INTRANASAL RADIUM THERAPY IN MALIGNANT AND BENIGN TUMORS: WITH CASE REPORTS

Abstract

That the treatment of various intranasal pathologic conditions has been under discussion for many years is readily shown by a brief reference to medical history. As many as four thousand years ago, reference was made in medical history to definitely recognized nose and throat conditions. In reviewing articles by Hippocrates and Galen and those written during the Middle Ages, nose and throat conditions are mentioned repeatedly. Bruno of Longoburgo, who was born in southern Italy, educated at Salerno, and who taught at Padua about the middle of the thirteenth century, made a special study of the treatment of various intranasal pathologic conditions. He describes several varieties of nasal polyps and differentiates one of them as a malignant tumor. This, he says was darker, of slight sensibility and was very hard. He advised against operation, as surgical intervention merely hastened its growth. With regard to the removal of the polyps,