title: Excessive growth.
abstract: Tall stature and excessive growth syndrome are a relatively rare concern in pediatric practice. Nevertheless, it is important to identify abnormal accelerated growth patterns in children, which may be the clue in the diagnosis of an underlying disorder. We present a case of pituitary gigantism in a 2 1/2-year-old child and discuss the signs, symptoms, laboratory findings, and the treatment. Brief discussions on the differential diagnosis of excessive growth/tall stature have been outlined. Pituitary gigantism is very rare in the pediatrics age group; however, it is extremely rare in a child that is less than 3 years of age. The nature of pituitary adenoma and treatment options in children with this condition have also been discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital, Mobile, Alabama 36617-2297, USA.
authors.forename: Vasudha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Narayanaswamy
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Rettig
authors.forename: Samar K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhowmick
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005877:Gigantism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D049912:Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging
chemical_list: C515497:IGFBP3 protein, human; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone