Highlighting the contribution of the Greek physician Theodoros Aretaios to the history of thyroidectomy.

Theodoros Aretaios (1829-1893), having pursued advanced studies at home and abroad and possessing a wide range of competences and interests, was among the first Greek physicians to produce educational treatises for both students and doctors of medicine. Among these is his medical treatise Surgery which deals with thyroid operations and goiter symptoms as well as post-operative lesions which included a record of his extensive experience, learned recommendations, deep insights, and advanced techniques. In this medical archive, which is preserved in the National Library of Greece, there is, for example, the physician's vivid description of a thyroidectomy that he performed which illustrates his expertise as a surgeon as well as the surgical knowledge of his times. Aretaios was not the first to perform this operation in Greece: he was, however, the first to document it, which he did for the benefit of his fellow Greeks and of surgeons worldwide.

John Watson (1807-1863) and his Pioneer Work On the Surgery of Esophagus.

Backround. John Watson (1807-1863) was the first surgeon in USA who performed and published his results on esophagotomy. Methods. His pioneer surgical work was a gold standard reference for the later surgeons. Results. Watson was a devoted surgeon and his innovative operating techniques secured him a place in the hall of fame of the history of medicine.

Louis-Joseph-Marie Robert (1771-1850) and his method for the prevention of breast cancer.

In 19th century breast cancer was still an incurable disease. The treatment was consisting of surgical excision of the tumour, cautery iron and topical application of caustic substances such as arsenic and caustic potash without promising results. The French physician Louis Robert (1771-1850) adopted the leech method of François-Joseph-Victor Broussais (1772-1838) and proposed, for the first time, a method to prevent breast cancer. Despite the supposed success of his approach, the introduction of the notion of prevention and the ways to achieve it, it is meticulously analyzed in his work.

Paul of Aegina (ca 625-690 ad): Byzantine Surgeon and Pioneer of Surgical Management of Congenital Atresia of the External Auditory Canal.

Diseases of the ear have been recorded and treated since ancient times. Ex-votos have been offered to heal deafness. Noninvasive treatments have evolved into minor, and later more advanced, surgical techniques to treat head and neck issues. Paul of Aegina (ca 625-690 ad) perfected his medical skills in the School of Alexandria in Egypt. His medical encyclopedia, Medical Compendium, described a broad series of surgical operations, including a chapter "On the atresia of the auditory canal," which vividly described a surgical technique to open the ear canal. This surgery is particularly interesting, as it exceeds the limits of resection and amputation known at that time and describes a novel surgical technique. His innovative methods paved the way for future surgeons.

Professor William Macewen (1848-1924): The Scottish Pioneer of Surgery.

Professor William Macewen (1848-1924) is one of the most important figures in world's surgery during 18th and early 19th century. He managed to provide numerous innovative techniques and instruments in various fields of surgery such as general surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and thoracic surgery. His innovations had a great impact after his time and constituted the fundaments for further surgical developments. He also was a pioneer in clinical photography with the creation of a huge archive. During his surgical career, he received many honors.

Mathieu Jaboulay (1860-1913) and His Innovations in Vascular and General Surgery.

Mathieu Jaboulay (1860-1913) was an inventor in vascular and general surgery. He fabricated many new surgical techniques and instruments such as Jaboulay method for vascular sutures, Jaboulay anastomotic button, and Jaboulay amputation, known also as hemipelvectomy. In addition, he was a pioneer in heterologous transplantation and sympathectomy. He found death suddenly in a terrible train crash. He was a reputable Professor of Surgery at Lyon Faculty of Medicine with prestigious students in vascular surgery.

Rhazes' (864-925) views on cancer and the introduction of chemotherapy.

Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi, known also by his Latinized name Rhazes, stands among the Arabo-islamic physicians as the most important medical figure of his time. His contribution to medicine is considered vital as through his work and translations, the ancient Greek medicine along with the Arabian innovations, were spread in the Western medical literature. In his masterpiece entitled: "The comprehensive book on medicine", known also as "The large comprehensive or Continens Liber", he had thoroughly studied cancer, discussing its diagnosis and treatment. He was among the pioneers to introduce the notion of chemotherapy by combining alchemical, chemical, medical and pharmaceutical knowledge.

