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Prognathism

Meaning

Prognathism is a clinical descriptor for a condition characterized by the forward projection of the jaw, either the mandible (mandibular prognathism) or the maxilla (maxillary prognathism), relative to the rest of the facial skeleton. While often a developmental or genetic trait, it can be a significant somatic manifestation of underlying endocrine disorders, most notably acromegaly, which is caused by excessive growth hormone (GH) and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) secretion. The presence of acquired prognathism warrants a thorough endocrine evaluation.