In a somatotropic adenoma, what condition occurs in children?

In children, a somatotropic adenoma, which is a tumor of the pituitary gland that produces excess growth hormone, typically leads to a condition known as giantism. This occurs because, unlike adults, whose growth plates are fused, children still have open growth plates. The overproduction of growth hormone stimulates linear growth, causing individuals to grow excessively tall during their development.

In contrast, acromegaly occurs in adults after the epiphyseal plates have closed, resulting in the thickening of bones and soft tissues rather than increased height. While Cushing's syndrome is caused by excessive cortisol, it is unrelated to growth hormone production, and infertility is not a direct consequence of somatotropic adenoma in children. Therefore, giantism is the specific condition that arises in children due to the effects of excess growth hormone from a somatotropic adenoma.