Question

A 32 year old, 6'8 tall, heavy set man with large hands and large facial features states that his 5 siblings are normal in size; however, he began growing rapidly at the age of 11. His condition is an example of?

1) Gigantism
2) Hypercalcemia
3) Hyperthyroidism
4) Cushing syndrome

Answer 1

The medical condition described, characterized by rapid growth from a young age and large extremities, is an example of gigantism. This disorder is typically due to excessive GH production during childhood, often caused by a pituitary tumor.

Step-by-step explanation:

A Case of Gigantism

The condition described by the 32-year-old man who started growing rapidly at the age of 11, and now exhibits large hands and facial features, is an example of gigantism. This growth disorder is typically caused by the excessive production of Growth Hormone (GH) during childhood and can lead to very long arms and legs, as well as an abnormally tall stature in adulthood. This condition is often a result of a pituitary tumor leading to hypersecretion of GH. It differs from acromegaly, which occurs when there is excessive secretion of GH after the skeleton has stopped growing, usually in adulthood, leading to growth of bones specifically in the face, hands, and feet.

Contrasting conditions such as hypercalcemia, which refers to elevated calcium levels in the blood, hyperthyroidism, characterized by excessive thyroid hormone production, and Cushing syndrome, which involves high levels of cortisol, do not present with the symptoms described for the patient in question.