Living with Gigantism
Extra-large growth in childhood from too much growth hormone, usually caused by a noncancerous pituitary tumor.
Understanding Gigantism
It occurs before the growth plates in the bones close. It leads to excess growth in height, muscles, and organs, so a child is extremely large for their age. It may begin at any age before the growth plates close.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Very tall for age
- Large hands and feet with thick fingers and toes
- Prominent forehead and jaw, and thick facial features
- Headache
- Increased sweating
- Delayed puberty or irregular periods
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include cancer specialists, genetic specialists and hormone specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Pituitary Network Association may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Cancer specialists (oncologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Hormone specialists (endocrinologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Pituitary Network Association
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Pituitary Network Association
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
The most common cause is a noncancerous pituitary tumor that makes too much growth hormone. Other conditions can be involved, such as Carney complex, McCune-Albright syndrome, MEN-1 and MEN-4, and neurofibromatosis. In some people it is caused by changes in the GPR101 gene.
Also known as: genetic giant; giant; giantism; hypophyseal gigantism; infantile and juvenile forms of acromegaly; normal giant
Patient organizations
- Pituitary Network AssociationPituitary deficiencies · United States
Broader rare-disease groups
- Global GenesRare Diseases · United States
- National Organization for Rare DisordersRare Diseases · United States
- Genetic AllianceRare Diseases · United States
- RARE FoundationRare Diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Gigantism.
Explore research for Gigantism
Explore actively recruiting Gigantism studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Gigantism with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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