LARGE FOR GESTATIONAL AGE, MACROSOMIA, OVERGROWTH: AN UPDATE ONDEFINITIONS AND DETERMINANTS

Human growth and development, starting from conception, are characterized by a progressiveincrease in body and organ dimensions, as well as specific functional maturity, under the influenceof genetic as well as environmental and epigenetic determinants. Beyond a possible normal familialtrait, increased fetal growth resulting in a large for gestational age newborn, isolated macrosomia orthat associated with congenital malformation, can be attributable to both maternal metabolic andgenetic pathology. Overgrowth syndromes are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized byexcessive tissue development often concomitant to neurodevelopmental involvement. Recently, anincreased risk of fetal overgrowth with Assisted Reproductive Technology has been reported. Thus,in pediatric practice, it is fundamental to monitor any patient who presents with increased growthparameters, variable malformations, neurodevelopmental delay, and distinctive features from birth,aiming to ensure as adequate a medical management as possible, and for some of the disorders,strict tumor monitoring is also necessary.