Acromegaly diagnosis involves specific blood tests and scans. Learn about IGF-1 screening, the glucose suppression test, and MRI imaging used to confirm the condition.
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Diagnosing acromegaly begins with checking hormone levels in your blood. Because Growth Hormone (GH) is released in bursts or pulses throughout the day, a single check of your GH level is often not enough to confirm a diagnosis. Instead, doctors use more stable markers and specific screening tests.
If your screening tests show elevated hormone levels, your doctor will order a definitive test called the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). This is considered the gold standard for confirming acromegaly.
The OGTT is a dynamic test that takes a few hours to complete. It is designed to see how your body’s hormone levels react to sugar.
Proper preparation is essential for the OGTT procedure to be accurate.
Rest: Avoid strenuous exercise the morning of the test, as exercise can naturally increase Growth Hormone secretion.
Interpreting the results involves looking at how your Growth Hormone responded to the sugar drink.
Once biochemical tests confirm acromegaly, the next step is to locate the source of the excess hormone.
Vision Testing: Large tumors may press on the optic nerves, so an eye exam might be needed to check for vision loss.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
The primary tests are the IGF-1 blood test for screening and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) for confirmation. MRI imaging is used to locate the tumor.
IGF-1 test preparation is very simple. Unlike the glucose test, IGF-1 levels are stable, so you generally do not need to fast or stop medications unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
The test involves a blood draw, which causes a small pinch. Drinking the glucose solution is painless but may taste very sweet. Some people feel slightly nauseous from the sugar on an empty stomach.
They are highly accurate when performed correctly. The combination of elevated IGF-1 and failure to suppress GH during an OGTT provides a definitive diagnosis in almost all cases.
You need an MRI after your blood tests confirm high hormone levels. The imaging is not used to diagnose the hormone imbalance itself, but to see the size and exact position of the tumor for treatment planning.
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