Gigantism and Acromegaly

Gigantism and Acromegaly 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 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

CHAPTER 1 History of the identification of gigantism and acromegaly, Liliya Rostomyan, Albert Beckers and Patrick Petrossians
CHAPTER 2 Pathology of pituitary growth hormone excess, Sylvia L. Asa and Shereen Ezzat
CHAPTER 3 Gigantism: clinical diagnosis and description, Iulia Potorac, Liliya Rostomyan, Adrian F. Daly, Patrick Petrossians and Albert Beckers
CHAPTER 4 Acromegaly: clinical description and diagnosis, Kevin C.J. Yuen and Albert Becker
CHAPTER 5 GPR101, an orphan G-protein coupled receptor, with roles in growth, puberty, and possibly appetite regulation, Fady Hannah-Shmouni and Constantine A. Stratakis
CHAPTER 6 The role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein in pituitary tumorigenesis, Laura C. Herna´ndez-Ramı´rez
CHAPTER 7 The 3PAs syndrome and succinate dehydrogenase deficiency in pituitary tumors, Paraskevi Xekouki, Vasiliki Daraki, Grigoria Betsi, Maria Chrysoulaki, Maria Sfakiotaki, Maria Mytilinaiou and Constantine A. Stratakis
CHAPTER 8 CDKN1B (p27) defects leading to pituitary tumors, Sebastian Gulde and Natalia S. Pellegata
CHAPTER 9 Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes and somatotroph adenomas, Carolina R.C. Pieterman and Steven G. Waguespack
CHAPTER 10 GNAS, McCune