Oncologic conceptions in the work of the surgeon Guy de Chauliac (c. 1300-1368).

Guy de Chauliac, the most famous surgeon of the middle age, influenced the practice of surgery for centuries. His landmark work, in seven treatises, "Chirurgia Magna" was translated from Latin to French and became popular across Europe, educating hundreds of surgeons. In his book, a series of text fragments were dedicated in cancer such as breast tumor removal, amputation for soft tissue carcinomas of the extremities and cancer treatment using arsenic. Chauliac was probably the first physician to suggest the excision of cancer at early stage and this is considered as a promoter of surgical oncology.

The distinguished Austrian ophthalmologist Ernst Fuchs (1851-1930) and the "sarcom des uvealtractus".

Born in Vienna, in mid 19th century, Ernst Fuchs became an innovative ophthalmologist and is currently considered as the father of modern ophthalmology. Conditions like heterochromic uveitis and endothelial dystrophy were discovered by Fuchs and a series of ocular diseases are named after him. His work dealing with eye pathology, entitled: "Textbook of Ophthalmology", became known as the masterpiece of the 19th century ophthalmology. In ocular oncology, Fuchs introduced first the "sarcom des uvealtractus" (uveal sarcoma), known today as uveal melanoma. His treatment approach by enucleation was in vogue for more than 100 years, while his theory for hepatic metastasis of ocular cancer remains valid.

Heart cancer in the writings of the anatomo-clinical School members.

In the 19th century medicine flourished in Paris thanks to the advent of the anatomo-clinical School which introduced new methods of clinical examination and diagnosis. Pathology, auscultation and percussion became a routine in medical practice and paved the way for the rising of specialties such as cardiology and oncology. Heart cancer cases were meticulously described by several physicians and by the end of the century heart carcinoma was a well studied and known entity.

The distinguished Greek born, French ophthalmologist Photinos Panas (1832-1903) and his views on ocular cancer.

Photinos Panas (1832-1903) was one of the world's most important ophthalmologists in the second half of the 19th century. In his leading work entitled, Traité des maladies des yeux (Treatise of ophthalmic diseases), he made an in depth analysis of the various types of ocular cancer. His ideas on the subject were important for their tutorial character, their connection to the clinical work and very helpful for the everyday clinical practice of physicians of that time.

The eminent gynaecologist Richard Wesley TeLinde (1894- 1989) and his contribution to diagnosis of cervical cancer.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the relation of carcinoma in situ of the cervix to the invasive cancer was poorly understood, resulting in misdiagnosis of the disease and inappropriate treatment. The work of Richard Wesley TeLinde, chairman of Gynaecology at Johns Hopkins University for almost 21 years, contributed to delineate the diagnosis of cervical carcinoma, providing suggestive evidence that carcinoma in situ often precedes invasive cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer in the work of the unconventional Samuel Pozzi (1846-1918), pioneer of modern gynaecology.

Advocate of Lister's antiseptic techniques, promoter of anesthesia, professor of the first chair of gynaecology in Medical School of Paris, academician, successful politician, art collector, friend and lover of the famous, Samuel Pozzi lived a fascinating life. His book "Treatise of clinical and surgical gynaecology" published in 1890 became the gold standard in medical practice while his approach in the treatment of cervical cancer, including cases of pregnant women, remained in vogue for almost fifty years.

Le "canceur des fumeurs" in 19th century: the contribution of the French surgeon Étienne-Frédéric Bouisson (1813-1884).

At the beginning of the 19th century, the alarming rise in tobacco consumption and its consequences in health preoccupied physicians. Several medical authors pointed out the harmful effects of smoking, enumerating related disorders. In 1821, the hygienist Alexandre Parent du Châtelet (1790-1835) and the chemist Félix d'Arcet (1814-1847), studied the effects of tobacco in health and concluded that it was a relatively healthy habit providing also a kind of immunity from contagious diseases. The tobacco controversy opened up and continued for almost 40 years. In 1861, the professor of surgery and politician Étienne-Frédéric Bouisson (1813-1884) in his work entitled: "Tribut à la chirurgie ou mémoires sur divers sujets de cette science" (Tribute to surgery or dissertations on various topics of this science) related for the first time tobacco consumption to oral cancer, applying medical statistics and analyzing meticulously all the available data.

