A

Acromegaly
A chronic disease of adults caused by oversecretion of pituitary growth hormone and characterized by enlargement of the hands, feet, and facial features.

Amenorrhea
The absence or discontinuation or abnormal stoppage of menstrual periods.

Arthralgia
Pain in one or more joints.

Assay
A technique of analyzing a substance to determine the presence, absence, or quantity of one or more components.

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C

Cardiomegaly
Abnormal enlargement of the heart.

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Tingling, pain, and numbness of the hand, caused by compression of nerves in the wrist.

Chronic
Persisting over a long period of time.

Colonoscopy
Examination of the colon (large intestine) via insertion of a long, flexible tube with a viewing scope (endoscope).

Computed tomography (CT) scan
A scan that shows a thin cross-sectional slice through the body, achieved by taking a series of low-dose X-rays.

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D

Diabetes mellitus
A chronic syndrome of impaired glucose metabolism due to insufficient secretion of insulin.

Dopamine agonist
A drug that works on dopamine receptors to inhibit release of growth hormone (GH) from a tumor.

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E

Electrocardiogram (ECG)
A test of the electrical impulses of the heart, or the graph on which the test results are displayed.

Endocrine system
A regulatory system comprised of the endocrine glands that controls vital body functions such as metabolic activity, growth, and reproduction.

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G

GH receptor agonist (GHRA)
A type of drug that blocks GH action peripherally, and decreases IGF-1 production.

Gigantism
A condition that may affect children with hyperpituitarism, causing excessive growth of the long bones.

Glucose
A sugar found in many foods and in normal blood; the main source of energy for most living organisms.

Goiter
Enlargement of the thyroid gland, causing a swelling in the front of the neck.

Growth hormone (GH)
A substance secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates growth of bones and soft tissue in children and regulates metabolism in adults.

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H

Hirsutism
Excessive growth of hair, or hair growing in abnormal patterns.

Hormone
A substance that is secreted by a cell that travels through the circulation to exert regulatory actions on other cells.

Hyperhidrosis
Excessive perspiration.

Hypersecretion
Excessive production of a bodily secretion. In the case of acromegaly, hypersecretion refers to excessive production of hormones.

Hypertension
Persistently high blood pressure.

Hyperpituitarism
Excessive increase in pituitary function caused by a tumor; leads to excessive hormone production.

Hypothalamus
Part of the endocrine system that helps activate and control the pituitary.

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I

Imaging
Refers to diagnostic tests that let the doctor see inside your body. There are many kinds of imaging tests, but the ones used most often in the care of acromegaly are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans.

Impotence
The inability to achieve or sustain a penile erection.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
A growth factor made predominantly in the liver; its levels increase in response to increased levels of GH.

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M

Macroadenoma
A large pituitary tumor.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A method of obtaining a thin cross-sectional X-ray view of a patient, using a large electromagnet to cause atoms in the body to emit radio waves

Microadenoma
A small pituitary tumor, less than 1 centimeter in size.

Metabolism
A chemical process within the body by which energy is provided to cells.

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O

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
A test used to assess the patient’s response to glucose. Blood and urine samples are obtained before and after drinking a solution containing glucose.

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P

Paresthesia
Abnormal neurological sensations such as numbness, tingling, burning, prickling, or increased sensitivity.

Pituitary
A small gland located at the base of the brain behind the eyes. The pituitary secretes hormones that directly or indirectly affect most basic bodily functions.

Polyp
A protruding growth from a mucous membrane, often benign.

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R

Radiotherapy
The use of radiation to kill rapidly growing tumor cells.

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S

Secretion
A substance produced by a tissue that may be retained in the body or released from the body.

Skin tag
Small, noncancerous, wart-like growth on the skin. One of the signs of acromegaly.

Sleep apnea
The temporary stopping of breathing during sleep; can be caused by narrowing of the airways resulting from swelling of soft tissue.

Somatostatin
The naturally occurring hormone produced in many parts of the body that signals the pituitary to reduce the production of GH.

Somatostatin analogue (SA)
Drug that works directly at the site of the pituitary tumor and shuts off the hormones that cause the symptoms of acromegaly.

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T

Transsphenoidal surgery
A procedure used to treat pituitary tumors in which the pituitary is accessed via the nasal cavity.

Tumor
A pathological tissue growth, characterized by uncontrolled multiplication of cells.

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If there are additional words you are unfamiliar with, check with your heath care team. They will explain what these words mean and how they relate to you.
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