Acromegaly is difficult to diagnose, as symptoms are not distinct and evolve over a very long period. Some subtle symptoms can be overlooked or misinterpreted. If brain-imaging tests do not detect any tumor, you undergo few more tests.
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures for Acromegaly
New York (USA), June 21, 2013
Acromegaly: Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
Acromegaly is difficult to diagnose, as symptoms are not distinct and evolve over a very long period. Some subtle symptoms can be overlooked or misinterpreted. If acromegaly is suspected, you should initially undergo a thorough physical examination to detect enlargement of hands and feet, swelling of neck, and others.
Thereafter your doctor would dwell deep into your and your family’s medical history to detect genetic traits. Questions would be about your symptoms, medical past, your family member’s medical histories, your lifestyle, your work schedules, your medications, any serious ailments, and similar more.
Diagnostic Tests
These simple diagnostic tests confirm acromegaly:
IGF-1 Test: This is the most sensitive lab test for diagnosing acromegaly. Growth hormone produced by pituitary gland stimulates liver to secrete another growth hormone, IGF-1. This test detects IGF-1 levels in your blood. If IGF-1 levels are high, you have acromegaly. However, this test alone cannot confirm acromegaly as sometimes levels are high even in healthy people.
Glucose Tolerance Test: You drink a special high-sugar drink. High glucose levels in blood normally bring down growth hormone levels. However, if you have acromegaly, your growth hormone levels are already high. These levels will not drop even with high glucose levels in blood. This test involves taking readings before drinking high-sugar drink and at several time specifications after drinking it. Normally, GH levels two hours after drinking 75 to 100 gms of glucose should ideally be below 1 ug/L. If it is remarkably higher, you have acromegaly.
Imaging Tests: These tests are done after blood test confirms acromegaly. MRI or Magnetic resonance imaging of your brain can identify size and location of tumor. Sometimes a CT scan is also done.
If brain-imaging tests do not detect any tumor, you undergo few more tests. These include spine x-ray to detect any abnormal bone growth, echocardiogram to detect leaky mitral valve, enlargement of heart, or leaky aortic valve, CT scan of abdomen and pelvis to detect tumors of adrenal glands, pancreas, or ovaries, and CT scan of chest to detect lung cancer.
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