BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuGigantismPituitary giant; Overproduction of growth hormone; Growth hormone - excess productionGigantism is abnormal growth due to an excess of growth hormone (GH) during childhood.Growth hormoneThe growth hormone test measures the amount of growth hormone in the blood. The pituitary gland makes growth hormone, which causes a child to grow. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Gigantism is very rare. The most common cause of too much GH release is a noncancerous (benign) tumor of the pituitary gland. Other causes include:TumorA tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Genetic disease that affects the skin color (pigmentation) and causes benign tumors of the skin, heart, and endocrine (hormone) system (Carney complex) Genetic disease that affects the bones and skin pigmentation (McCune-Albright syndrome) McCune-Albright syndromeMcCune-Albright syndrome is a genetic disease that affects the bones, hormones, and color (pigmentation) of the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Genetic disease in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or form a tumor (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1) or type 4 Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type I is a disease in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or forms a tumor. It is passed do...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Genetic disease that forms pituitary tumors Disease in which tumors form on the nerves of the brain and spine (neurofibromatosis) If excess GH occurs after normal bone growth has stopped (end of puberty), the condition is known as acromegaly.AcromegalyAcromegaly is a condition in which there is too much growth hormone (GH) in your body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms 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.Other symptoms include:Delayed puberty Double vision or difficulty with side (peripheral) vision Very prominent forehead (frontal bossing) and a prominent jaw Frontal bossingFrontal bossing is an unusually prominent forehead. It is sometimes associated with a heavier than normal brow ridge.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gaps between the teeth Headache HeadacheA headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Increased sweating Irregular periods (menstruation) Joint pain Large hands and feet with thick fingers and toes Release of breast milk Sleep problems such as obstructive sleep apnea Thickening of the facial features Weakness Voice changes Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about the child's symptoms.Laboratory tests that may be ordered include:Cortisol CortisolThe cortisol blood test measures the level of cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is a steroid (glucocorticoid or corticosteroid) hormone produced by th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Estradiol (girls) EstradiolAn estradiol test measures the amount of a hormone called estradiol in the blood. Estradiol is one of the main types of estrogens.Read Article Now Book Mark Article GH suppression test GH suppression testThe growth hormone suppression test determines whether growth hormone (GH) production can be suppressed by taking a specific amount of glucose (calle...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prolactin ProlactinProlactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Insulin-like growth factor-I Testosterone (boys) TestosteroneA testosterone test measures the amount of the male hormone, testosterone, in the blood. Both men and women produce this hormone. The test described...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Thyroid hormoneImaging tests, such as CT or MRI scan of the head, also may be ordered to check for a pituitary tumor.CTA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pituitary tumorA pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth in the pituitary gland. The pituitary is a small gland at the base of the brain. It regulates the body's ba...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment For pituitary tumors, surgery can cure many cases.When surgery cannot completely remove the tumor, medicines are used to block or reduce GH release or prevent GH from reaching target tissues.Sometimes radiation treatment is used to decrease the size of the tumor after surgery. Outlook (Prognosis) Pituitary surgery is usually successful in limiting GH production.Early treatment can reverse many of the changes caused by GH excess. Long-term effects on bones, joints, and the heart are common. Possible Complications Surgery and radiation treatment may lead to low levels of other pituitary hormones. This can cause any of the following conditions:Adrenal insufficiency (adrenal glands do not produce enough of their hormones) Diabetes insipidus (extreme thirst and excessive urination; in rare cases) Diabetes insipidusDiabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon condition in which the kidneys are unable to prevent the excretion of water. DI is not the same as diabetes me...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hypogonadism (body's sex glands produce little or no hormones) HypogonadismHypogonadism occurs when the body's sex glands (gonads) produce little or no hormones. In men, these glands are the testes. In women, these glands ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hypothyroidism (thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone)HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if your child has signs of excessive growth. Prevention Gigantism cannot be prevented. Early treatment may prevent the disease from getting worse and help avoid complications.Open ReferencesReferencesKatznelson L, Laws ER Jr, Melmed S, et al; Endocrine Society. Acromegaly: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(11):3933-3951. PMID: 25356808 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25356808/.Melmed S. Acromegaly. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 6.Melmed S. Pituitary masses and tumors. In: Melmed S, Auchus, RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 9.AllVideoImagesTogEndocrine glands - illustration Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to secrete hormones which determine the rate of metabolism in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).Endocrine glandsillustrationEndocrine glands - illustration Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to secrete hormones which determine the rate of metabolism in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).Endocrine glandsillustrationRelated Information Growth hormone test(Medical Test)Long bones(Special Topic)Tumor(Condition)Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) I(Condition)McCune-Albright syndrome(Condition)Acromegaly(Condition) Review Date: 5/12/2023 Reviewed 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. