Contributed by
IPR '26
Rick van Rijn, and Michael Callahan.
History
Rigardus Rijnhout (April 21 1922 tot April 13 1959), was known as the ‘Giant of Rotterdam’.
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Question
What was his height?
Your answer
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Correct answer
2.38 meter / 7.81 feet
Discussion
Rigardus Rijnhout was said to have a normal developed until the age of 3. At age 13, he was 1.90 m tall. He was extremely strong and renowned for his enormous appetite. He suffered from a pituitary gland tumour, as a result his final height was 2.38 m (7.81 feet), his feet were 36 cm (1.18 feet) long, and he wore shoe size 62 (US 24-25). His hands were 22 cm (0.72 feet) long and his arm span was 2.43 m (7.97 feet). His final weight was 230 kg.
During the early years of World War II, his pituitary gland was irradiated at the Diaconessen Hospital in Rotterdam. He became disabled at the age of 32. His final hospital admission was at the University Hospital in Leiden from November 24, 1958, until his death. At that time, he was completely blind in his left eye, while examination revealed temporal hemianopsia in the right eye. Treatment then consisted of weekly testosterone injections, which likely caused him to stop growing. He ultimately died with a clinical picture that, according to the description, most closely fits persistent (uro)sepsis and hypopituitarism.
He is remembered with a statue in the city centre of Rotterdam.
Differential diagnosis
de Herder WW. Reuzengroei. Een historische en medische beschouwing [Giantism. A historical and medical view]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2004 Dec 25;148(52):2585-90.
References
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-giant-of-rotterdam-rotterdam-netherlands