The first description of the
adrenal
gland dates 1563 by Eustachius in a study "Opscula anatomica".
(Source
1)
(Source
2)
Despite earlier recognition of
the presence
of adrenals and division into cortex and medulla, the precise
observations
of Addison appeared in 1855 that the essential role of these glands
was
recognized in patients who died with adrenal destruction secondary
to
tuberculosis.
(Source)
Frankel first described a
medullary adrenal
tumour in 1886.
(Source)
In 1912 the pathologist Ludwig
Pick formulated
the descriptive term pheochromocytoma. He noted the dark-brown color
of the
cells with contact with chrome salts takes. (This tumor is named for
its
colorful reaction in fixatives containing chromic acid
salts).(Source
1) (Source
2) (Source 3)
(Source
4)
The first surgical removal of
pheochromocytoma
in Europe was performed by Rouks in 1926 and by Mayo in USA in 1927.
The
work of the latter had great impact.
(Source)
The Mayo Clinic received its
first grant
from the National Institutes of Health for support of a General
Clinical
Research Center (GCRC) in 1971. The roots of the Mayo Clinic GCRC
can be
traced back to 1919, when Dr. Russell M. Wilder was asked to join
the Mayo
staff to extend its facilities for bedside teaching and clinical
investigation.
Dr. Wilder's passion for clinical investigation would help establish
the
Mayo Clinic's reputation as a leader in translational research.
Significant
research contributions were made by Dr. Wilder and his colleagues,
including
original description of pheochromocytoma syndrome and demonstration
that
the paroxysmal hypertension was due to excess epinephrine.
(Source)
For a long period of time the
Military
Medical Academy in Yugoslavia was involved in clinical diagnosis and
management
of adrenal tumours.
(Source)
The first description of
diagnosed
pheochromocytoma was by Professor Ratibor Mitshitsh.
(Source)
The first surgical removal of
pheochromocytoma
in the Military Medical Academy in Yugoslavia was performed by
Professor
Isidor Papo.
(Source)
Earliest known dictionary
reference to
pheochromocytoma is as follows: Pheo*chro*mo*cy*to*ma (noun) [New
Latin,
from International Scientific Vocabulary pheochromocyte chromaffin
cell +
New Latin -oma] First appeared circa 1929: A tumor that is derived
from
chromaffin cells, usually associated with paroxysmal or sustained
hypertension
(Source 1: Webster's Third 1961)
Important Note: The information
on this page has been gathered in the hopes of building an accurate
online history of the study of pheochromocytoma. There seems to be
little information
freely available on this subject. We plan to expand this area over time.
If you have information that can be added,
please notify us, and be
sure to include the source of the information. We would love to hear
from you.
There is so much information that needs to be shared, and we enjoy
hearing from like-minded persons who are filled with enthusiasm and
energy in the goal of furthering pheochromocytoma awareness.
Also, if you find errors in the
current information, or otherwise any other problems, please let us
know.
This history has been compiled because we feel that there is a need of
recognition given to those who led in the pioneering efforts to
understand
pheochromocytoma.
