What is the difference between gigantism and acromegaly?

Overview of the diseases of gigantism and acromegaly

There is the main gland that regulates hormone function, namely the pituitary gland. These glands are the size of a pea and are located under the human brain. These glands produce hormones that control many functions in the body, such as metabolism, urine production, regulating body temperature, sexual development, and growth.

Gigantism and acromegaly occur in these glands so that hormone production becomes more than what the body should need. When this hormone is in excess, it triggers the growth of bones, muscles and internal organs. Therefore, people who experience this condition have a body size that is larger than normal body size.

Then what is the difference between these two conditions? Here are three main things that distinguish gigantism and acromegaly.

1. The cause of the disease

Benign tumors of the pituitary gland are almost always the cause of gigantism. Likewise with acromegaly. However, there are other, but not common, causes that cause gigantism to occur, such as:

McCune-Albright syndrome, which causes abnormal growth of bone tissue, light brown spots on the skin, and glandular abnormalities.
Carney complex, which is an inherited disease that causes non-cancerous tumors in connective tissue and the appearance of dark spots on the skin.
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), which is a congenital disorder that causes tumors in the pituitary gland, pancreas, or parathyroid glands.
Neurofibromatosis, which is an inherited disease that causes tumors in the nervous system.

2. Time of occurrence and people at risk for the disease

Overproduction of hormones in gigantism occurs when the bone growth plates are still exposed. This is a condition of the bones of children, so this disease is more common in children.

Meanwhile, acromegaly usually occurs when a person is an adult. Yes, people aged 30 to 50 years may have acromegaly, even though the bony growth plates are closed.

3. The symptoms caused

Symptoms of gigantism that often occur in children appear very quickly. This causes the leg bones and arm bones to become very long. Children with this condition experience delayed puberty because their genital growth is not fully developed.

People who experience gigantism, if untreated, have a lower life expectancy than children in general because excess hormones can cause enlargement of vital organs, such as the heart. This can result in the heart not functioning properly and eventually heart failure.

Meanwhile, the symptoms of acromegaly are difficult to detect because they progress more slowly over time. Symptoms are not much different from gigantism, such as feeling a headache due to excessive pressure on the head, hair growing thicker, or, excessive sweating.

However, the bones will not lengthen, they just become enlarged and eventually become deformed. This is because the bone plate has closed, but the increased growth hormone causes a rush in the growth area.

Women who have acromegaly have symptoms of irregular menstrual cycles and breast milk continues to be produced even after delivery. This is influenced by an increase in prolactin. Meanwhile, many men experience erectile dysfunction.

According to the MSD Manual, Ian M. Chapman, MBBS, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Adelaide wrote that diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or cancer from complications of acromegaly can reduce the person's life expectancy.

Can these two conditions be cured?

Both of these diseases cannot be prevented or cured as before. To treat it, patients must undergo surgery, radiation therapy, and take medications that reduce or inhibit growth hormone production so that the condition does not worsen.

Treatment cannot only be done with a single treatment, such as taking medication alone, therapy alone, or surgery alone. All three must be endured by the patient so that excess growth hormone can be controlled.