Acromegaly and the temporal bone

Acromegaly is a chronic disease of middle life resulting from excessive secretion of growth hormones by the acidophil cells of the anterior pituitary. The typical clinical features include enlargement of the skull, thorax, hands and feet. Recently, three patients with acromegaly have been operated upon for active otologic disease. In spite of massive mastoid cortex bone, the structures of the otic capsule were found to be of normal dimensions and in the usual relationships.