Very slow or very rapid growth may be an indication of an endocrine problem or disease The pituitary gland makes growth hormone, which stimulates the growth of bones and other body tissues. As for children with a deficiency of this hormone, they may become shorter than normal. But growth induction is possible with hormonal therapy.

It is also possible for a person to have an excess amount of growth hormone, which is usually caused by a pituitary tumor, but this tumor is not cancer. Excessive secretion of growth hormone leads to the phenomenon of gigantism in children, where their bones and bodies become abnormally long. In adults, this can lead to acromegaly, where the feet, hands, and face become larger than normal.