A patient with markedly enlarged jaw and hands and feet is most consistent with which condition?

A patient with markedly enlarged jaw and hands and feet is most consistent with which condition?

• A. Gigantism
• B. Addison's disease
• C. Pheochromocytoma
• D. Acromegaly

Answer: (D)

Excess growth hormone after the growth plates have closed leads to acromegaly, which causes enlargement of hands, feet, and facial features such as the jaw. Gigantism would occur if this hormone excess happened before puberty, resulting in tall stature rather than just thickened bones and soft tissue. Addison's disease and pheochromocytoma do not cause progressive skeletal overgrowth—Addison's presents with adrenal insufficiency symptoms, and pheochromocytoma with episodic hypertension and related symptoms. So the presentation described best fits acromegaly.

Excess growth hormone after the growth plates have closed leads to acromegaly, which causes enlargement of hands, feet, and facial features such as the jaw. Gigantism would occur if this hormone excess happened before puberty, resulting in tall stature rather than just thickened bones and soft tissue. Addison's disease and pheochromocytoma do not cause progressive skeletal overgrowth—Addison's presents with adrenal insufficiency symptoms, and pheochromocytoma with episodic hypertension and related symptoms. So the presentation described best fits acromegaly.