How to Treat Gigantism

Gigantism, a rare disease affecting children, is related to acromegaly, which strikes adults between the ages of 30 and 50. People with gigantism grow extremely tall--the tallest was known to be 8 feet 11 inches. It's common for those who suffer from this disease to reach 7 feet or more. Many famous people have had this disease, including actors, basketball players and wrestlers. It's thought that Abraham Lincoln had gigantism.

Instructions

1. Ask your child's doctor if surgery to remove the pituitary tumor which causes this disease is an option. It's the most helpful of all treatments, but often the disease has progressed to far by the time it's diagnosed and the tumor is too large to be removed safely.

2. Discuss radiation therapy (super voltage irradiation) with the doctor. This treatment is often used and can be quite effective for destroying pituitary adenomas, but often damages the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. Radiation therapy can take years to show the full effect and may cause the pituitary gland to produce insufficient pituitary hormones later in life.

3. Research the different medicines available to treat gigantism. At the present time the most effective drugs are forms of the hormones that block production and secretion of the excessive growth hormone. These are in the clinical trial stage right now and are not widely available to the public.

4. Decide whether plastic surgery is an option. Because of the non-uniform growth rate of the body, such as the jaw-bones growing excessively large, many people suffering from gigantism opt for plastic surgery to normalize their appearance as much as possible.

5. Return to your doctor as directed after surgery to have growth hormone levels checked. Throughout your lifetime you must monitor your health and keep abreast of new technology and medications as they grow available. Schedule appointments regularly throughout your life to ensure your organs (your heart in particular) are functioning correctly.