Acromegaly
Introduction to Acromegaly
Welcome to the Acromegaly subsection of the Endocrinology for the MSRA course. This section is designed to provide comprehensive and structured learning materials to help you understand and master the topic of Acromegaly for the MSRA.
In this subsection, you will find the following Acromegaly for the MSRA resources:
- Acromegaly Revision Notes for the MSRA: Detailed and concise traditional revision notes covering all essential aspects of Acromegaly, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. These notes are based on UK NICE guidelines and are formatted in tables for easy recall.
- Acromegaly Flashcards for the MSRA: Interactive flashcards to help you memorise key facts and concepts about Acromegaly. These are perfect for quick reviews and reinforcing your knowledge for the MSRA exam.
- Acromegaly Accordion Q&A Notes for the MSRA: Engage in active learning with question-and-answer style revision notes in the accordion format. This format is useful for testing your understanding of Acromegaly and focusing on areas needing improvement.
- Acromegaly Rapid Fire Quiz for the MSRA: A short quiz to test your knowledge and recall of Acromegaly-related concepts. It’s an excellent way to assess your progress and pinpoint areas for further review.
Key Points about Acromegaly:
- Definition: Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder resulting from excessive production of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary gland, usually due to a benign pituitary adenoma. It leads to abnormal growth of bones and tissues, particularly in the hands, feet, and face.
- Causes: The most common cause is a growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma. Rarely, ectopic production of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) from tumours in other organs (e.g., lungs, pancreas) can lead to acromegaly.
- Symptoms: Patients often present with enlarged hands and feet, facial changes (protruding jaw, thickened lips), joint pain, and skin changes. Systemic symptoms include headaches, visual field defects, excessive sweating, and symptoms of complications like diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
- Diagnosis: Diagnosis is based on clinical features and confirmed by measuring serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with GH measurement helps confirm the diagnosis. MRI of the pituitary gland is used to identify the presence and size of a pituitary adenoma.
- Management: The primary treatment is transsphenoidal surgery to remove the pituitary adenoma. Medical therapy (e.g., somatostatin analogues, GH receptor antagonists) and radiotherapy may be considered if surgery is not feasible or does not achieve disease control. Regular monitoring of IGF-1 levels is crucial to assess treatment efficacy.
- Complications: Potential complications include cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnoea, and an increased risk of certain cancers. Lifelong follow-up is essential to monitor for recurrence and manage associated comorbidities.
We hope you find these MSRA revision resources helpful and engaging as you prepare for the MSRA.
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