Pathogenesis (disease development)
Acromegaly is caused by overproduction of growth hormone (GH). The cause of this overproduction is usually a tumor. It is a somatotrophic pituitary adenoma (benign neoplasm) in 99% of cases. A distinction is made between microadenomas and macroadenomas (> 1 cm).
In 2017, the World Health Organization updated the histologic grading of neuroendocrine tumors of the pituitary gland. Evaluation criteria include morphology tumor proliferation and invasion status to assess prognosis and tumor aggressiveness.
Etiology (causes)
Disease-related causes
Neoplasms – Tumor Diseases (C00-D48).
- Adenoma of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland – benign neoplasm in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland (pituitary gland).
- Bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer)
- Hypothalamus tumors, unspecified.
- Hormone-producing tumors, not specified
- Lymphoma – malignant neoplasm originating from the lymphatic system.
- Malignant (malignant) neoplasms of the pituitary gland (pituitary gland).
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma – form of thyroid cancer.
- Adrenocortical tumors, unspecified.
- Pancreatic islet cell tumors – neoplasms of the pancreas.
- Pheochromocytoma – usually benign tumor that originates predominantly in the adrenal gland and can lead to crisis increases in blood pressure.
