Tall Stature

Question 1

What is the definition of a tall stature?

Answer 1

Height that is greater than 2 standard deviations above the mean compared with age and sex, or height that has passed more than 3 centiles above the mid parental height centile.

Question 2

What are the common causes of a tall stature?

Answer 2

1. Familial (most common)
2. Obesity
3. Klinefelter’s, Marfan’s
4. Growth hormone excess, hyperthyroidism
5. Precocious puberty

Question 3

How is a tall stature investigated?

Answer 3

1. BMI
2. If clinically well, no investigations.
3. Bone age radiology of left hand
4. MRI brain if suspecting pituitary adenoma
5. Karyotype boys for Klinefelter’s
6. Test for Marfan’s if suspicious