Biopsy samples of tree man sent to US

Physicians yesterday sent blood, tissue and saliva samples of Bangladeshi tree man, who is thought to be suffering from a rare skin disorder, to a molecular microbiologist in the United States for diagnosis.

The samples would reach the destination in around 48 hours, hoped Dr Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Admitted to the institute since January 30, Abul Bajandar, 26, of Khulna has warts like tree trunk, weighing almost four kilogrammes, on both hands and feet.

“He was suffering from malnutrition when he came here. But he has improved a lot in our care,” Sen told The Daily Star.

The American microbiologist Prof W Martin Cast has been researching on the syndrome for over 20 years, and he has asked for samples, Sen added.

“We strongly suspect that Abul is suffering from epidermodysplasia verruciformis or tree man syndrome, but we will not conduct any surgeries until we hear Cast's opinion,” Sen said.

The aim of the surgeries would be to regain the use of his hands and some fingers but chances of a complete cure are low, he added.