How tall are people with gigantism usually?
Sep 13, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Pan Yongyuan
Introduction
Patients with gigantism have an average height exceeding 2 meters, and in some cases even over 2.5 meters. Besides their markedly increased stature, individuals may experience compressive symptoms caused by growth hormone-secreting tumors, such as headaches, blurred vision, visual field defects, extraocular muscle paralysis, and diplopia. The tumor can also compress normal pituitary tissue, leading to hypopituitarism.
Acromegaly in children, also known as gigantism, is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland. Since adolescents have open epiphyses (growth plates), they develop into giants. Then, how tall are individuals with gigantism generally?
How Tall Are People with Gigantism Usually?
The average height of patients with gigantism exceeds 2 meters, and can even surpass 2.5 meters. Besides their strikingly tall stature, these patients may experience compression symptoms caused by growth hormone-secreting tumors, such as headaches, blurred vision, visual field defects, extraocular muscle paralysis, and double vision. The tumor may also compress normal pituitary tissue, leading to hypopituitarism. Patients with gigantism may suffer from various complications, including impaired glucose metabolism, elevated blood sugar levels, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia. Gigantism can also severely affect the respiratory system, causing sleep apnea syndrome.
The causes of gigantism are related to primary pituitary dysfunction, mainly due to pituitary adenomas, lactotroph-growth hormone cell tumors, acidophilic stem cell tumors, multiple pituitary hormone-secreting adenomas, growth hormone cell hyperplasia, pituitary carcinoma, and lymphocytic hypophysitis. It may also be associated with secondary pituitary dysfunction caused by hypothalamic neuronal hamartomas, infundibular neuronal ganglion cells, ectopic cancers, small-cell lung cancer, adrenal adenomas, carcinomas, and ovarian cancers. The above information answers the question about the typical height of individuals with gigantism. We hope this response has been helpful to you. Wishing you good health and happiness.
