What condition is characterized by enlargement of bones in the skull and extremities, along with thickening skin?

The condition characterized by the enlargement of bones in the skull and extremities, along with thickening skin, is acromegaly. This disorder results from an excess of growth hormone, often due to a benign tumor on the pituitary gland. As a consequence, individuals with acromegaly experience progressive changes including enlarged hands and feet, coarse facial features, and thick skin.

Acromegaly typically develops in adults after the growth plates have closed, which distinguishes it from other conditions like gigantism, where excessive growth hormone occurs in children and leads to overall growth before the closure of growth plates. The specific features of acromegaly, such as the distinct enlargement of bones and skin changes, are critical in differentiating it from other conditions like osteoporosis, which involves the weakening of bones, or achondroplasia, a genetic disorder primarily affecting bone growth leading to dwarfism rather than the enlargement seen in acromegaly.