acromegaly

American  

[ak-ruh-meg-uh-lee] / ˌæk rəˈmɛg ə li /

noun

Pathology.

1. a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, the soft parts of the feet and hands, and sometimes other structures, due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.

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acromegaly British  

/ ˌækrəʊˈmɛɡəlɪ, ˌækrəʊmɪˈɡælɪk /

noun

1. a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, hands, and feet, and swelling and enlargement of soft tissue, esp the tongue. It is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland Compare gigantism

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Other Word Forms

• acromegalic adjective
• pseudoacromegaly noun

Etymology

Origin of acromegaly

1885–90; < French acromégalie < New Latin acromegalia. See acro-, -megaly

Compare meaning

How does acromegaly compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• acromegaly vs. gigantism

Example Sentences

If untreated, acromegaly can lead to serious health problems and shorten life expectancy by about 10 years.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

Today, about several hundred people with acromegaly live in County Tyrone.

From Washington Post • Jan. 24, 2023

Untreated, patients with acromegaly will often have obstructive sleep apnea from enlarging tissues in the mouth and throat, high blood pressure, joint breakdown and sometimes an enlarged but weakened heart.

From New York Times • Jun. 15, 2022

In adults, excessive GH can lead to acromegaly, a condition in which there is enlargement of bones in the face, hands, and feet that are still capable of growth.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Not rarely does it happen that acromegaly attacks the side most deficient in nerve supply.

From Degeneracy Its Causes, Signs and Results by Talbot, Eugene S.