Is Acromegaly more associated with adults?

Is Acromegaly more associated with adults?

• A. Gigantism
• B. Acromegaly
• C. Cushing's disease
• D. Addison's disease

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how growth hormone excess presents depends on whether the growth plates are closed. In adults, after the long bones have fused, excess growth hormone causes acromegaly — features like enlarged hands and feet, prognathism, thickened soft tissues, and organ enlargement. In children or teens with open growth plates, the same hormone excess leads to gigantism, with excessive linear (height) growth. So acromegaly is the condition most associated with adults, while gigantism describes the pediatric counterpart. The usual cause is a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Conditions like Cushing's disease and Addison's disease involve different hormonal pathways and don’t describe this GH-related distinction.

The key idea is how growth hormone excess presents depends on whether the growth plates are closed. In adults, after the long bones have fused, excess growth hormone causes acromegaly — features like enlarged hands and feet, prognathism, thickened soft tissues, and organ enlargement. In children or teens with open growth plates, the same hormone excess leads to gigantism, with excessive linear (height) growth. So acromegaly is the condition most associated with adults, while gigantism describes the pediatric counterpart. The usual cause is a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Conditions like Cushing's disease and Addison's disease involve different hormonal pathways and don’t describe this GH-related distinction.