The World's Tallest Man Stopped Growing

The growth of the world's tallest man finally stopped after getting treatment at the University of Virginia (UVA) Medical Center, United States. His achievement, the name of the health care center in Charlottesville that was mentioned in the Guinness World Records 2012.

The world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen from Turkey, poses for photographers in London. (Picture from: http://www.ibtimes.com/)

On May 2010, Sultan Kosen, the Turkish man who has a body with 2.51 meters high, a visit to UVA for the first time in order to undergo treatment from an endocrinologist, Mary Lee Vance. Kosen suffering from acromegaly, which is usually caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland.

Leksell Gamma Knife 4C.

(Picture from: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/)

Tumors that cause the production of growth hormone in large quantities, which lead to gigantism if it produced an excess of growth hormone before puberty. Conditions that can cause various health problems. "The bone frame can not support her," said Vance.

Under the care of Vance, Kosen receive new treatments that can control the growth hormone and stop the growth of the man. Kosen pituitary tumor has spread to his brain, so doctors could perform open surgery safely. UVA brain surgeon, Jason Sheehan, decided to perform Gamma Knife radiation surgery in August 2010.

Radiation Gamma Knife Surgery is a noninvasive procedure to illuminate specific points on the body of a patient with large doses of radiation that is guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this case, the radiation beam is directed at the Kosen's pituitary tumor.

(Left to right) - Sophie Yu, Kelly Garrett, Mary Lee Vance, MD, Sultan Kosen and Jason Sheehan, MD; courtesy of UVA Health System. (Picture from: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/)

Three months ago, Kosen's doctors in Turkey told Dr. Sheehan that growth was the highest man in the world has stopped. "The treatment we were able to stop the excessive hormone production and also stop tumor growth," said Sheehan.

The news suggests that UVA treatment proved effective. "Treating people with 2.5 meters high is no different from treating people with a 1.7 meter high," said Vance. "The important thing is to stop the excessive production of growth hormone." Dr Sheehan said, "If he continues to grow, it will endanger his life." *** [SCIENCEDAILY | KORAN TEMPO 3822]

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