World's Tallest Man
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen, 27, of Turkey, stands next to the world's shortest man, He Pingping (see next slide).
The world's shortest man, He Pingping, in comparison to the world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen. He is 2-feet, 5-inches tall.
Kosen, seen here in London, is more than 8 feet tall as a result of a rare hormonal condition called acromegaly, which causes the pituitary gland to produce too much growth hormone, usually as a result of a noncancerous tumor on the pituitary gland.
Acromegaly causes the skeleton and internal organs to grow disproportionately. When the organs that also respond to growth hormone, like the kidneys, intestines and the heart, become enlarged, they become weakened. Patients typically also have deep voices and enlarged tongues, making it difficult to swallow. In this photo, Kosen poses in front of Vienna's Giant Wheel landmark
A women poses with her foot next to Kosen's shoes in Vienna.
He Pingping, who stands 2-feet, 5-inches tall, sits with Kosen and answers questions from members of the press during a promotional event in Istanbul.
Kosen poses with an audience in Vienna.
Former Formula One driver David Coulthard of Britain looks at Kosen as they meet at the paddock before the Turkish F1 Grand Prix at the Istanbul Park Circuit in Turkey in May 2010.
Kosen poses for photographers in New York's Times Square.