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Growth Hormone Excess

/ɡroʊθ ˈhɔːrmoʊn ɪkˈsɛs/noun
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Growth hormone excess is a medical condition characterized by the overproduction of growth hormone, typically from a benign tumor in the pituitary gland, leading to abnormal enlargement of bones and tissues. In children, this often manifests as gigantism with rapid height increase, while in adults it causes acromegaly with thickened features; modern treatments like surgery and medications have improved outcomes, but early detection is key to preventing complications.

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The condition famously affected Robert Wadlow, the tallest man ever recorded at 8 feet 11 inches, whose growth hormone excess from a pituitary tumor allowed him to keep growing until his death at age 22 in 1940, weighing over 490 pounds; remarkably, he required custom-made shoes costing $100 a pair, equivalent to about $2,000 today, highlighting the extraordinary challenges of the disorder.

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