Gigantism
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Gigantism
Pathology
Adrenal gland disorders
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Primary adrenal insufficiency
Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome
Hyperaldosteronism
Adrenal cortical carcinoma
Cushing syndrome
Conn syndrome
Thyroid gland disorders
Thyroglossal duct cyst
Hyperthyroidism
Graves disease
Thyroid eye disease (NORD)
Toxic multinodular goiter
Thyroid storm
Hypothyroidism
Euthyroid sick syndrome
Hashimoto thyroiditis
Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis
Riedel thyroiditis
Postpartum thyroiditis
Thyroid cancer
Parathyroid gland disorders
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism
Hypercalcemia
Hypocalcemia
Pancreatic disorders
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic nephropathy
Pituitary gland disorders
Hyperpituitarism
Pituitary adenoma
Hyperprolactinemia
Prolactinoma
Gigantism
Acromegaly
Hypopituitarism
Growth hormone deficiency
Pituitary apoplexy
Sheehan syndrome
Hypoprolactinemia
Constitutional growth delay
Diabetes insipidus
Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
Gonadal dysfunction
Precocious puberty
Delayed puberty
Premature ovarian failure
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Androgen insensitivity syndrome
Kallmann syndrome
5-alpha-reductase deficiency
Polyglandular syndromes
Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (NORD)
Endocrine tumors
Multiple endocrine neoplasia
Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
Carcinoid syndrome
Pheochromocytoma
Neuroblastoma
Opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (NORD)
Endocrine system pathology review
Adrenal insufficiency: Pathology review
Adrenal masses: Pathology review
Hyperthyroidism: Pathology review
Hypothyroidism: Pathology review
Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer: Pathology review
Parathyroid disorders and calcium imbalance: Pathology review
Diabetes mellitus: Pathology review
Cushing syndrome and Cushing disease: Pathology review
Pituitary tumors: Pathology review
Hypopituitarism: Pathology review
Diabetes insipidus and SIADH: Pathology review
Multiple endocrine neoplasia: Pathology review
Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal system: Pathology review
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Gigantism p. 340, 345
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Content Reviewers
Rishi Desai, MD, MPHContributors
Sam Gillespie, BSc
Tanner Marshall, MS
With gigantism, “gigant” refers to giant, so gigantism is a rare hormonal disorder in children and adolescents where there is an excess of growth hormone, and it causes rapid and excessive growth of long bones, like the tibia and humerus.
As an example, the French wrestler André the Giant who played Fezzik in the movie The Princess Bride had gigantism.
In adults, excess growth hormone causes a different disorder, called acromegaly, because their long bones have stopped growing.
Let’s start with how growth hormone, or somatotropin, is made.
Normally, the hypothalamus which is at the base of the brain, secretes growth hormone-releasing hormone in bursts throughout the day - every couple hours, and this can increase based on things like low blood glucose levels, lack of food, increased exercise, increased sleep, and increased stress like trauma.
The growth hormone-releasing hormone goes into the hypophyseal portal system - which is a network of capillaries linking the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary which is smaller in size than a pea.
The growth hormone-releasing hormone binds to a surface protein on somatotroph and mammosomatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary gland, and in response, they release growth hormone.
Now, growth hormone affects lots of tissues directly and indirectly throughout the body.
Direct effects occur in certain tissues where growth hormone stimulates cellular metabolism and leads to organ growth.
Summary
Gigantism is a hormonal disorder that results in an individual growing to an excessive size. The condition is caused by the overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1, usually due to a tumor on the pituitary gland.
Symptoms of gigantism include excessive growth, particularly in the facial area and hands; a deep, hoarse voice; and enlarged organs. Gigantism is also associated with other health problems, including heart disease, joint pain, and diabetes.
Sources
- "Robbins Basic Pathology" Elsevier (2017)
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Twentieth Edition (Vol.1 & Vol.2)" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
- "Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine 8E" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
- "CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2019)
- "Harrison's Endocrinology, 4E" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2016)
- "Congenital gigantism due to growth hormone-releasing hormone excess and pituitary hyperplasia with adenomatous transformation." The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (1993)
- "Gigantism" The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (1999)
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