When you have too much growth hormone, your bones increase in size. In childhood, this leads to increased height and is called gigantism. But in adulthood, a change in height doesn’t occur. Instead, the increase in bone size is limited to the bones of your hands, feet and face, and is called acromegaly.
Can gigantism turn into acromegaly?
If a person overproduces growth hormones during childhood, they’ll have gigantism. As an adult, they will still have gigantism, because their condition developed when they were a child. Gigantism will not turn into acromegaly, because acromegaly is a condition that specifically develops in adulthood.
Is gigantism more common than acromegaly?
Gigantism is extremely rare, with approximately 100 reported cases to date. Although still rare, acromegaly is more common than gigantism, with a prevalence of 36-69 cases per million and an incidence of 3-4 cases per million per year. Gigantism may begin at any age before epiphyseal fusion.
Are there different types of acromegaly?
Types of acromegaly
Controlled acromegaly is when treatment keeps GH and IGF-1 within normal levels. Active acromegaly is when someone has symptoms. The tumor may be too large to remove, or medication may not control GH and IGF-1.
What are the different types of gigantism?
- Carney complex.
- McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS)
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1)
- Neurofibromatosis.
Did Andre The Giant have acromegaly or gigantism?
André the Giant, examines the life and work history of the WWE Hall of Famer. Unbeknownst to many, his size was the result of gigantism, a disease caused by excess growth hormone. The condition led to his eventual diagnosis with acromegaly, a rare endocrine disorder.
What does acromegaly and gigantism have in common?
Gigantism and acromegaly are syndromes of excessive secretion of growth hormone (hypersomatotropism) that are nearly always due to a pituitary adenoma.
What is it called when someone is abnormally tall?
Gigantism (Greek: γίγας, gígas, “giant”, plural γίγαντες, gígantes), also known as giantism, is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average.
What height is considered gigantism?
A person should be 7 feet (2.20 meters) tall or more to be considered a giant. Gigantism is a disorder and the medical reason for gigantism is a surplus of growth hormone. If the doctors diagnose gigantism in an early stage, it is possible to slow down the growth.
What age is acromegaly for?
Acromegaly is a rare condition where the body produces too much growth hormone, causing body tissues and bones to grow more quickly. Over time, this leads to abnormally large hands and feet, and a wide range of other symptoms. Acromegaly is usually diagnosed in adults aged 30 to 50, but it can affect people of any age.
Is acromegaly hypo or hyper?
Gigantism occurs when growth hormone hypersecretion occurs before the fusion of the long bone epiphysis and is characterized by tall stature. Acromegaly occurs when GH hypersecretion occurs after the fusion of the epiphysis leading to large extremities and characteristic facies.
Is Marfan syndrome the same as acromegaly?
On physical examination, Marfan syndrome has demonstrated cardiac manifestations as the acromegaly. On physical examination, Marfan syndrome demonstrates excess linear bone growth like acromegaly.
What is similar to acromegaly?
Sotos syndrome – first reported in 1964 — mimics acromegaly and is caused by a genetic mutation.
Is acromegaly inherited?
Is acromegaly inherited? Usually acromegaly is not inherited. Very rarely, acromegaly is inherited in either a condition called ‘familial isolated pituitary adenoma’ or as part of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN; see the article on MEN1 for further information).
Can acromegaly be cured?
Acromegaly is treatable in most people. But because symptoms come on slowly, health problems can develop before the disorder is diagnosed and treated. People with acromegaly also have an increased risk for colon polyps, which may develop into colon cancer if not removed.
What percentage of the population has acromegaly?
Acromegaly is a rare disorder that affects males and females in equal numbers. This disorder occurs in approximately 50 to 70 people per million. Researchers estimate that three to eleven people out of every million develop the disorder each year.
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/acromegaly-vs-gigantism
- https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/925446-overview
- https://www.ohsu.edu/brain-institute/acromegaly
- http://pituitary.ucla.edu/resources
- https://www.hcplive.com/view/hbo-documentary-andre-the-giant
- https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/pituitary-disorders/gigantism-and-acromegaly
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantism
- https://tallsome.com/how-tall-considered-giant/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acromegaly/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538261/
- https://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/Acromegaly_differential_diagnosis
- https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/differential-diagnoses-considered-patients-features-acromegaly-without-excess-gh-secretion/
- https://www.yourhormones.info/endocrine-conditions/acromegaly/
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/acromegaly
- https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/acromegaly/