Medical treatment of acromegaly — Dopa-minergic agonists and long-acting somatostatin

The medical treatment of acromegaly derives its values from the fact that neurosurgey and radiation therapy may be, in this disease, frequently unsuccessful. Indeed, the frequency with which neurosurgery cures acromegaly depends on the size of the tumor: those patients with tumors less than 10 mm in diameter (microadenomas) have an approximately 80% chance of cure; in contrast, with bigger tumors, particularly when invasive, the cure rate may be as low as 52%.