Ultrasonographic Assessment of Soft Tissues in Patients With Acromegaly

Objectives: This study aims to investigate ultrasound examination findings of cartilage, tendon and nerve structures in patients with acromegaly and assess whether imaging findings have any association with the clinical and laboratory features of the patients. Patients and methods: The study included 38 diagnosed acromegaly patients (18 males, 20 females; mean age 45.6 ± 10.4 years; range 28 to 63 years) and 21 control subjects (8 males, 13 females; mean age; 43.1 [+ or -] 7.4 years; range 29 to 58 years) similar for age, sex and body mass index. Patients' clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters were recorded. The cross sectional area of median nerve, flexor pollicis longus and Achilles tendon, and humeral cartilage thickness were bilaterally assessed by ultrasound. Results: Arthralgia was present in 13 patients (34.9%) and 11 (28.9%) had paresthesia in the hands. Thickness of humeral cartilage and the cross sectional area of median nerve, flexor pollicis longus tendon and Achilles tendon was significantly higher in acromegaly patients compared with controls (p