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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GigantismPituitary giant; Overproduction of growth hormone; Growth hormone - excess productionGigantism is abnormal growth due to an excess of growth hormone (GH) during childhood.Growth hormoneThe growth hormone test measures the amount of growth hormone in the blood. The pituitary gland makes growth hormone, which causes a child to grow. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Gigantism is very rare. The most common cause of too much GH release is a noncancerous (benign) tumor of the pituitary gland. Other causes include:TumorA tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Genetic disease that affects the skin color (pigmentation) and causes benign tumors of the skin, heart, and endocrine (hormone) system (Carney complex) Genetic disease that affects the bones and skin pigmentation (McCune-Albright syndrome) McCune-Albright syndromeMcCune-Albright syndrome is a genetic disease that affects the bones, hormones, and color (pigmentation) of the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Genetic disease in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or form a tumor (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1) or type 4 Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type I is a disease in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or forms a tumor. It is passed do...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Genetic disease that forms pituitary tumors Disease in which tumors form on the nerves of the brain and spine (neurofibromatosis) If excess GH occurs after normal bone growth has stopped (end of puberty), the condition is known as acromegaly.AcromegalyAcromegaly is a condition in which there is too much growth hormone (GH) in your body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms 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.Other symptoms include:Delayed puberty Double vision or difficulty with side (peripheral) vision Very prominent forehead (frontal bossing) and a prominent jaw Frontal bossingFrontal bossing is an unusually prominent forehead. It is sometimes associated with a heavier than normal brow ridge.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gaps between the teeth Headache HeadacheA headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Increased sweating Irregular periods (menstruation) Joint pain Large hands and feet with thick fingers and toes Release of breast milk Sleep problems such as obstructive sleep apnea Thickening of the facial features Weakness Voice changes Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about the child's symptoms.Laboratory tests that may be ordered include:Cortisol CortisolThe cortisol blood test measures the level of cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is a steroid (glucocorticoid or corticosteroid) hormone produced by th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Estradiol (girls) EstradiolAn estradiol test measures the amount of a hormone called estradiol in the blood. Estradiol is one of the main types of estrogens.Read Article Now Book Mark Article GH suppression test GH suppression testThe growth hormone suppression test determines whether growth hormone (GH) production can be suppressed by taking a specific amount of glucose (calle...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prolactin ProlactinProlactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Insulin-like growth factor-I Testosterone (boys) TestosteroneA testosterone test measures the amount of the male hormone, testosterone, in the blood. Both men and women produce this hormone. The test described...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Thyroid hormoneImaging tests, such as CT or MRI scan of the head, also may be ordered to check for a pituitary tumor.CTA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pituitary tumorA pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth in the pituitary gland. The pituitary is a small gland at the base of the brain. It regulates the body's ba...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment For pituitary tumors, surgery can cure many cases.When surgery cannot completely remove the tumor, medicines are used to block or reduce GH release or prevent GH from reaching target tissues.Sometimes radiation treatment is used to decrease the size of the tumor after surgery. Outlook (Prognosis) Pituitary surgery is usually successful in limiting GH production.Early treatment can reverse many of the changes caused by GH excess. Long-term effects on bones, joints, and the heart are common. Possible Complications Surgery and radiation treatment may lead to low levels of other pituitary hormones. This can cause any of the following conditions:Adrenal insufficiency (adrenal glands do not produce enough of their hormones) Diabetes insipidus (extreme thirst and excessive urination; in rare cases) Diabetes insipidusDiabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon condition in which the kidneys are unable to prevent the excretion of water. DI is not the same as diabetes me...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hypogonadism (body's sex glands produce little or no hormones) HypogonadismHypogonadism occurs when the body's sex glands (gonads) produce little or no hormones. In men, these glands are the testes. In women, these glands ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hypothyroidism (thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone)HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if your child has signs of excessive growth. Prevention Gigantism cannot be prevented. Early treatment may prevent the disease from getting worse and help avoid complications.Open ReferencesReferencesKatznelson L, Laws ER Jr, Melmed S, et al; Endocrine Society. Acromegaly: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(11):3933-3951. PMID: 25356808 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25356808/.Melmed S. Acromegaly. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 6.Melmed S. Pituitary masses and tumors. In: Melmed S, Auchus, RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 9.