摘要：INTRODUCTION: Acromegaly is a chronic disease, usually arising from functional pituitary adenomas, characterized by increased secretion of growth hormone (GH) after epiphyseal plates have closed. Regarding to increased GH levels leading to the widening of mandible and forehead, tissue hyperplasia in ears, hands and feet, coarsening of facial features, progressive mandibular prognathia and diastemas are seen. CASE REPORT: A 30-year-old, male patient was referred to İstanbul University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology for periodontal complaints. Because of the clinical appearence, patient’s history including progressive mandibular growth and increase in the diastemas between central incisors, and absence of any other systemic disease, the patient was suspected for acromegaly. In the physical examination, coarsening of facial features and hands, and macroglossia were seen. The lateral cephalometric graphy revealed skeletal mandibular prognathia but without any alteration at the borders of sella turcica. With acromegaly suspicion, the patient was referred to Internal Medicine Clinic. The GH level and IGF-1 test results were 33.3 mlU/ml and 1415 ng/ml, respectively. At oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the GH level was not depressed. Pituitary microadenoma was seen in MRI and the patient was considered for operation. CONCLUSION: In the present report role of dentist is emphasized in the diagnosis of acromegaly.
