Gigantism

• the result of excessive growth hormone secretion that begins in young children or adolescents.
• It is a very rare disorder, usually resulting from a tumor of somatotropes.
• One of the most famous giants was a man named Robert Wadlow. He weighed 8.5 pounds at birth, but by 5 years of age was 105 pounds and 5 feet 4 inches tall. Robert reached an adult weight of 490 pounds and 8 feet 11 inches in height. He died at age 22.