Acromegaly

Acromegaly, also known as gigantism, is a medical condition that is caused by an over-secretion of pituitary hormones after puberty and can be caused by tumors growing on the adrenal gland. This over-secretion of growth hormones causes the victim to grow to unusual height and for their body parts to grow unusually large. This condition can be treated with medication or radiation therapy.

Typically the earlier the treatment occurs, the less obvious the symptoms will appear. Left untreated, acromegaly can lead to premature death due to added stress on the internal organs. Traditionally, before treatment was available, some people with this ailment became circus performers or side-show features.