Gigantism Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Gigantism is a rare condition characterized by abnormal growth due to excess growth hormone. In their infancy, children with gigantism can have height and weight above the average of other children.
Gigantism is a disorder of the endocrine glands resulting from long-term body secretions. This gland produces too many growth hormones which then accelerate the growth of muscles, bones, and connective tissue in the child’s body.
However, it should be noted that gigantism is a different condition from acromegaly. Acromegaly itself is an overgrowth in adults. However, the condition in people with acromegaly is usually not as great as in children with gigantism.
There are several types of gigantism, namely:
- Normal gigantism. This is a condition in which excessive growth occurs in all parts of the body. Because of this, normal gigantism often looks like an ordinary, normal condition.
- Brain gigantism. Growth occurs rapidly and is accompanied by intellectual disability. This condition generally develops after a child experiences brain damage due to certain conditions.
- Partial gigantism. Rapid growth only occurs in certain parts, for example only in the legs. As a result, the body looks disproportionate.
- Half gigantism. Growth occurs one and a half times the normal body.
- Akromegalichesky. Rapid growth occurs on the body and face. People with this type of gigantism often have faces that look older than their years.
- Eunochoid. Rapid growth is caused due to lack of production of sex hormones. As a result, body growth becomes disproportionate and sufferers lose their sexual characteristics.
- Visceromegaly. In this type of gigantism, growth hormone only attacks the body’s vital organs.
Symptom
The signs that are usually seen in people with gigantism are:
- the child looks much taller than his age, due to abnormal growth
- large hands and feet with thick-looking fingers
- protruding jaw and forehead
- other symptoms are excessive sweating, severe and recurring headaches, weakness, insomnia, and sleep disturbances, delayed puberty (girls can experience late menstruation), and so on.
Reason
Gigantism is almost always caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland. This gland functions to produce hormones that have many functions for the body. Some of these functions include controlling temperature and playing a role in sexual development, growth, metabolism, and so on.
However, other causes of gigantism can also be found. For example McCune-Albright syndrome, Carney complex, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1), or neurofibromatosis.
Diagnosis
In determining the diagnosis of gigantism, a detailed history or medical interview and physical examination will direct suspicion of the presence of this condition. In addition, you can also check growth hormone ( growth hormone ) and IGF-1 in the blood.
Treatment
The goal of treatment for gigantism is to slow or stop the overproduction of hormones. The production of this hormone is mainly due to a tumor of the pituitary gland. That is why most of the treatment is focused on dealing with these tumors.
Some of the treatment options that may be suggested are:
- surgery.
- drug use. The goal is to stop the production of growth hormone (octreotide, lanreotide) and reduce the amount of growth hormone ( bromocriptine, cabergoline ).