Developing a Simple Recognition System of Acromegaly
Developing a Simple Recognition System of Acromegaly
We will compare the features of 3D stereophotography of acromegaly patients with that of
 healthy people. We hope to develop a computerized model to help screening acromegaly patients
 for early detection and treatment.
Background: Acromegaly is a slowly progressive disease caused by growth hormone (GH) excess.
 The estimated prevalence of the disease is 40 cases/1000000 population with 3-4 new
 cases/1000000 population per year. Most patients have classic manifestations due to acral and
 soft tissue change, including thickening of the calvarium, increased size of frontal sinus,
 enlargement of the nose, prognathism, and widely spaced teeth. The hands and feet are large,
 thickened and bulky. Acromegaly was also associated with many comorbidities including
 cardiovascular complications (acromegalic cardiomyopathy and arterial hypertension),
 respiratory complications (sleep apnea), metabolic complication (impaired glucose tolerance,
 diabetes mellitus), joint and bone complications (carpal-tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis).3
 The outcome of growth hormone level suppression after transsphenoidal surgery is far better
 for microadenomas (80-90%) than for macroadenomas (less than 50%). Furthermore, higher growth
 hormone level at diagnosis was related to poor prognosis. An early detection of acromegaly
 with early intervention was desirable. However, due to the slowly progression of the disease,
 times from symptom onset to diagnosis were 5.2 to 5.9 year4.

 Current method to diagnose patients with acromegaly was to check serum GH and insulin-like
 growth factor 1 (IGF-1). However, tests for growth hormone and IGF-1 are currently
 unavailable in most hospitals in Taiwan and were expensive. We want to find a better
 screening tool for acromegaly with less expensive and high efficacy. Due to specific facial
 appearance of acromegaly, there were studies to recognize acromegaly by computer
 program1,2,3. They tried to develop computer programs to separate facial photographs of
 patient with acromegaly and normal subjects. The accuracy could reach 71.9% to 86%. Due to
 enlarged hand with increased soft tissue in patients with acromegaly, we also want to compare
 the difference of face, hand and feet morphology and face, hand and feet X ray of acromegaly
 patients with those of normal population. We hope to set a computer model to early detect
 acromegaly patients in Chinese people.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age 20-80 years old, Acromegaly patients or Healthy Adults

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnancy. Age less than 20 years old or older than 80 years old