Joseph Merrick -- THE Elephant Man

Proteus syndrome is a congenital disorderJames, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. (10th ed.). Saunders. ISBN 0721629210. that causes skin overgrowth and atypical bone development, often accompanied by tumors over half the body.Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0071380760.

Proteus syndrome is highly variable, and is named after the Greek sea-god Proteus, who could change his shape.

Since Dr. Michael Cohen identified it in 1979, only a few more than 200 cases have been confirmed worldwide, with estimates that about 120 people are currently alive with the condition.Womans 11-stone legs may be lost at BBC As attenuated forms of the disease may exist, there could be many people with Proteus syndrome who remain undiagnosed. Those most readily diagnosed are also, unfortunately, the most severely disfigured.

Neurofibromatosis (commonly abbreviated NF) is a genetically-inherited disease in which the nerve tissue grows tumors (i.e., neurofibromas) that may be harmless or may cause serious damage by compressing nerves and other tissues. The disorder affects all neural crest cells (Schwann cells, melanocytes, endoneurial fibroblasts). Cellular elements from these cell types proliferate excessively throughout the body forming tumors and the melanocytes function abnormally resulting in disordered skin pigmentation.The tumors may cause bumps under the skin, colored spots, skeletal problems, pressure on spinal nerve roots, and other neurological problems.http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec06/ch088/ch088d.html Merck Manual Home Edition,

"Neurofibromatosis"

Neurofibromatosis is autosomal dominant, which means that it affects males and females equally and is dominant (only one copy of the affected gene is needed to get the disorder). Therefore, if only one parent has neurofibromatosis, his or her children have a 50% chance of developing the condition as well. Disease severity in affected individuals, however, can vary (this is called variable expressivity). Moreover, in around half of cases there is no other affected family member because a new mutation has occurred.

Elephantiasis (/??l?f?n?ta??s?s, -fæn-/ -fan-) is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs, male genitals and female breasts. In some cases, the disease can cause certain body parts, such as the scrotum, to swell to the size of a softball or basketball. "Elephantitis" is a common mis-hearing or mis-remembering of the term, from confusing the ending -iasis (process or resulting condition) with the more commonly heard Category: wikt - :-itis|-itis (irritation or inflammation). The proper medical term is Elephantiasis,http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs102/en/ Retrieved on May 17, 2009 and it is caused by lymphatic filariasis.