Other tests for acromegaly

Visual field testing

Visual field testing looks for defects in your eyesight that might be caused by the pituitary tumor pressing on the eye’s nerves.

During the test you will be asked to stare at a screen indicated to you by the optometrist or ophthalmologist performing the test. You will be asked to report when you see lights flashing across your visual fields.

Visual field testing takes about 10 to 20 minutes to perform. It does require a degree of concentration, which some people find a challenge. There is no need for any special preparations before you have the test.

Echocardiography

Echocardiography looks at the heart using sound waves and can help to assess how well your heart muscle is working.

It is a test in which you will need to remove your upper clothing and a small amount of clear lubricating jelly will be placed on your chest.

During this test, a small, hand-held probe called a transducer will then be gently pressed onto the chest and moved around to see your heart.

The whole process should take less than an hour. Results will be sent to a cardiologist who will discuss the findings with you.

Sleep study

People with acromegaly can have a coexisting condition called sleep apnea. This is a condition characterized by temporarily stopping breathing while you are asleep.

A sleep study (polysomnography) can be a way of determining how well you sleep and how serious any sleep problems may be.

Sleep studies are painless and usually involve visiting a hospital center that specializes in diagnosing and treating people with sleep disorders.

Bone scan

People with acromegaly may be referred for a bone scan (or bone mineral density scan). This is to check how strong their bones are and measures calcium and other types of minerals in an area of the bone.

Depending on your age and other signs or symptoms you may be referred for a colonoscopy. This is because acromegaly can be associated with a small increase in the risk of colon cancer.

This test looks at the inside of your large bowel (colon) and can be used to screen for small benign growths called polyps. Bowel polyps are common but some are linked to the development of colorectal cancer.

You will need to clear your bowel by eating a low-residue diet and take laxatives before you have this test. You will be given full instructions on what to do.

A gastroenterologist performs colonoscopy by inserting a long, thin and very flexible tubular instrument called a colonoscope up into bowel (through your rectum).

The colonoscope consists of a fiber optic device that sends back pictures of the inside of your bowel to a computer in real-time. A biopsy might be taken of any tissue that does not look normal.

A colonoscopy takes about 30 minutes to an hour.