[Tall girls]

Over a period of 17 years, 17 girls with excessive height were referred to a private paediatric practice. Among 14 one or both parents were very tall. Eleven girls had already reached an excessive height before school age. Mean age at the time of examination was 12.3 years and mean bone age 13.1 year. Menarche had occurred in six girls. The mean final height was estimated to 181 cm according to the method of Tanner et al. It is concluded that at least half of the girls were investigated too late with regard to the optimal time of oestrogen treatment. If this treatment is to be considered in girls with tall parents who grow fast at an early age their final height should be estimated earlier, i.e. at an age of 10-11 years.