Diseases

Proteus Syndrome

Hamartoneoplastic malformation syndrome of uncertain etiology characterized by partial GIGANTISM of the hands and/or feet, asymmetry of the limbs, plantar hyperplasia, hemangiomas (HEMANGIOMA), lipomas (LIPOMA), lymphangiomas (LYMPHANGIOMA), epidermal NEVI; MACROCEPHALY; cranial HYPEROSTOSIS, and long-bone overgrowth. Joseph Merrick, the so-called elephant man, apparently suffered from Proteus syndrome and not NEUROFIBROMATOSIS, a disorder with similar characteristics.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Hamartoneoplastic malformation syndrome of uncertain etiology characterized by partial GIGANTISM of the hands and/or feet, asymmetry of the limbs, plantar hyperplasia, hemangiomas (HEMANGIOMA), lipomas (LIPOMA), lymphangiomas (LYMPHANGIOMA), epidermal NEVI; MACROCEPHALY; cranial HYPEROSTOSIS, and long-bone overgrowth. Joseph Merrick, the so-called elephant man, apparently suffered from Proteus syndrome and not NEUROFIBROMATOSIS, a disorder with similar characteristics.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

4 entry terms
  • Elephant Man Disease
  • Proteus-Like Syndrome
  • Proteus Like Syndrome
  • Syndrome, Proteus-Like

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

34 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

hamartomas & multiple abnorm; "Proteus" refers to the sea god in Greek mythol who could assume many forms; do not use /congen & do not coord with INFANT, NEWBORN, DISEASES

MeSH Record

History Note

92

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Abnormalities, Multiple (1979-1991)
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary (1986-1991)
  • Neurofibromatosis 1 (1979-1990)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C04w.445w.435w.500w
  2. C04w.651.435w.500w
  3. C05w.116w.099.750w
  4. C05w.660w.585w.620w
  5. C16w.131w.077w.740w
  6. C16w.131w.621w.585w.620w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Proteus Syndrome. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D016715. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D016715
  2. Proteus Syndrome. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proteus_syndrome
  3. Proteus Syndrome. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q281115