Gigantism: Definition, Causes, Symptoms and treatment (1)

1
Gigantism
2
Gigantism

• Our bodys pituitary gland secretes growth
  hormone (GH) which is responsible for overall
  body development during childhood. When too much
  growth hormone is secreted that augments the
  growth of muscle, bones and connective tissue in
  childhood or adolescence before the end of
  puberty, the condition is called Gigantism
  (Endocrine disorder). The result is an increase
  in height and formation of additional soft
  tissues. Some individuals may achieve a height in
  excess of eight feet.

3
Causes of Gigantism

• In most of the cases, non-cancerous pituitary
  gland tumor is behind gigantism. Located at the
  base of the brain, pituitary gland makes hormones
  that control body temperature, metabolism
  growth, sexual development and urine production.
  Other causes of gigantism are
• McCune-Albright syndrome is a disorder that
  causes unusual growth of bone tissues, gland
  irregularities and patches of light-brown skin
• Carney complex is a hereditary condition which
  cancerous or non-cancerous endocrine tumors and
  spots of darker skin
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is also a
  hereditary condition which cause tumors in the
  pancreas, parathyroid glands and pituitary gland
• Neurofibromatosis is a hereditary disease that
  causes tumors in the nervous system.

4
Symptoms

• Your child is suffering from gigantism if he/she
  is much taller than other children of the same
  age. Moreover, some parts of the body may be
  visibly bigger than other parts. Common signs of
  gigantism include large hands and feet, thick
  toes and fingers, a bulging jaw and forehead, and
  improper facial features. Children suffering from
  gigantism may also suffer from large heads, lips,
  or tongues. The symptoms of gigantism depend on
  the size of the pituitary gland tumor. Some
  children may experience vision problems, headaches
   and nausea from tumor. Other symptoms include
• Large scale sweating
• Weakness
• Onset of puberty in boys and girls may be delayed
• Irregularity in menstrual cycle
• Deafness

5
Treatments

• Gigantism requires early detection and strong
  treatment to prevent excess production of growth
  hormone and to improve life expectancy. Normally,
  surgery is the first line of treatment with the
  objective of removing the tumor to minimize
  growth hormone levels and reduce the pressure on
  the nerves. The type of operation depends on the
  size of the tumor and how easily it can be
  accessed. Radiation therapy is another option
  if surgery has not provided a complete cure. It
  can take several years for radiation therapy to
  be effective. Half of the patients achieve
  controlled growth hormone in 5-10 years. Though
  radiation therapy is successful in controlling
  tumor growth, it may not reduce growth hormone
  and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.

6
Treatments
Continue

• Drug therapy may also be used in certain
  circumstancesPrior to surgery in order to
  control symptoms and cause the tumor to shrink
• Post surgery when growth hormone levels are not
  managed
• While radiation therapy is going on
• Individuals not qualified for surgical process
• Regular medical follow-up is required to
  scrutinize growth hormone and insulin-like growth
  factor 1 to notice any growth of the tumor.

7
CONNECT WITH US

• Logon to
• www.lazoi.com
• Like us on Facebook
• https//www.facebook.com/LazoiTheLife
• Follow us on Twitter
• https//www.twitter.com/lazoithelife
• Follow us on Pinterest
• https//www.in.pinterest.com/lazoithelife