Acromegaly is a rare hormonal disorder in which the body produces excessive growth hormone (GH), leading to abnormal growth of certain body parts.
It stems from a benign tumor that sits on the pituitary gland, stimulating it to produce excess GH as well as causing the liver to produce a hormone known as Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), resulting in excess tissue growth.
All of this can contribute to significant changes in the face, such as:
- protruding or prominent lower jaw, or an overbite
- protruding brow bone, known as frontal bossing
- enlarged features, such as the nose, lips, and tongue, growing bigger
- widening of spaces between the teeth
- issues with skin, such as it being coarse or oily
- swelling of tissues in the face
These changes in the face stem from the physical effects of the tumor, which overproduces the growth hormone. Other facial symptoms can include:
- skin issues, such as large pores or imperfections, such as blackheads
- swollen eyelids
- deepening of skin folds and creases on the face, particularly the forehead
- skin discoloration or hyperpigmentation
- skin tags
- cysts
- acanthosis nigricans, which is a dark velvety overgrowth of the skin
- hypertrichosis, or excessive hair growth
There is a treatment available for acromegaly, and once it is effective and successful, you can stop further changes from occurring.
Soft tissue occurrences are reversible, but bone changes, such as excessive growth to the jaw, are usually permanent. The aim of treatment is to ensure that growth hormones return to typical levels. This can include:
- transsphenoidal surgery, which involves removing all or part of the pituitary gland
- hormonal medications such as octreotide, lanreotide, and pasireotide
- radiation therapy to reduce tumor size
- dopamine agonists, such as bromocriptine and cabergoline