Surgery successful in removing Indonesian man's disfiguring bark-like warts

Apr 16 2008

An Indonesian man so badly disfigured by warts that he has been dubbed the Tree Man of Java has had surgery to remove the bark like tissue growing from his hands and feet.

The man, 37 year old Dede Koswara, has lived for 20 years with the condition which appeared following a cut on his leg when he was a teenager.

The surgery was performed by U.S. surgeon Dr. Anthony Gaspari who led an Indonesian team of doctors - they removed almost 2kg of warts from the man's hands and feet.

The warts which resembled tree like growths meant Dede was unable to fully use his hands and feet without considerable pain.

His plight became known following a documentary about his life which detailed how the condition had forced him to abandon his job as a builder and fisherman and become a feature in a travelling freak show.

His wife also abandoned him and he was left to support his two children.

Since the operations in January and March he can now hold a pen, see his toes again and walk without pain.

Dr. Rachmat Dinata, the skin specialist working on Dede’s case, says that Dede’s treatment should be completed within three months.

Dr. Gaspari says Dede’s condition is the result of an extreme case of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) combined with a rare immune system deficiency.

Dr. Gaspari says this immune system deficiency enabled the virus to more or less “hijack the cellular machinery of his skin cells,” leading to the production of the massive tree-like growths, also called “cutaneous horns.”

Following two more operations, including skin grafts on his hands, feet and face, Dede hopes to lead a normal life, find a job and maybe marry again.

In order to ensure the warts do not return Dede takes vitamin A tablets to boost his immune system.

Dr. Gaspari who is from the University of Maryland, is also hoping to access for him an expensive anti-viral medicine available in the United States.