[tri-med] Bone Age and Wilm's scans

Alex had his abdo ultrasound a few weeks ago and it was all clear - thats the 
good news :-))

At the same time we decided to do a bone age to see if he warranted more growth 
hormone studies because of his rapid growth. For
those that don't know Alex was typically T-18 for growth until he was 12 months 
old - he had his own curve below the third centile
on "normal" growth charts. He got his g-tube and started gaining weight. Around 
the age of 3, when his Shapiro's Crisis started
getting severe he also started to shoot up in height. Now at age 7 he is the 
tallest in his class by a long shot - and actually
comes up to my shoulders now.

When we went for our endo appointment earlier this year I asked him about 
Alex's height. He looked him over and said that there was
no sign of acromegaly, which is an excess of growth hormone, but that he was 
definitely VERY tall for his age. SO just to make sure
he wanted a bone age. I finally got it done.

At age 3 years 6 months Alex's bone age was 2.5 years
Now at 7 years 1 month his bone age is 9 years.
1 standard deviation of 7 years is 10 years 1 month.

So in 3 1/2 years his bone "age" has increased 6 1/2 years!!!!!! I am guessing 
that because its less than 1 standard deviation that
the "plan" will be to watch - but given his problems with the hypothalamus I am 
concerned that there is a tumour or something
sinister going on and causing excessive growth hormone........ They may do 
another growth hormone test, but they are such fun -
NOT!!!! He has had MRI's, CT scans etc but that was a while ago now and he is 
no longer a candidate for an MRI unless absolutely
essential because of the pacemaker.

Why are we never happy :-)) I worried when he wasn't growing - now I am 
worrying because he is!!!!

If winter comes, can spring be far behind?
-- Percy Bysshe Shelley

Keep Looking for Rainbows!!!
Karen, Mum to Alex (6, T-18 mosaic)
Sydney, Australia
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens
http://www.trisomyonline.org

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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