A giant from Ostrow Lednicki (XII-XIII c), dist. Lednogora, Poland

Gigantism is a serious condition, manifesting itself not only in excessive body height, but also in disturbances within other systems [e.g. respirator y, nervous and vascular system (Hayles 1980)] since it is caused by excessi ve secretion of the pituitary hormone somatotrophin, most frequently in con nection with an acidophil adenoma developed in childhood. A skeleton, likel y female, excavated from an early medieval cemetery of Ostrow Lednicki in L ednogora, dated between the end of 11th and the beginning of the 14th centu ry A.D., is presented. The length of the skeleton bl situ was 208 cm, and a fter Trotter, Gleser's - 215,5 cm. Morphological, radiological and TC inves tigations show that the bones are massive, particularly the skull. Lesions are apparent in many bones, especially in the skull and vertebrae. These ar e lesions characteristic of gigantism: acromegaly, osteoma, inflammatory pr ocess, fracture, degenerative deformations, extensive loading and some deve lopmental deviations. Apart from a thorough description and measurements of the case, a short outline of hitherto described cases of gigantism is pres ented.