Gigantism

Gigantism ( jy-GAN-tiz-əm; from Ancient Greek: γίγας, romanized: gígās, lit. 'giant', plural: γίγαντες, gígantes), also known as giantism, is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average. Technically, it includes humans with height at least three standard deviations above the mean. This condition is caused by over-production of growth hormone in childhood. It is a rare disorder resulting from increased levels of growth hormone before the fusion of the growth plate which usually occurs at some point soon after puberty. This increase is most often due to abnormal tumor growths on the pituitary gland. Gigantism should not be confused with acromegaly, the adult form of the disorder, characterized by somatic enlargement specifically in the extremities and face. Many of those who have been identified with gigantism have had multiple health problems involving the circulatory or skeletal system, as the strain of maintaining a large, heavy body places abnormal demands on both the bones and the heart.