37-year-old Chinese, Huang Chuncai who suffers from an extreme case of neurofibromatosis and has large tumours weighing about 3.3lb (1.5kg) on his face has undergone surgery to remove the tumours. Huang whose tumours weighed 33lb (15kg) five years ago was severely affected by this condition as it deformed his backbone, caused him stunted growth and left him in continual pain.
Huang Chuncai whose tumour first became noticeable when he turned four has been nicknamed 'China's Elephant Man' and is said to have the world's worst recorded case of the condition.
Huang had surgery in 2007 and 2008 - the first to remove the 33lb tumour. The surgery was extremely risky due to the high chance of heavy bleeding.
Neurofibromatosis is a non-cancerous or non-contagious condition which is majorly inherited and most individuals with such condition develop it randomly from a gene mutation
before they are born.
Huang Chuncai who underwent another round of surgery on Wednesday in Guangzhou to remove the tumour from his left cheek had a successful operation and is said to have two more to try in order to get his condition under control.
WHAT IS NEUROFIBROMATOSIS?
Neurofibromatosis is the name for a number of genetic conditions that cause swellings or lumps.
Although many people who have the condition inherit it from one of their parents, up to 50 per cent develop it randomly from a gene mutation before they are born.
Despite their alarming appearance, the growths and swellings - called neurofibromas and caused by a growth of cells - are not cancerous or contagious.
The condition has long been associated with the ‘Elephant Man,’ the name given to Joseph Carey Merrick, who was severely disfigured.
However, in 1986, a new theory emerged that Mr Merrick may actually have had Proteus syndrome, a condition which involves symptoms such as abnormal growth of the bones, skin and head.
The confusion was again compounded in 2001 when it was proposed that he had suffered from a combination of neurofibromatosis type one (NF1) and Proteus syndrome.
However, DNA tests on his hair and bones have proven inconclusive.
Although many people who have the condition inherit it from one of their parents, up to 50 per cent develop it randomly from a gene mutation before they are born.
Despite their alarming appearance, the growths and swellings - called neurofibromas and caused by a growth of cells - are not cancerous or contagious.
The condition has long been associated with the ‘Elephant Man,’ the name given to Joseph Carey Merrick, who was severely disfigured.
However, in 1986, a new theory emerged that Mr Merrick may actually have had Proteus syndrome, a condition which involves symptoms such as abnormal growth of the bones, skin and head.
The confusion was again compounded in 2001 when it was proposed that he had suffered from a combination of neurofibromatosis type one (NF1) and Proteus syndrome.
However, DNA tests on his hair and bones have proven inconclusive.
Hey.
ReplyDelete