Gigantism and Acromegaly

Gigantism and Acromegaly: Genetics, Diagnosis, and Treatment brings together pituitary experts, taking readers from bench research, to genetic analysis, clinical analysis, and new therapeutic approaches. This book serves as a reference for growth hormone over-secretion and its diagnosis and treatment for endocrinologists, pediatricians, internists, and neurosurgeons, and for geneticists. Pharmaceutical companies may use it as a reference for drug development and research. Students, residents and fellows in medicine and endocrinology and genetics will also find it valuable as it provides a single up-to-date review of the molecular biology of gigantism and acromegaly as well as a recommended approaches to evaluation and management.

Acromegaly is a rare pituitary disorder that slowly changes its adult victim’s appearance over time: larger hands and feet, bigger jaw, forehead, nose, and lips. Generally a benign pituitary tumor is the cause and symptoms of acromegaly can vary from patient to patient, making a diagnosis difficult and prolonging suffering for years. Early detection is key in the management of acromegaly as the pathologic effects of increased growth hormone (GH) production are progressive and can be life-threatening as the result of associated cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory disorders and malignancies.

• Accessible, up-to-date overview of the characteristics, state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures, and management of acromegaly and gigantism
• Provides a unique compendium of endocrinology, genetics, clinical diagnosis and therapeutics
• Contains contributions from internationally known experts who have treated patients with acromegaly and gigantism

Endocrinologists with interest in pituitary tumors resulting in acromegaly and gigantism, pediatric endocrinologists and clinical geneticists, medical students and fellows

1. History of the identification of gigantism and acromegaly by Patrick PETROSSIANS ((NEW chapter added from reviewer comments.)
2. Pathology of Pituitary Adenomas Secreting Growth Hormone by Sylvia Asa
3. Gigantism: Clinical Diagnosis and Description by Albert Beckers
4. Acromegaly: Clinical Diagnosis and Description by Ashley Grossman
5. Neuroimaging in gigantism and acromegaly by George Papadakis & Nick Patronas (NEW chapter added from reviewer comments.)
6. X-linked Acro-gigantism : by Giampaolo Trivellin
7. AIP Defects (Aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein): by Laura Hernandez-Ramirez
8. 3-PAs : by Paraskevi Xekouki
9. CDKNIB (p27) defects by Natalia Pellegata and/or Marily Theodoropoulou
10. Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MENs) and pituitary tumors by Sunita Agarwal and/or S. Marx
11. GNAS, McCune-Albright syndrome, and GH-producing tumors by Anna Spada
12. Neurosurgical aspects of pit tumor secreting GH by Prashant Chittiboina
13. Irradiation and/or medical treatment of gigantism and acromegaly by Maria Fleseriu
14. Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone - producing and other tumors leading to overgrowth by Amit Tirosh and/or Maya Lodish
15. Increased GH secretion and non-pituitary tumors: is there an association? By Michael T. Collins ((NEW chapter added from reviewer comments.)