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A doctor at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City measures the height of D.T.D., who was diagnosed with gigantism due to a pituitary gland tumor.
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Doctors in Ho Chi Minh City Saturday said they have successfully removed a tumor from a 2.03-meter tall man who suffers from "gigantism," a condition that could lead to dangerous complications if not treated.
A Vietnamnet report cited doctors from the Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital as saying that after a surgery lasting more than two hours on Friday, the condition of the 21-year-old patient, known as D.T.D, was stabilizing.
Dr. Nguyen Thy Hung, director of the hospital, said they removed a 7x7 mm tumor from his pituitary gland. The gland, located at the base of the brain, produces hormones influencing the growth of the bone structure.
D. will be placed under observation and further tests will be carried out on his pituitary gland’s functions so doctors can make measures to control his body’s disorders, the Vietnamnet report said.
According to Hung, gigantism happens because the tumor produces growth hormones before one’s puberty period. People with the condition often have big heads and limbs and are abnormally tall.
Without treatment, patients can suffer dangerous complications like diabetes and high blood pressure, he said.
Currently the world’s highest person with same condition as D is 2.51 meters tall, the report said.