Caption

Enlarged head. Coloured profile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the head of a patient with acromegaly, a growth disorder. In acromegaly, there is uncontrolled growth, leading to changed features and enlargement of the hands and feet. Here, the jaw is jutting out, and the facial features are lengthened. Acromegaly is caused by excessive production of growth hormone (GH), also called somatotrophin (STH), which is normally produced and regulated by the anterior pituitary gland. The overproduction of GH is usually due to a benign tumour in this region. The condition can be controlled today with drugs, or the tumour can be surgically removed or treated by radiotherapy.