Abstract
Tall stature is defined as linear height above the 97th percentile or more than two standard deviations above the mean for age and sex. While tall stature is most commonly a variant of normal, pathological causes do exist, making recognition by the pediatrician imperative for early diagnosis and treatment. More than a single height measurement enables calculation of growth velocity, or linear growth over time, which provides invaluable information about a child’s overall growth and can be the first clue to pathology. An unexplained acceleration in the growth rate, or a child’s height plotting in a growth percentile much higher than the family height, should prompt careful evaluation. This chapter will review causes of tall stature and increased growth velocity including familial/constitutional tall stature and overgrowth syndromes with a focus on key findings, initial workup, and when to refer to a pediatric endocrinologist. Most children with tall stature but normal growth rate and no concerning findings on history and physical will not require further laboratory evaluation or referral.
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Viswanathan, P., Pinto, B. (2021). Increased Growth Velocity and/or Tall Stature. In: Stanley, T., Misra, M. (eds) Endocrine Conditions in Pediatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52215-5_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52215-5_2
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