Hemihypertrophy
Encyclopedia
Hemihypertrophy is a condition in which one side of the body or a part of one side is larger than the other. Children with hemihypertrophy have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer
, including Wilms tumor (a childhood kidney cancer
) and liver cancer
. Children with hemihypertrophy may also develop scoliosis
, a curvature of the spine.
There are two main surgical options for the treatment of hemihypertrophy, shortening and lengthening. Epiphysiodesis, which involves removing part of the growth plate of the longer leg, allowing the shorter leg to "catch up", is performed on patients still able to grow. Bone resection is performed on patients who have no growth left and involves removing part of the bone. Leg lengthening procedures are more painful, involving the insertion of pins to be turned, moving parts of the bone apart. This process is reserved mainly for patients with a discrepancy greater than 4 cm, although some leg lengthening procedures are now done cosmetically.
Non-surgical options include attachment of a lift to the shoe, allowing the patient to walk normally.
Hemifacial hyperplasia is believed to be a minor form of hemihypertrophy.
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, including Wilms tumor (a childhood kidney cancer
Kidney cancer
Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells in the kidney.The two most common types of kidney cancer are renal cell carcinoma and urothelial cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis...
) and liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
. Children with hemihypertrophy may also develop scoliosis
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to side. Although it is a complex three-dimensional deformity, on an X-ray, viewed from the rear, the spine of an individual with scoliosis may look more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line...
, a curvature of the spine.
There are two main surgical options for the treatment of hemihypertrophy, shortening and lengthening. Epiphysiodesis, which involves removing part of the growth plate of the longer leg, allowing the shorter leg to "catch up", is performed on patients still able to grow. Bone resection is performed on patients who have no growth left and involves removing part of the bone. Leg lengthening procedures are more painful, involving the insertion of pins to be turned, moving parts of the bone apart. This process is reserved mainly for patients with a discrepancy greater than 4 cm, although some leg lengthening procedures are now done cosmetically.
Non-surgical options include attachment of a lift to the shoe, allowing the patient to walk normally.
Hemifacial hyperplasia is believed to be a minor form of hemihypertrophy.
External links
- Hemihypertrophy entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
- http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1100/mainpageS1100P0.html entry in the Children's Hospital of Boston website