Gigantism
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Gigantism
Gigantism is a disorder associated with the hypersecretion of the growth hormone,
causing affected individuals to develop an extremely tall stature. The condition is triggered by a
tumor in the pituitary gland. The disorder is very rare with 100 cases reported in the U.S. Global
statistics reveal that the incidence of the condition in children is 0.1 in one million, illustrating
the rarity of the condition (George et al., 2022). According to Barrow Neurological Institute
(2025), the condition causes affected individuals to develop unusually large hands and feet
disproportionate to the rest of the body. Other characteristics of gigantism include delayed
puberty, thickened facial features, vision problems and rapid growth in height. People with the
condition also experience excessive sweating. This is because the excessive secretion of the
growth hormone causes oily skins prone to excessive sweating. Further, most people diagnosed
with gigantism experience sleep apnea, leading to severe fatigue (Barrow Neurological Institute,
2025). According to George et al. (2022), boys are more susceptible to gigantism than girls. The
condition may present during infancy or during puberty (George et al., 2022).
Normal Anatomy of the Major Body System Affected
The major body system affected by gigantism is the endocrine system. The endocrine
system is a comprehensive network of glands and endocrine organs including the pancreas,
adrenal gland, pituitary, thyroid, thymus, testis, ovary, hypothalamus, and pineal body. The
endocrine system uses hormones to coordinate reproduction, energy, development and growth,
body metabolism, and the body’s response to stress, injury, and mood (Campbell & Jialal, 2022).
First, the pineal gland is found at the center of the brain just below the corpus callosum.
The gland produces melatonin, the hormone that enables the body to learn when to sleep. The
hypothalamus is found near the optic chiasm on the base of the brain where the optic nerves