Gigantism is caused by an excess of growth hormone, most commonly from a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland. Symptoms include abnormally large stature, delayed puberty, vision problems, and enlarged features of the hands, feet and face. Treatment options include removing the tumor through surgery or the nose, medications to reduce growth hormone levels, and radiation therapy which can normalize hormone levels over 5-10 years. Diagnosis involves scans of the pituitary gland, failure of GH levels to suppress after a glucose challenge, and high levels of prolactin and IGF-I.

1. Gigantism
Table 4
Kevin Knox, Kaley Miller,
Hailey Ray, Ashley
Spaulding

2. Causes
• Excess of growth hormone (Acromegaly)
• Most commonly: Noncancerous(adenoma)
tumor of the pituitary gland
• Carney complex

3. Symptoms
• Pretty big people (usually two standard deviations above
normal height should be)
• Delayed puberty
• Double vision or difficulty with side vision
• Bulging forehead
• Headaches
• Increased sweating
• Irregular periods (females)
• Large hands and feet with large fingers and toes
• Release of breast milk
• Thickening of facial features
• Weakness

4. Possible solutions
• Removal of tumor on pituitary through endonasal
surgery (through nose)
• Medications that reduce growth hormone release
such as somatostain analogs
• Dopamine aganoists but they are the least
effective
• Radiation therapy can be used to bring the
growth hormone level back to normal but it take
5 to 10 years to take full effect and often effects
other pituitary hormones

5. Exams and Tests
• CT or MRI scans
• Failure to suppress serum growth hormone
(GH) levels after an oral glucose challenge
(maximum 75g)
• High prolactin levels
• Increased insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels

6. Miscellaneous
• Female to male ratio of 1:2 (twice as common
in males)
• Commonly occurs with Acromegaly
• App