A clinical observation was done on 17 established cases of acromegaly and giantism during the period between January 1963 a d A gust 1974
The results were as follows:
1. Acromegaly 16(cases) and giantism (1 case) were found in 17 cases among the 132 patients (about 13%) with pituitary tumor.
2. There was no significant difference in occurrence between both sexes. The age distribution was diffuse, but the peak incidence was in the 4th -5th decade of the life (47%).
3. In most of the cases, the duration of illness was 3-10 years.
4. Analysis of symptoms and physical findings were as follows: The most com on symptoms due to parasellar extension was headache (53%) and visual disturbance (41%). The symptoms due to hypersecretion of growth hormones in the order of frequency were acral growth(88%), soft tissue growth(88%), prognathism (76%), arthralgia (53%), weakness(53%), hyperhidrosis (47%), abnormal glucose tolerance test (30%), clinical diabetes (18%) and goiter(12%). The other hormonal disturbances were menstrual abnormality (7l %), loss of libido (20%) and hypoadrencorticism (17%). The other manifestations, were hypertension(35%) and heart failure(6%).
5. The major common findings of rentgenogram were tufting of distal phalanges(88%) and sellar .ballooning(82%). Sesamoid index and heel pad sign were positive in all 3 cases checked recently.
6. On laboratory test, 3 cases sowed elevated fasting blood sugar, diabetic curve of oral glucose tolerance test in 5 cases and increased serum inorganic phosphorus in 9 cases.
7. 13 cases of the patients were treated with 60Co irradiation and 3 cases of them were combined with surgery, Pathologic diagnosis of the patients who received surgery were eosinophilic adenoma in 2 cases and mixed tumor in 1 case.
|