1897--celebrating the centennial--Hermann Moritz Gocht and radiation therapy in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.

Abstract

Among German radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons Hermann Moritz Gocht (1869-1938) is one of the most prominent figures. In addition to his noteworthy contributions to the progress of orthopaedic surgery, in 1897 he introduced the use of radiotherapy for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Subsequently the value of this technique was widely recognized by radiologists and neurosurgeons, and it is still acclaimed as the most brilliant intuition of this famous pioneer of radiology. Gocht made also important contributions to the technical development of X-ray apparatus and to the definition of the radiological anatomy of the skeleton, as well as to orthopaedic surgical pathology. The aim of this paper is to celebrate the centennial of Gocht's introduction of radiotherapy in the treatment of neuralgic syndromes and to express our appreciation of the work of this eminent scientist.