Preventing syphilis in the 16th century: the distinguished Italian anatomist Gabriele Falloppio (1523-1562) and the invention of the condom.

By the end of the 15th century, syphilis had reached epidemic proportions in Europe. Unable to ascertain its causes, physicians resorted to superstition. At the beginning of the 16th century, the sexual transmission of the disease was established. Initially, the principal measure of infection control was sexual abstinence and mutual fidelity. However, during the same period the Italian anatomist Gabriele Falloppio (1523-1562) proposed a method of preventing syphilis transmission: the medication-soaked linen sheath. Thus was born the idea of a mechanical barrier against sexually transmitted diseases: the condom.

Treating the incurables: Cancer asylums in 18th and 19th century.

For centuries several hypotheses were formulated on cancer's pathogenesis such as contagiousness, melancholy, heredity and sexuality. In the 18th and 19th century, despite the advent of medical thought and practice, cancer was considered an incurable and contagious disease. Hospitals were refusing to treat cancer patients while the social stigma which followed the disease made primordial the need for the establishment of special institutions. In our article we will present the cancer asylums which counterbalanced the prejudices of the time and contributed to the establishment of modern cancer hospitals.

Epilepsy and Neurosurgery: Historical Highlights.

Epilepsy has been known since antiquity and trepanation has been documented as a therapeutic option. The Greek born physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia (2nd century BC) was the first to recommend trepanation for the treatment of refractory epilepsy to drugs, pointing out the efficacy of the method (Fig. 1). Trepanation was practiced throughout the Middle Ages, as it is proved by the book of "Quattuor Magistri" and during Renaissance as well. In 19th century, Sir Victor Alexander Horsley (1857-1916), combining analysis of clinical presentation with cortical stimulation, performed a series of craniotomies for the treatment of epilepsy Fig. 2. In the following years the advent of electrophysiology and neurosurgery provided a fertile ground for further progress in epilepsy surgery such as the preoperative use of electroencephalography (EEG) to determine the epileptogenic zone by Otfrid Foerster (1873-1941); the research of Wilder Graves Penfield (1891-1976) in Montreal Neurological Institute and the use of stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) by the neurosurgeon Jean Talairach (1911-2007) and the neurologist Jean Bancaud (1921-1994)) Fig. 3. Nowadays, epilepsy surgery remains a valuable therapeutic option in cases of drug resistant epilepsy.

Hallmarks in history of esophageal carcinoma.

Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers due to its aggressive behavior and poor survival. It was mentioned in the works of ancient Chinese and Arabo-islamic physicians, centuries before the recognition of high incidence in the Asian esophageal cancer belt. Till the 19th century the disease was considered incurable and the main goal of the proposed treatments was to alleviate dysphagia and pain. The introduction of esophagoscope in 1868 by Adolf Kussmaul (1822-1902) contributed to the observation of the living esophagus and to the diagnosis of esophageal pathologies, paving the way for new therapeutic approaches. In 1877, Vincenz Czerny (1842-1916) performed the first successful resection of the cervical esophagus for carcinoma, followed by Franz Torek (1861-1938) who carried out in 1913 the first successful subtotal thoracic esophagectomy and Tohru Ohsawa (1882-1984) who performed the world's first esophagectomy with an intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis. Nowadays, despite the advent of biomedical technology and the development of operation techniques, the surgical treatment of esophagus still remains a challenge.

A historical overview of laryngeal carcinoma and the first total laryngectomies.

Laryngeal cancer was a well known entity since antiquity and its treatment evolved through several phases. The lack of knowledge in anatomy and pathology as well as the absence of anesthesia and proper instrumentation made the treatment almost impossible. Ancient physicians were performing laryngotomy or tracheotomy in an attempt to prevent the suffocation symptoms produced by tumoral masses. In 19th century the invention of laryngoscope and the advent of pathology and anesthesiology encouraged surgeons to operate on man. In 1873 Theodor Billroth (1829-1894) performed the first laryngectomy followed by several other colleagues among which Enrico Bottini (1837-1903) and Themistocles Gluck (1853-1942). Thanks to their contribution a new era came in laryngeal cancer treatment: the conservation laryngeal surgery.