Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer historical perspective
Introduction
Overview
Overview
In 1811, the first thyroid cancer case was reported. Thyroid cancer was first described by William Stewart Halsted, an American surgeon in the late nineteenth century.
Historical Perspective
Historical Perspective
Discovery
- The first case of thyroid cancer was described by William Stewart Halsted.[1]
- In 1951, head and neck irradiation was demonstrated to cause thyroid cancer in children.
Landmark Events in the Development of Treatment Strategies
- In 1884, thyroidectomies were introduced to successfully treat thyroid disorders.
- Theodore Kocher (1841-1917) was considered an expert in thyroidectomy in Switzerland.
- Charles Horace Mayo was considered as an expert in thyroidectomies in United States.
- Murray discovered that patients with hypothyroidism respond well to injecting thyroid extracts to them.
Famous Cases
- William Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the United States (1986-2005) passed away on September 3, 2005 from anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2]