Proteus Syndrome

Proteus Syndrome is condition, which involves atypical growth of the bones, skin, head, and a variety of other symptoms. Michael Cohen, Jr., DMD, Ph.D. first identified this condition, in 1979. In 1983 a German pediatrician, Rudolf Wiedemann, named it Proteus Syndrome, for the Greek God Proteus “the polymorphous” presumably because of the variable manifestations in the four unrelated boys first identified with the syndrome.

Notations of this syndrome have been cited in medical literature as early as 1907. Identification of this disorder has been difficult due to the variability and the occurrence of the syndrome.  Joseph Merrick (known as the Elephant Man), was suggested to have suffered from Proteus Syndrome, rather than neurofibromatosis, as was originally suggested.

Individuals with this syndrome may have signs of: overgrowth, asymmetry, and gigantism of the limbs, Increased size of an organ, or the body, or bones, raised rough skin, deep lines and overgrowth of soft tissue on the soles of the feet, patches of overgrown blood or lymph notes, local overgrowth of fat or undergrowth of fat, various benign tumors, blood clots, and blood clots in the lungs.