Abstract
Abstract Aim To assess the sagittal soft tissue morphology of patients with acromegaly in comparison with a healthy control group. Methods Twenty-seven patients with acromegaly (11 male, 16 female; mean age 47.3 ± 11.5 years) and 30 healthy subjects (15 male, 15 female; mean age 42.2 ± 17.4 years) were included in the study. Linear and angular measurements were made on lateral cephalograms to evaluate soft tissue and skeletal characteristics. The intergroup comparisons were analysed with the Student’s t-test. Results Facial convexity (p < 0.01) and the nasolabial angle (p < 0.001) were reduced in patients with acromegaly, whereas nose prominence (p < 0.01), upper lip sulcus depth (p < 0.01), upper lip thickness (p < 0.01), basic upper lip thickness (p < 0.01), lower lip protrusion (p < 0.05), mentolabial sulcus depth (p < 0.05) and soft tissue chin thickness (p < 0.001) were increased. Anterior cranial base length (p < 0.05), the supraorbital ridge (p < 0.01), the length of the maxilla and mandible (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively) were significantly increased, and mandibular prognathism was an acromegalic feature (p < 0.05). Conclusion Acromegalic coarsening and thickening of the craniofacial soft tissues was identified from lateral cephalograms, which may therefore contribute to early diagnosis when evaluated together with other changes caused by the disease.
Highlights
Is a rare and complicated disease caused by the overproduction of growth hormone (GH) usually due to a pituitary somatotrophic adenoma
Is characterised by skin and soft tissue changes due to increased GH levels, and reports have emphasised the craniofacial changes.[16,17,18]
Facial convexity and the nasolabial angle were significantly lower in affected patients compared with controls
Summary
Is a rare and complicated disease caused by the overproduction of growth hormone (GH) usually due to a pituitary somatotrophic adenoma. Australian Orthodontic Journal Volume 32 No 1 May 2016 of acromegaly develop very slowly, and healthcare professionals often fail to recognise the disease until changes in facial features and extremities become profound. This usually results in four to eight years of delay in diagnosis.[5] Early diagnosis and treatment is important, since acromegaly increases premature mortality when compared with healthy adults.[6]
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