Gamma Knife surgery stops growth of 'World's tallest living human'

Sultan Kosen won't be posting new world records for height anymore, but that's just fine with him. The Gamma Knife® radiosurgery the 29-year-old Turkish man had in August 2010 has successfully stopped his growth at the height of 8 ft 3 in (251 cm). Mr. Kosen, who suffered the effects of acromegaly, has held the title of "World's Tallest Living Human" since September 2009, when his 8 ft plus stature edged 7 ft 9 in Xiu Xung from China.

In an item in the Guinness World Records 2012 Edition (page 84, U.S./U.K. versions), Guinness World Record recognized Mr. Kosen's Gamma Knife surgery by Dr. Jason Sheehan at the University of Virginia for finally putting a stop to the man's height gains, which were causing a host of health problems.

For 18 years, beginning at age 10, a tumor in Mr. Kosen's brain secreted enormous amounts of growth hormone. Gamma Knife radiosurgery was seen as the technique that offered the best chance of improving his acromegaly.

Leksell Gamma Knife radiosurgery (http://www.elekta.com/gammaknife), a gentler alternative to traditional brain surgery, delivers 192 low-intensity radiation beams to one or more targets and with pinpoint accuracy - in this case, Mr. Kosen's tumor.

Source About Elekta