gigantism
Meaning of gigantism: Gigantism is excessive growth in children caused by too much growth hormone occurring before the bones finish lengthening.
Definition of gigantism
Gigantism is a condition in which a child or adolescent grows to a much greater than average height, caused by the body producing too much growth hormone before the growth plates, the areas of developing bone responsible for lengthening, have closed. A noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland is the most common underlying cause.
Because gigantism occurs before the growth plates close, the excess growth hormone leads primarily to increased height, along with enlargement of the hands, feet, and facial features, and other effects related to the hormone's broad influence on tissue growth throughout the body.
Gigantism is closely related to acromegaly, which results from the same kind of excess growth hormone but develops in adults after the growth plates have already closed, so the excess hormone instead produces enlargement of the hands, feet, and facial features without a further increase in height.
Used in a sentence
Pituitary imaging was ordered after growth hormone testing raised concern for gigantism.
Good to know
Gigantism and acromegaly result from the same excess growth hormone but are distinguished by the timing of onset relative to growth plate closure, gigantism before and acromegaly after, which determines whether height itself is affected.
Word origin
Where “gigantism” comes from
Formed from Latin gigas, meaning giant, itself from Greek gigas, combined with the suffix -ism, denoting a condition or state.