Gigantism
Gigantism (Greek: γίγας, gígas, "giant", plural γίγαντες, gígantes), also known as giantism, is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average. In humans, this condition is caused by over-production of growth hormone in childhood.
| Gigantism | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Giantism |
| Robert Wadlow stood 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) | |
| Specialty | Endocrinology |
| Symptoms | Abnormal growth in height or size, weakness and insomnia |
| Complications | Excessive sweating, delayed puberty, weakness and severe or recurrent headaches, strokes, vomiting or nausea, high fevers, sleepiness, dry mouth, frequent diarrheas, stomachaches, ear pains, memory loss, back pains, excessive muscle cramps, chest pains |
| Causes | Hyperplasia in the pituitary gland |
| Treatment | Surgically remove the enlarged pituitary gland |
| Medication | Octreotide, lanreotide or pegvisomant |
It is a rare disorder resulting from increased levels of growth hormone before the fusion of the growth plate which usually occurs at some point soon after puberty. This increase is most often due to abnormal tumor growths on the pituitary gland. Gigantism should not be confused with acromegaly, the adult form of the disorder, characterized by somatic enlargement specifically in the extremities and face.
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