The Curious Case of Adam Rainer

When he was 18 years old, Adam Rainer was 138 cm’s tall, which classified him as a dwarf. Around that time however he developed a benign tumour in his pituitary gland which stimulated the excessive production of growth hormone. As a consequence he started to increase his height in the exact moment when growth in young adults normally comes to an end. To his misfortune Adam continued to grow for the rest of his life. When he died aged 51 his height had increased to 2,38 meters tall, making him the only person in history to be classified as a dwarf and a giant during his adult life. The Incredible Shrinking Man can’t help but wonder if, however unlikely, such a reversal of size could also be achieved in the opposite direction, from tall to small. We know animals can.