1. (A Project of National Medical Centre Karachi)
(GIGANTISM )
Shahzad Bashir.
Lecturer, NMC ION
2. OBJECTIVES:
• By the end of this lecture, the students will
be able to:
• Define Gigantism
• Describe the pathophysiology of gigantism
• List the clinical features
• Elaborate the diagnostic criteria
• Discuss the medical management
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3. GIGANTISM
DEFINITION:
Overproduction of growth hormone causes
excessive growth. In children, the condition is
called gigantism. In adults, it is called acromegaly.
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4. GIGANTISM
DEFINITION:
Gigantism is an abnormally large growth due to
excess growth hormone during childhood,
before growth plates close.
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11. CAUSES
Raised level of GH from pituitary adenoma
OTHER FACTORS:
Hypoglycemia
Fasting
Starvation
Increased blood levels of amino acids (particularly arginine)
Stress conditions such as trauma
Excitement,
Emotional stress, and
Heavy exercise.
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12. CLINICAL FEATURES
Excessive growth.
The child is large for their age.
Delayed puberty.
Double vision or difficulty with peripheral vision.
Headaches.
Increased sweating.
Large hands and feet.
Thickening of facial features.
Weakness.
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14. TREATMENT
SURGERY:
Transphenoidal surgery to remove the pituitary
adenoma.
Radiation therapy.
Drug therapy.
Bromocriptine
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16. REFERENCES
Porth, M. C. (2009). Pathophysiology Concepts of
altered health states (7th ed.). Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
Tortora, G. J. & Grabowski, S.R. (2000). Principles of
anatomy and physiology (12th ed.). New York: John
Wiley & sons Inc.
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