Is Sultan Kösen Still the Tallest Man Alive? the Truth Behind the Record
Behind these colossal measurements lies a severe endocrine disruption. Kösen's vertical growth was driven by pituitary gigantism, a rare medical condition caused by a benign neuroendocrine adenoma pressing on the anterior pituitary gland. The tumor floods the vascular system with excessive human growth hormone (hGH) prior to the closure of the epiphyseal plates in puberty.
When growth hormone oversecretion continues into adulthood after the growth plates fuse, the condition develops into acromegaly. This pathology leads to enlarged bones in the hands, feet, jaw, and cranium, alongside soft tissue expansion in internal organs:
- Cardiovascular strain: A human heart built to circulate blood through a standard five-foot-ten frame must pump double the volume across an eight-foot vascular network. Cardiomegaly and congestive heart failure represent constant clinical threats.
- Skeletal degredation: Extreme mechanical load erodes cartilage in the knees, hips, and lower back, forcing individuals like Kösen to rely permanently on crutches or walking frames.
- Peripheral neuropathy: Excess bone and connective tissue compress peripheral nerves, resulting in loss of sensation in the feet. Robert Wadlow, the tallest man in history at 8 feet 11.1 inches (272 cm), died at age 22 from an infection sparked by a poorly fitted ankle brace he could not feel rubbing against his skin.
Kösen escaped Wadlow's fate thanks to modern neurosurgery. In August 2010, endocrinologists at the University of Virginia School of Medicine placed him on a targeted medical regimen and administered Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Specialists focused non-invasive, concentrated radiation beams directly at the pituitary tumor, successfully shutting down the abnormal hormone factory. By early 2012, medical tests confirmed his growth hormone production had normalized, permanently locking his stature at 251 centimeters.
