History Page: Leaders in MSK Radiology.

Born in 1869, Gaston Contremoulins began his career as a painter. Fascinated by photography and discovery of X-rays by Roentgen in 1895, our ingenious self taught engineer joined the laboratory of microphotography in the faculty of medicine in Paris. He published in 1896 studies in the use of X-rays associated with a compass for research and anatomical localization of foreign bodies in the skull. This work was awarded by the Montyon prize of the French Academy of Sciences in 1897. Appointed chief of radiological laboratories in Paris Hospital in 1898, despite the fact that he was not doctor, he developed his method named metro radiography for localization, then extraction of foreign bodies in all organs mainly during World War 1. He developed with surgeons osteosynthesis and prothesis for wounded soldiers. Early awareness of radiation hazards for physicians, hospital staff and also the neighborhood of the radiological installation, Contremoulins developed ways of protecting source and also promoted the shielding of walls and floors, despite the opposition of some of the radiologists. Retired from the Necker Hospital in 1934, he exercised his talents in the Saint-Germain-en-Laye Hospital for another 16 years. He ended his days in 1950 after he was diagnosed with inoperable cataracts.

[Pope Pius XII in the History of Radiology: St. Michael the Archangel Protector of Radiologists] / Papa Pio XII nella storia della Radiologia: San Michele Arcangelo protettore dei radiologi

In 1933 the Professors of Genoa School of Medicine V. Maragliano, GB. Cardinale, and A. Vallebona proposed to designate Saint Michael the Archangel as Patron Saint and Protector of Radiologists. The proposal of Italian radiology scientists was immediately accepted by colleagues with great enthusiasm. A petition was then sent to Pope Pius XII to obtain official recognition by the Catholic Church. The choice of the Holy Archangel Michael was argued by the Professors because he is the Saint who, in religious iconography, is the one who wears armor, is the guardian of paradise, and leads souls to God. Moreover, the Saint represents the triumph of the Light of Good against the darkness of evil. On January 15, 1941, the Sacred Congregation of Rites issued the decree that constituted: "Sanctus Michael, Archangelus pro radiologis et radiumtherapeuticis patronus et protector declaratus".

John C. Carapanayiotis (1909-1999): the Greek radiologist and pioneer of physiatry in Greece

John C. Carapanayiotis was specialized in physical medicine and rehabilitation in the USA in 1948, at a time when the medical world in post-war Greece was ignorant of this specific medical specialty, and the political, economic and social backdrop was incapable of accepting and understanding the wealth of scientific knowledge that he was trying to introduce. At this point it should be noted that the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was established in Greece in 1973. John C. Carapanayiotis was a member of the American Congress of Physical Medicine during the 1950's. In the same period, he expressed interest, on behalf of the New York University, in the establishment of a Physical Therapy Clinic in Greece, which would be granted unlimited funding by the Marshal Plan. His efforts clashed constantly with the backward mentality of his time, with the entrenched conservatism and with the bureaucratic red tape. Unfortunately, he was far ahead of his time and was condemned to the same fate as all other visionaries and pioneers in the way that his knowledge and scientific background were not put into practice for decades to come.

Neuroimaging Five Hundred Years Later

The rapid technological progress of these last decades has brought refined instruments to neuroradiologists and consequently to anatomists, physiologists, neuroscientists. A short outline is given on recent advancements in the field. Looking at these wonderful images we must not forget the works of our predecessors, to whom we owe an inextinguishable gratitude.