Health condition
Acromegaly patient guide
Acromegaly is growth hormone excess in adulthood, usually from a benign pituitary tumour - slow, subtle changes in hands, feet and face that often take years to be recognised.
Key points
What matters most, at a glance.
The essentials in plain English - symptoms, when to seek help, who to see and what treatment looks like.
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Clues: rings and shoes no longer fitting, coarsening facial features, jaw growth, sweating, snoring and joint pain
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Old photographs comparing your face over years are genuinely useful diagnostically
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Diagnosed with an IGF-1 blood test, then a glucose suppression test and pituitary MRI
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Untreated, it raises the risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and bowel polyps
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First-line treatment is keyhole pituitary surgery; medication and radiotherapy are back-up options
Understanding it
About Acromegaly patient guide, and what to do next.
Because adult bones cannot lengthen, excess growth hormone thickens instead: hands and feet broaden, facial features coarsen, the jaw juts, the tongue enlarges and skin becomes oily and sweaty. Change is so gradual that diagnosis lags by around a decade on average, while the hormone quietly drives blood pressure, glucose, sleep apnoea and heart strain.
A single IGF-1 blood test is an excellent screen, confirmed with a glucose tolerance test and MRI. Transsphenoidal surgery cures many patients outright, with modern medications controlling most of the remainder - and treatment reverses much of the sweating, swelling and fatigue. Most people start with their GP, who can refer to an endocrinologist. NHS routine referrals often take 20-45+ weeks depending on where you live, while a private consultation is typically available within about two weeks.
A quiet reminder
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Acromegaly patient guide.
Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.
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What is acromegaly?
Acromegaly is a hormonal condition caused by too much growth hormone in adults, most often from a benign pituitary gland tumour, leading to gradual changes in the size and shape of the hands, feet, and face.
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What causes acromegaly?
It is almost always caused by a non-cancerous tumour on the pituitary gland that produces excess growth hormone, which then drives the body to make too much of another hormone, IGF-1.
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What are the symptoms of acromegaly?
Symptoms include gradually enlarging hands and feet, changes in facial appearance, joint pain, tiredness, excessive sweating, and health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep apnoea.
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Is acromegaly serious?
Yes, untreated acromegaly increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and joint damage, and can shorten life expectancy, so early diagnosis and treatment significantly improve long-term outlook.
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Is acromegaly hereditary?
Most cases occur without a family history, though a small number are linked to inherited genetic syndromes, so your doctor may ask about relevant family history as part of assessment.
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Can acromegaly be cured?
Surgery to remove the pituitary tumour can cure many people, especially with smaller tumours, and when surgery doesn't fully normalise hormone levels, medication or radiotherapy can achieve good long-term control.
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How is acromegaly treated?
Treatment typically begins with surgical removal of the pituitary tumour, followed by medication if needed to control remaining excess hormone, with radiotherapy as an additional option in some cases.
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How long does it take to recover and see improvement?
Surgical recovery generally takes a few weeks, while full hormonal control and improvement in symptoms with medication can take several months, with regular monitoring continuing long-term.
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Acromegaly vs simple large hands and feet — what's the difference?
Naturally large hands or feet are a stable, lifelong body trait, while acromegaly causes progressive enlargement over time, often accompanied by other features like joint pain, sweating, and facial changes, confirmed by hormone blood tests.
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When should I see a doctor about possible acromegaly, and how quickly can I be seen privately?
See a doctor if you or others notice gradual changes in your hands, feet, or facial features. NHS endocrinology referral can take 20 to 45 or more weeks, while private specialist assessment is often available within about two weeks.