A man in Quang Ngai province is suffering thickened skin (keratosis) associated with periosteum inflammation, accompanied with abnormally large limb ends and Hepatitis B. This is the first case ever seen in the world, a doctor reported.   Dr Hoang Van Minh, head of the dermatological department of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital and Director of the University’s Blood Tumor Center said that he has found a 28-year-old man in the central province, C.H.Q., suffering with the strange condition. The case has been confirmed by the American Academy of Dermatology, which has invited Dr Minh to make a presentation on his findings at a scientific conference held by the academy from March 21-25 2014. Dr. Minh told us that before arriving at the University hospital, the patient had been to various different health facilities for examination but all previous doctors failed to discover from which disease he had been suffering. Q recounted that three years ago, two convexo-concave lines appeared in the middle of his forehead. Over time, rough folds lines spread across his forehead and to a part of his scalp. Doctors have said that such strange skin textures makes Q look older and ‘like a 50-year-old man.’

C.H.Q., 28, who suffers a strange condition that makes him look much older than his age (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

He also suffers from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) on his body, hands and soles of his feet along with excessive sebum on his face. In addition, the ends of the patient’s ten fingers and ten toes are also abnormally large. Hormones and CT tests on the patient showed that has a tumor in the pituitary gland in the brain. X-ray tests on Q’s thigh and leg also shown he suffers from bone damage while a blood test found him to have hepatitis B. Dr. Minh said that the patient’s conditions could not be cured and doctors could only help prevent such conditions from getting worse, adding that in this case, surgery can only help reduce the ageing of the patient, as shown in his face.  He added regarding the tumor in the pituitary gland, as it is still small, further observation is needed before it can later be removed by an endoscopic surgery. Doctors will also perform a surgery on Q’s face to remove the rough skin and then make skin graft to make the facial skin smoother. Dr. Minh expects the surgery to be carried out in February 2014.