What is pituitary gigantism caused by?
Gigantism is a serious condition that is nearly always caused by an adenoma, a tumor of the pituitary gland. Gigantism occurs in patients who had excessive growth hormone in childhood. The pituitary tumor cells secrete too much growth hormone (GH), leading to many changes in the body.
What endocrine disorder causes gigantism?
Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that develops when your pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone during adulthood. When you have too much growth hormone, your bones increase in size. In childhood, this leads to increased height and is called gigantism.
Is gigantism reversible?
These are preventable and reversible as long as the condition is diagnosed early and patients have access to effective treatments.
What causes high HGH levels?
Growth hormone levels are increased by sleep, stress, exercise and low glucose levels in the blood. They also increase around the time of puberty. Growth hormone release is lowered in pregnancy and if the brain senses high levels of growth hormone or insulin-like growth factors already in the blood.
What is Simmonds syndrome?
Simmonds’ disease or pituitary cachexia is a syndrome ascribed to destruction or physiological exhaustion of the hypophysis (chiefly the anterior portion). The destruction may be caused by embolic infarction, tumor, syphilis, tuberculosis, metastatic abscesses, inflammation, etc.
What is the life expectancy of someone with gigantism?
When the condition is successfully treated, children with gigantism can have a normal life expectancy and avoid most of the complications caused by it. However, they may still have symptoms such as muscle weakness and restricted movement, and some may also have psychological problems.
Can gigantism be reversed?
Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, 80 percent of gigantism cases caused by the most common type of pituitary tumor are cured with surgery. If the tumor returns or if surgery cannot be safely attempted, medications can be used to reduce your child’s symptoms and to allow them to live a long and fulfilling life.
Can HGH make your head bigger?
This affects the entire body to some degree, but in some places the chemical receptors tend to be especially sensitive. In an adult, very large doses of HGH can cause the skull to thicken and the forehead and eyebrow ridge to become especially prominent.