Which treatment is recommended for acromegaly?

The recommended treatment for acromegaly is the surgical removal or irradiation of the pituitary tumor. Acromegaly is caused by excess growth hormone, typically due to a benign tumor on the pituitary gland called an adenoma. The primary goal of treatment is to reduce the secretion of growth hormone and normalize the levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the blood.

Surgical removal, often through a transsphenoidal approach, is the first-line treatment for most patients because it can effectively remove the tumor responsible for the excess hormone production. In cases where surgery is not feasible or if the tumor cannot be completely removed, irradiation may be recommended to shrink the tumor and reduce hormone secretion gradually.

Other treatment options may include medications such as somatostatin analogs or growth hormone receptor antagonists, but the most direct and definitive approach starts with addressing the source of the excess hormone production, which is the pituitary tumor.

The other treatments listed do not address the underlying cause of acromegaly. Surgical removal of the thyroid addresses thyroid issues unrelated to acromegaly. Injection of insulin is used in managing diabetes and does not have a direct role in treating excess growth hormone. An oral glucose tolerance