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Surgical treatment of head and neck cancers in the ancient world

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2015

J Kelly  and
S Mahalingam
J Kelly*
Affiliation:
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Princess Royal Hospital, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
S Mahalingam
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, East Surrey Hospital, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr James Kelly, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath RH16 4EX, UK E-mail: james.kelly6@nhs.net
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Abstract

Objective:

This paper attempts to chart the history of head and neck cancers and their surgical treatment, starting from ancient Egypt and concluding with Galen.

Conclusion:

The ancient Egyptians appear to have treated head and neck cancers with local applications. The ancient Greek corpus contains a reference to treating pharyngeal carcinoma with cautery, but the description is too vague to establish the diagnosis conclusively. The ancient Romans moved away from surgical treatments, with Galen establishing a prejudice against surgery that would last through the Middle Ages.

Keywords

Head And Neck NeoplasmsHistory, Ancient

Information

Type
Review Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 129 , Issue 6 , June 2015 , pp. 535 - 539
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

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