Gigantism (patient information): Difference between revisions
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*[[Delayed puberty]] | *[[Delayed puberty]] | ||
*[[Double vision]] or difficulty with side (peripheral) vision | *[[Double vision]] or difficulty with side (peripheral) vision | ||
* | *Frontal bossing and a prominent jaw | ||
*[[Headache]] | *[[Headache]] | ||
*[[Increased sweating]] | *[[Increased sweating]] | ||
* | *Irregular periods (menstruation) | ||
*Large hands and feet with thick fingers and toes | *Large hands and feet with thick fingers and toes | ||
*Release of breast milk | *Release of breast milk | ||
Revision as of 15:04, 19 September 2012
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Gigantism |
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Gigantism On the Web |
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For the WikiDoc page on this topic, click here
Overview
Gigantism is abnormally large growth due to an excess of growth hormone during childhood, before the bone growth plates have closed.
What are the symptoms of Gigantism?
The child will grow in height, as well as in the muscles and organs. This excessive growth makes the child extremely large for his or her age.
Other symptoms include:
- Delayed puberty
- Double vision or difficulty with side (peripheral) vision
- Frontal bossing and a prominent jaw
- Headache
- Increased sweating
- Irregular periods (menstruation)
- Large hands and feet with thick fingers and toes
- Release of breast milk
- Thickening of the facial features
- Weakness
What causes Gigantism?
The most common cause of too much growth hormone release is a noncancerous (benign) tumor of the pituitary gland. Other causes include:
- Carney complex
- McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS)
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1)
- Neurofibromatosis
If excess growth hormone occurs after normal bone growth has stopped, the condition is known as acromegaly.
Gigantism is very rare.