Breast surgery in Greece during 19th century. The example of professor Theodoros Aretaios (1829-1893).

Abstract

Background: Professor Theodoros Aretaios (1829-1893) was the most prominent figure in Greek Surgery during nineteenth century. Apart from other operations he performed, he focused also on breast surgery.

Methods: Theodoros Aretaios was a prolific writer. He wrote two main textbooks in Greek. The one is a surgical atlas and the other a surgical pathology textbook. Apart from them he left a great archive of the patient he operated on. Most of them refer to breast surgery and will be highlighted by our study.

Results: Except two male patients all the others were women in Theodoros Aretaios' archive, and the vast majority suffered from breast cancer. Benign disease of the breast although more common were mentioned concisely. Theodoros Aretaios performed total or partial mastectomy, lymphadenectomy and he underlined that the excision of the thoracic muscles or even the ribs had nothing to offer apart from aggravating patient's condition allowing us today to understand his pioneering role in the medical thought of his time.

Conclusion: Theodoros Aretaios patient archive about breast diseases is the first systematic review of such patients in Greece, after the creation of the modern Greek State. The great variety of information shows the very high level of theoretical knowledge in breast surgery, which can be also seen by the surgical approach to benign and malignant disease.