole range of endocrine and metabolic disorders, including benign and malignant tumors of the endocrine system, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and complications.

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Acromegaly is treated at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

Hospital Universitario de San Vicente Fundación

The Division of Nephrology and Eendocrinology provides care for kidney diseases, diseases caused by excessive or insufficient hormone actions, endocrine tumors, and hypertension, which is closely related to problems with both the kidneys and the endocrine system.

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Acromegaly is treated at Hospital Universitario San Vicente

Rambam Medical Center

The Department of Endocrinology comprises consulting clinics where patients are treated, laboratories for routine testing, and research laboratories. The most advanced technologies and techniques in the field are used in the treatments and tests carried out at the institute.

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Acromegaly is treated at Rambam Medical Center

Hospital Velmar

Welcome to our Private Hospital, where a friendly and courteous team of medical specialists with a wealth of scientific knowledge and ethical standards is committed to taking care of your healthcare needs. Our goal is to provide unmatched medical care by constantly innovating and investing in the tr

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Acromegaly is treated at Hospital Velmar

Hospital Médica Sur

Prestigious destination that conducts first class medical procedures.

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Acromegaly is treated at Hospital Médica Sur

Sevenhills Hospital

SevenHills Group of Hospitals (SHHL) has been delivering Healthcare services at the highest level, since past 25 years. SevenHills Hospital, Mumbai, is a world class integrated Healthcare Delivery System, that provides comprehensive Healthcare...

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Acromegaly is treated at Sevenhills Hospital

Hospital San Jose TecSalud

A JCI accredited hospital, located 150 miles from the border with Texas, United States. The hospital is a full range tertiary care hospital, with five areas of excellence: Cardiology, Oncology, Neuroscience, Organ Transplant and Liver Disease.

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Acromegaly is treated at Hospital San Jose TecSalud

Endocrinology centers abroad (Page 1 of 1)

About Acromegaly

This information is intended for general information only and should not be considered as medical advice on the part of Health-Tourism.com. Any decision on medical treatments, after-care or recovery should be done solely upon proper consultation and advice of a qualified physician.


What is acromegaly?

This is a hormonal disorder due to too much growth hormones in the body. Growth hormones are produced by the pituitary, a small gland in the brain. Excess growth hormones come from benign tumors on the pituitary called adenomas.


Symptoms of acromegaly include:
  • Swelling of the hands and feet
  • The brow and lower jaw protrude leading to teeth space out
  • Overgrowth of bone and cartilage leading to carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Numbness and weakness of the hands
  • Enlargement of body organs such as the heart
  • Joint aches
  • Thick, coarse, oily skin
  • Enlarged lips, nose, tongue, sinuses and vocal cords
  • Deepening of the voice
  • Sleep apnea
  • Excessive sweating and skin odor
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Headaches and impaired vision
  • Menstrual cycle abnormalities and sometimes breast discharge in women
  • Erectile dysfunction and decreased libido

How is acromegaly diagnosed?Blood tests

Growth hormone levels: Your doctor will measure the growth hormone level in your blood to see if it is elevated. This test is accurate when done under conditions that suppress the secretion of growth hormones.IGF-I levels: Your doctor can also measure your Insulin-like Growth Factor levels which increase as Growth hormone increase.

Imaging

MRI: After diagnosis using blood tests, an MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary is done to locate the tumor causing the overproduction of the growth hormone and also to detect the size.CT scan: Computerized tomography scan can diagnose possible tumor sites.

Treatment options include:

  • Surgery: This is done if the tumor has not yet invaded surrounding nonpituitary tissues. After surgery, hormone levels have to be measured to determine whether a cure has been achieved, which can take up to several weeks because IGF-I lasts a long time in the body's circulation.
  • Medication: This option is done if the surgery does not normalize the hormone levels or a relapse occurs. Long-term therapy is necessary because their withdrawal can lead to rising growth hormone levels and tumor re-expansion.
  • Radiation therapy: This form of treatment is done on patients who are not good candidates for surgery or do not respond adequately to surgery and medication.    
  • Side effects include:
    • Infertility
    • Vision loss and brain injury
    • Digestive problems such as loose stools, nausea, and gas
    • Gallstones
    • Elevated blood glucose levels.
    • A need for lifelong use of pituitary hormone replacement.
    • Cerebrospinal fluid leaks
    • Meningitis.
    • Headaches, fatigue
    • Abnormal liver function.

Conclusion

Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder due to too much growth hormone in the body because of a benign tumor of the pituitary gland. Common features of acromegaly include abnormal growth of the hands and feet; bone growth in the face that leads to a protruding lower jaw and brow as well as an enlarged nasal bone. It can cause sleep apnea, fatigue and weakness, aches and is diagnosed through a blood test or MRI. The common treatment is usually surgical removal of the tumor. Medication or radiation may also be used instead of or in addition to surgery.

Learn more about Acromegaly

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