Acromegaly: Overview and associated temporomandibular joint disorders.

Abstract

Objective: To provide a review on acromegaly and its orofacial manifestations, with a focus on associated arthropathies and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD).

Methods: A review of current literature was performed through an electronic search of three databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The literature review was focused on the following topics of interest: etiology, diagnosis, and management of acromegaly, orofacial manifestations of acromegaly, acromegalic arthropathies, and acromegaly-associated TMD.

Results: Acromegaly is a chronic multisystem condition in which excessive production of growth hormone in adults, most commonly caused by benign pituitary adenomas, leads to somatic overgrowth. Orofacial changes are considered hallmarks of the disease. It is important for dentists to recognize signs and symptoms of acromegaly, as this may help to achieve early diagnosis and improve overall disease prognosis. Acromegalic arthropathies typically involve large joints, however, the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) can be affected. TMD associated with acromegaly is under-recognized and poorly characterized in current literature.

Conclusion: In the appropriate clinical context, acromegaly should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with TMD. Further studies are needed to better characterize the nature of TMD associated with acromegaly and to define the role of TMJ involvement in early diagnosis.