Acromegaly, also called as gigantism, is a rare disease in which you make too much growth hormone. Due to this there are various symptoms which slowly develop over several years. Common symptoms are that your hands and feet become larger, and features of your face may become more prominent. The cause is usually a small non-cancerous tumor in the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland lies just below the brain. Pituitary hormone produces several hormones, including growth hormone. (A hormone is a chemical that is made in one part of the body, passes into the bloodstream, and then can have effects on other parts of the body.)
Hormone secreted by the body is partly controlled by other hormones which come from a small part of the brain called the hypothalamus. This is just above the pituitary.
It makes growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) which stimulates the pituitary to make growth hormone when the blood level of growth hormone is low. It also makes a hormone called somatostatin which prevents the pituitary from making growth hormone when the level of growth hormone is high.
Growth hormone helps to stimulate growth and repair of various body tissues. It is needed in childhood to help children to grow. Growth hormone acts on some tissues directly.

