Pediatric acromegaly (gigantism)

What is pediatric acromegaly (gigantism)?

Acromegaly, also known as growth hormone excess (gigantism), is a rare condition. It happens when the pituitary gland (tiny organ at the base of the brain) produces too much growth hormone and releases it into the bloodstream.

In most cases, the condition affects adults, however, it can happen in children. Since children are still growing, excess growth hormone can cause their skeleton to grow very rapidly, leading to a condition called gigantism — or unusually large size.

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric acromegaly (gigantism)?

• Early voice changes in boys

• Enlarged facial features

• Enlarged hands and feet

• Enlarged organs (heart, liver, kidneys, etc.)

• Enlarged tongue

• Enlarged vocal cords

• Excessive sweating

• Fatigue (extreme tiredness)

• Headaches

• Joint pain

• Large chest size (barrel chest)

• Oily or thick skin

• Sinus problems and snoring

• Skin tags (short, narrow flap of skin tissue)

• Vision problems

What are the causes of pediatric acromegaly (gigantism)?

The most common cause of acromegaly is a pituitary gland tumor. Most pituitary gland tumors are benign (noncancerous).