Tall stature and gigantism in transition age: clinical and genetic aspects-a literature review and recommendations.

PURPOSE: Tall stature is defined as height greater than the threshold of more than 2 standard deviations above the average population height for age, sex, and ethnicity. Many studies have described the main aspects of this condition during puberty, but an analysis of the characteristics that the physician should consider in the differential diagnosis of gigantism-tall stature secondary to a pituitary tumour-during the transition age (15-25 years) is still lacking. METHODS: A comprehensive search of English-language original articles was conducted in the MEDLINE database (December 2021-March 2022). We selected all studies regarding epidemiology, genetic aspects, and the diagnosis of tall stature and gigantism during the transition age. RESULTS: Generally, referrals for tall stature are not as frequent as expected because most cases are familial and are usually unreported by parents and patients to endocrinologists. For this reason, lacking such experience of tall stature, familiarity with many rarer overgrowth syndromes is essential. In the transition age, it is important but challenging to distinguish adolescents with high constitutional stature from those with gigantism. Pituitary gigantism is a rare disease in the transition age, but its systemic complications are very relevant for future health. Endocrine evaluation is crucial for identifying conditions that require hormonal treatment so that they can be treated early to improve the quality of life and prevent comorbidities of individual patient in this age range. CONCLUSION: The aim of our review is to provide a practical clinical approach to recognise adolescents, potentially affected by gigantism, as early as possible.

Sellar and parasellar lesions in the transition age: a retrospective Italian multi-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Sellar/parasellar lesions have been studied in the adult and paediatric age range, but during the transition age their epidemiology, clinical manifestations, management and treatment outcomes have been poorly investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An Italian multicentre cohort study, in which hospital records of patients with diagnosis of sellar/parasellar lesions during the transition age and young adulthood (15-25 years), were reviewed in terms of prevalence, clinical and hormonal features at diagnosis, and outcomes where available. Both pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (pituitary tumours, Group A) and non-endocrine lesions (Group B) were included. RESULTS: Among Group A (n = 170, 46.5% macroadenomas), the most frequent were prolactin and GH-secreting tumours, with a female predominance. Among Group B (n = 28), germinomas and Rathke cells cysts were the most common. In Group A, the most frequent hormonal deficiency was gonadal dysfunction. Galactorrhoea and amenorrhoea were relatively common in female patients with prolactinomas. Pre-surgical diabetes insipidus was only seen in Group B, in which also hormone deficiencies were more frequent and numerous. Larger lesions were more likely to be seen in Group B. Patients in Group B were more frequently male, younger, and leaner than those of Group A, whereas at last follow-up they showed more obesity and dyslipidaemia. In our cohort, the percentage of patients with at least one pituitary deficiency increased slightly after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The management of sellar/parasellar lesions is challenging in the transition age, requiring an integrated and multidisciplinary approach. Hormone and metabolic disorders can occur many years after treatment, therefore long-term follow-up is mandatory.