What is the role of medical treatment for a growth hormone producing tumor?
Medical treatment is usually given if patients are not cured by surgery. In addition, medical therapy may also be used as the first line of therapy. This depends on the size and location of the tumor. Although medications can lower growth hormone and/or IGF-1 levels, they do not always shrink the tumor. Because of the long-term complications of excessive growth hormone (joint problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, facial changes, sweating, risk of colon polyps and colon cancer, and premature heart disease and premature death), it is important to reduce growth hormone and/or IGF-1 to normal. Most often, medical therapy is given to lower GH and IGF-1 to normal after unsuccessful surgery. Radiation therapy to the remaining tumor is another option. Since it may take months or years before the radiation therapy is effective, medical treatment is used to control excessive growth hormone production while waiting for the effects of radiation. Medications do not cure the problem – they contro
Medical treatment is usually given if there is persistent overproduction of growth hormone after surgery. Although medications can lower growth hormone, they are less effective in shrinking the tumor. Therefore, the usual first treatment is surgical removal of as much of the tumor as is possible. In the situation of a large tumor, particularly if it has grown into an area that is not accessible to the surgeon, the majority of the tumor may be removed, but a small portion remains – and continues to produce too much growth hormone. Because of the long term complications of excessive growth hormone (joint problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, facial changes, sweating, risk of colon polyps and colon cancer, and premature heart disease and death), it is important to reduce growth hormone levels to normal. In most cases, radiation therapy is given if surgery is not completely successful. Since it may take months or a few years before the radiation therapy is effective, medical treatment i
Medical treatment is usually given if there is persistent overproduction of growth hormone after surgery. Although medications can lower growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, they do not always cause the tumor to shrink. Because of this, the usual first treatment is surgical removal of as much of the tumor as possible. In the situation of a large tumor, particularly if it has grown into an area that is not accessible to the surgeon, the majority of the tumor may be removed, but a small portion remains – and continues to produce too much growth hormone. Because of the long-term complications of excessive growth hormone (joint problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, facial changes, sweating, risk of colon polyps and possible increased risk of colon cancer, and premature heart disease and premature death), it is important to reduce IGF-1 to normal. Radiation therapy to the remaining tumor is given if surgery is not completely successful. Since it may take months or years before the radiation
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- What is the role of medical treatment for a growth hormone producing tumor (Acromegaly)?
- What is the role of medical treatment for a growth hormone producing tumor?
