Acromegaly

Several tests are useful in diagnosing acromegaly. The most important are laboratory tests that measure the levels of various hormones in the blood. These include growth hormone (GH), which causes many of the symptoms of acromegaly, as well as insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), a hormone that is produced in response to GH.

Other tests, such as head scans by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), are designed to look for a pituitary growth or tumor, the most likely source of the excessive GH secretion.

Still other tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, eye and visual field examination, and/or colonoscopy, are used to check a patient's overall health.

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