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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>Gigantism is abnormal growth due to an excess of <a test="test" href="./003706.htm">growth hormone</a> (GH) during childhood.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Causes</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>Gigantism is very rare. The most common cause of too much GH release is a noncancerous (benign) <a test="test" href="./001310.htm">tumor</a> of the pituitary gland. Other causes include:</p><ul><li>Genetic disease that affects the skin color (pigmentation) and causes benign tumors of the skin, heart, and endocrine (hormone) system (Carney complex)</li><li>Genetic disease that affects the bones and skin pigmentation (<a test="test" href="./001217.htm">McCune-Albright syndrome</a>)</li><li>Genetic disease in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or form a tumor (<a test="test" href="./000398.htm">multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1</a>) or type 4</li><li>Genetic disease that forms pituitary tumors</li><li>Disease in which tumors form on the nerves of the brain and spine (neurofibromatosis) </li></ul><p>If excess GH occurs after normal bone growth has stopped (end of puberty), the condition is known as <a test="test" href="./000321.htm">acromegaly</a>.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Symptoms</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>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.</p><p>Other symptoms include:</p><ul><li>Delayed puberty</li><li>Double vision or difficulty with side (peripheral) vision</li><li>Very prominent forehead (<a test="test" href="./003301.htm">frontal bossing</a>) and a prominent jaw</li><li>Gaps between the teeth</li><li><a test="test" href="./003024.htm">Headache</a></li><li>Increased sweating</li><li>Irregular periods (menstruation)</li><li>Joint pain</li><li>Large hands and feet with thick fingers and toes</li><li>Release of breast milk</li><li>Sleep problems such as obstructive sleep apnea</li><li>Thickening of the facial features</li><li>Weakness</li><li>Voice changes</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Exams and Tests</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about the child's symptoms.</p><p>Laboratory tests that may be ordered include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003693.htm">Cortisol</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003711.htm">Estradiol</a> (girls)</li><li><a test="test" href="./003376.htm">GH suppression test</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003718.htm">Prolactin</a></li><li>Insulin-like growth factor-I</li><li><a test="test" href="./003707.htm">Testosterone</a> (boys)</li><li>Thyroid hormone</li></ul><p>Imaging tests, such as <a test="test" href="./003786.htm">CT</a> or <a test="test" href="./003791.htm">MRI</a> scan of the head, also may be ordered to check for a <a test="test" href="./000704.htm">pituitary tumor</a>.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Treatment</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>For pituitary tumors, surgery can cure many cases.</p><p>When surgery cannot completely remove the tumor, medicines are used to block or reduce GH release or prevent GH from reaching target tissues.</p><p>Sometimes radiation treatment is used to decrease the size of the tumor after surgery.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Outlook (Prognosis)</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>Pituitary surgery is usually successful in limiting GH production.</p><p>Early treatment can reverse many of the changes caused by GH excess. Long-term effects on bones, joints, and the heart are common.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Possible Complications</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>Surgery and radiation treatment may lead to low levels of other pituitary hormones. This can cause any of the following conditions:</p><ul><li>Adrenal insufficiency (adrenal glands do not produce enough of their hormones)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000377.htm">Diabetes insipidus</a> (extreme thirst and excessive urination; in rare cases)</li><li><a test="test" href="./001195.htm">Hypogonadism</a> (body's sex glands produce little or no hormones)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000353.htm">Hypothyroidism</a> (thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone)</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>When to Contact a Medical Professional</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>Contact your provider if your child has signs of excessive growth.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Prevention</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-8" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-8"><p>Gigantism cannot be prevented. Early treatment may prevent the disease from getting worse and help avoid complications.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Pituitary giant; Overproduction of growth hormone; Growth hormone - excess production</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/1093t.jpg" alt="Endocrine glands" title="Endocrine glands" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/1093.htm">Endocrine glands</a></li>
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Katznelson L, Laws ER Jr, Melmed S, et al; Endocrine Society. Acromegaly: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. <em>J Clin Endocrinol Metab. </em>2014;99(11):3933-3951. PMID: 25356808 <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25356808/" target="_blank">www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25356808/</a>.</p><p>Melmed S. Acromegaly. In: Robertson RP, ed. <em>DeGroot's Endocrinology</em>. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 6.</p><p>Melmed S. Pituitary masses and tumors. In: Melmed S, Auchus, RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. <em>Williams Textbook of Endocrinology.</em> 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 9.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 5/12/2023</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. </p>
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