Gigantism

Menoufia University Faculty of Pharmacy

Gigantism

Mohamed Ahmed Mellek

ID: 16250

Under supervision of:

Dr. Hend El Sayed

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Gigantism

Gigantism is a rare condition that causes abnormal growth in children. This change is
most notable in terms of height, but girth is affected as well. It occurs when your child’s pituitary
gland makes too much growth hormone, which is also known as somatotropin. Early diagnosis is
important. Prompt treatment can stop or slow the changes that may cause your child to grow
larger than normal. However, the condition can be hard for parents to detect. The symptoms of
gigantism might seem like normal childhood growth spurts at first.

A pituitary gland tumor is usually the cause of gigantism. The pea-sized pituitary gland is
located at the base of your brain. It makes hormones that control many functions in your body.
Some tasks managed by the gland include:

1- temperature control
2- sexual development
3- growth
4- metabolism
5- urine production

When a tumor grows on the pituitary gland, the gland makes far more growth hormone than
the body needs.

If your child has gigantism, you may notice that they are much larger than other children of
the same age. In addition, some parts of the body may be larger in proportion to other parts.
Common symptoms include:

1- very large hands and feet

2- thick toes and fingers
3- a prominent jaw and forehead
4- coarse facial features

Children with gigantism may also have flat noses and large heads, lips, or tongues.

The symptoms your child has may depend on the size of the pituitary gland tumor. As the
tumor grows, it may press on nerves in the brain. Many people experience headaches, vision
problems, or nausea from tumors. Other symptoms of gigantism may include:

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Gigantism

1- excessive sweating
2- severe or recurrent headaches
3- weakness
4- insomnia and other sleep disorders
5- delayed puberty in both boys and girls
6- irregular menstrual periods in girls
7- deafness

If your child’s doctor suspects gigantism, they may recommend a blood test to measure
levels of growth hormones and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which is a hormone
produced by the liver. The doctor also may recommend an oral glucose tolerance test.

During an oral glucose tolerance test, your child will drink a special beverage containing
glucose, a type of sugar. Blood samples will be taken before and after your child drinks the
beverage. In a normal body, growth hormone levels will drop after eating or drinking glucose. If
your child’s levels remain the same, it means their body is producing too much growth hormone.

If the blood tests indicate a pituitary gland tumor, your child will need an MRI scan of the
gland. Doctors use this scan to see the size and position of the tumor.

Treatments for gigantism aim to stop or slow your child’s production of growth hormones.

Surgery:

Removing the tumor is the preferred treatment for gigantism if it’s the underlying cause.The
surgeon will reach the tumor by making an incision in your child’s nose. Microscopes or small
cameras may be used to help the surgeon see the tumor in the gland. In most cases, your child
should be able to return home from the hospital the day after the surgery.

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Gigantism

References:

https://www.healthline.com/health/gigantism#treatment

http://pituitary.ucla.edu/resources

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/925446-overview