Developing a Simple Recognition System of Acromegaly
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03042026 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : February 3, 2017
Last Update Posted : February 7, 2017
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Condition or disease |
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Acromegaly |
Background: Acromegaly is a slowly progressive disease caused by growth hormone (GH) excess. The estimated prevalence of the disease is 40 cases/1000000 population with 3-4 new cases/1000000 population per year. Most patients have classic manifestations due to acral and soft tissue change, including thickening of the calvarium, increased size of frontal sinus, enlargement of the nose, prognathism, and widely spaced teeth. The hands and feet are large, thickened and bulky. Acromegaly was also associated with many comorbidities including cardiovascular complications (acromegalic cardiomyopathy and arterial hypertension), respiratory complications (sleep apnea), metabolic complication (impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus), joint and bone complications (carpal-tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis).3 The outcome of growth hormone level suppression after transsphenoidal surgery is far better for microadenomas (80-90%) than for macroadenomas (less than 50%). Furthermore, higher growth hormone level at diagnosis was related to poor prognosis. An early detection of acromegaly with early intervention was desirable. However, due to the slowly progression of the disease, times from symptom onset to diagnosis were 5.2 to 5.9 year4.
Current method to diagnose patients with acromegaly was to check serum GH and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). However, tests for growth hormone and IGF-1 are currently unavailable in most hospitals in Taiwan and were expensive. We want to find a better screening tool for acromegaly with less expensive and high efficacy. Due to specific facial appearance of acromegaly, there were studies to recognize acromegaly by computer program1,2,3. They tried to develop computer programs to separate facial photographs of patient with acromegaly and normal subjects. The accuracy could reach 71.9% to 86%. Due to enlarged hand with increased soft tissue in patients with acromegaly, we also want to compare the difference of face, hand and feet morphology and face, hand and feet X ray of acromegaly patients with those of normal population. We hope to set a computer model to early detect acromegaly patients in Chinese people.
Study Type : | Observational |
Estimated Enrollment : | 80 participants |
Observational Model: | Case-Control |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Developing a Simple Recognition System of Acromegaly |
Actual Study Start Date : | June 1, 2012 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | June 1, 2022 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | June 1, 2027 |

Group/Cohort |
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Acromegaly patients
Acromegaly patients
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Healthy subjects
Healthy volunteers
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- Anthropometry [ Time Frame: 1 year from the first time of 3D stereophotography ]Features of the body including face, hands and feet

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 20 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 20-80 years old, Acromegaly patients or Healthy Adults
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnancy. Age less than 20 years old or older than 80 years old

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03042026
Contact: Shyang-Rong Shih, PhD | 886-2-23123456 | srshih@ntu.edu.tw |
Taiwan | |
National Taiwan University Hospital | Recruiting |
Taipei, Taiwan, 100 | |
Contact: Shyang-Rong Shih, PhD 2-23123456 srshih@ntu.edu.tw |
Principal Investigator: | Shyang-Rong Shih, PhD | National Taiwan University Hospital |
Responsible Party: | National Taiwan University Hospital |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03042026 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
201204079RIC |
First Posted: | February 3, 2017 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 7, 2017 |
Last Verified: | January 2017 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Acromegaly Bone Diseases, Endocrine Bone Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Hyperpituitarism Pituitary Diseases |
Hypothalamic Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Endocrine System Diseases |