Gigantism

gigantism /gi·gan·tism/ (ji-gan´tizm) (ji´gan-tizm) abnormal overgrowth; excessive size and stature.

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cerebral gigantism  gigantism in the absence of increased levels of growth hormone, attributed to a cerebral defect; infants are large, and accelerated growth continues for the first 4 or 5 years, the rate being normal thereafter. The hands and feet are large, the head large and dolichocephalic, the eyes have an antimongoloid slant, with hypertelorism. The child is clumsy, and mental retardation of varying degree is usually present.

pituitary gigantism  that caused by oversecretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.

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gi·gan·tism (j-gntzm)

n.

1. The quality or state of being gigantic; abnormally large size.

2. Excessive growth of the body or any of its parts, especially as a result of oversecretion of the growth hormone by the pituitary gland. Also called giantism.

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Gigantism

Excessive growth, especially in height, resulting from overproduction during childhood or adolescence of growth hormone by a pituitary tumor. Untreated, the tumor eventually destroys the pituitary gland, resulting in death during early adulthood. If the tumor develops after growth has stopped, the result is acromegaly, not gigantism.

Mentioned in: Growth Hormone Tests

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gigantism

abnormal overgrowth of the body or a part; excessive size and stature. The condition results from overproduction of growth hormone before the epiphyseal plates have closed. The opposite condition, dwarfism, is caused by underproduction of the same hormone. Overproduction of growth hormone in adults causes acromegaly.