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Gigantism and Acromegaly

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2023
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What are gigantism and acromegaly?

Gigantism and acromegaly are patterns of abnormal growth caused by having too much growth hormone.

In children, too much growth hormone causes gigantism, meaning being gigantic or a giant.

In adults, too much growth hormone causes acromegaly.

What causes gigantism and acromegaly?

Gigantism and acromegaly are almost always caused by:

  • A noncancerous (benign) tumor on your pituitary gland that makes extra growth hormone

The Pituitary and Hypothalamus
VIDEO

The extra growth hormone in your blood causes your bones, muscles, and organs to grow bigger.

Locating the Pituitary Gland

Locating the Pituitary Gland

What are the symptoms of gigantism?

Gigantism is a disease of children. Symptoms include:

  • Extreme growth of long bones, so arms and legs are very long

  • Growing very tall

  • Starting puberty later than normal

  • Sometimes, problems with the development of the genitals

What are the symptoms of acromegaly?

Acromegaly is a disease that usually starts between the ages of 30 and 50. Unlike children's bones, adult's bones can't grow longer. Instead, their bones change shape and deform. Symptoms include:

  • Coarsening, thickened facial features

  • Swollen hands and feet

  • Needing to get larger-sized rings, gloves, hats, and shoes

  • A thick, barrel-shaped ribcage

  • Joint pain

  • Sometimes, weakness in arms and legs

  • In women, irregular periods

  • In men, erectile dysfunction

What problems do gigantism and acromegaly cause?

How can doctors tell if a person has gigantism or acromegaly?

It's usually easy to see when children are growing too much. But in adults, it may take a long time to notice the abnormal bone growth in acromegaly because it happens little by little.

If doctors suspect gigantism or acromegaly, they:

How do doctors treat gigantism and acromegaly?

Doctors treat gigantism and acromegaly using a combination of:

  • Surgery to remove a pituitary gland tumor

  • Radiation therapy

  • Medicine that stops you from producing growth hormone

After surgery or radiation to treat a pituitary gland tumor, you may need to take hormone supplements to replace the ones the pituitary makes.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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