Hormones & Signal Transduction 5 Sections28 LessonsLifetime
Gigantism
Gigantism
- Gigantism is a Growth hormone abnormality caused by excessive secretion of Growth hormone before adolescence.
- Excessive activation of cells, or tumor in the Anterior Pituitary results in rapid growth in all tissues including bones.
- As a result the person becomes a giant; may grow up to 8 feet tall.
- There is hyperglycemia leading to Diabetes mellitus.
- This is caused by secretion of excessive amount of Insulin to meet the requirement and ultimately the Beta cells of Pancreas burn out.
- Pan-hypopituitarism eventually develops as the tumour invades the surrounding tissue resulting in destruction of other pituitary cells.
- Death occurs if untreated.
Sir, shouldnt it be Pan-Hyperpitutiarism in the third last line? Please confirm
No my dear. it is pan hypopituitarism. Reason is that when the tumor grows, it eats up the surrounding tissues and thus they function is compromised and the other hormones cannot be synthesized and secreted. As a result there is hypofunction of all the other parts of pituitary and pan hypopituitarism develops