The hypothalamus and pituitary in cerebral gigantism. A clinicopathologic and immunocytochemical study.

Cerebral gigantism, or Sotos' disease, is a rare disorder of unknown cause characterized by the early onset of excessive growth, acromegalic features, and some degree of mental retardation. Although several endocrinologic abnormalities have been described in such patients, none has been specific or sufficient to explain the clinical features. Our report of the endocrinologic and pathologic aspects in a young woman with Sotos' disease includes the first microanatomic study of the hypothalamus and immunocytochemical examination of the pituitary gland in this disorder.