Overgrowth of cartilaginous and connective tissue is characteristic of which condition?

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Multiple Choice

Overgrowth of cartilaginous and connective tissue is characteristic of which condition?

Excess growth hormone in adulthood drives expansion of cartilage and soft tissues, producing the characteristic signs of acromegaly. When the growth plates have closed, GH (and its mediator IGF-1) stimulates proliferation of cartilage and connective tissue in the face, hands, feet, and other tissues. This leads to enlarged hands and feet, a coarser facial appearance with prognathism, enlarged tongue, thickened skin, and often organ enlargement, without an increase in height. The underlying cause is usually a pituitary adenoma secreting GH. This differs from other conditions: Marfan syndrome involves connective tissue weakness with features like tall stature and long limbs, not diffuse soft-tissue overgrowth; osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease with cartilage loss rather than widespread soft-tissue expansion; Cushing syndrome causes weight gain and fat redistribution with distinct features like moon facies and a buffalo hump, not broad soft-tissue overgrowth.

Excess growth hormone in adulthood drives expansion of cartilage and soft tissues, producing the characteristic signs of acromegaly. When the growth plates have closed, GH (and its mediator IGF-1) stimulates proliferation of cartilage and connective tissue in the face, hands, feet, and other tissues. This leads to enlarged hands and feet, a coarser facial appearance with prognathism, enlarged tongue, thickened skin, and often organ enlargement, without an increase in height. The underlying cause is usually a pituitary adenoma secreting GH.

This differs from other conditions: Marfan syndrome involves connective tissue weakness with features like tall stature and long limbs, not diffuse soft-tissue overgrowth; osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease with cartilage loss rather than widespread soft-tissue expansion; Cushing syndrome causes weight gain and fat redistribution with distinct features like moon facies and a buffalo hump, not broad soft-tissue overgrowth.

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