The fading eponym of ''Verneuil's disease''

Abstract

Eponyms are one type of nomenclature in medical literature. In dermatology, in particular, there are many existing eponyms and many are added with times [1,2]. However not all the eponyms in dermatology preserve its place in the literature. As some of them are already replaced by descriptive names or by other types of nomenclature and some are in their ways to lose its uses. In this communication, we shall highlights on one of the fading eponyms in dermatology which is Verneuil disease. Verneuil’s disease is a previous name for hidradenitis suppurativa. The term „Verneuil’s disease” is no longer in common usage in dermatology literature. Verneuil’s disease is named after Aristide Auguste Stanislas Verneuil (1823-1895), (Fig. 1), who was a French physician and surgeon [3,4]. In addition to Verneuil disease , there are other medical conditions named after Aristide Auguste Stanislas Verneuil. These include Calve-Kummell-Verneuil disease or KummellVerneuil’s disease [5,6], which is the posttraumatic vertebral body necrosis. This disease can occur as a rare but serious complication several months or even years after a spinal trauma. Jacques Calve (1875-1954), is a French orthopedic surgeon. Whereas Hermann Kummell (1852-1937), was a German surgeon. Verneuil’s neuroma (plexiform neuroma) is another eponym linked to Aristide Auguste Stanislas Verneuil, but is no longer used in the current medical literature. Hidradenitis suppurativa is a common skin disease [7-11]. Clinical manifestations include painful nodules, abscesses, sinus tracts, and ropelike hypertrophic scars in the apocrine gland-bearing areas [9]. Treatment is both medical and surgical: wide-spectrum antibiotics and excisions tailored to the extent of involvement [9]. It was first described as a distinct entity in 1839, when Velpeau reported a patient with superficial abscess formation in the axillary, mammary, and perianal regions [11]. In 1854, Verneuil associated the suppurative process with the sweat glands [10], and the condition was given its current name. Not having performed any histopathologic studies himself, Verneuil conceded that his conclusion was based purely on the characteristic distribution of the condition [11]. Aristide Auguste Stanislas Verneuil studied medicine in Paris [4], where his instructors were Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin (1790–1847), Pierre-Antoine-Ernest Bazin (1807–1878), Charles-Pierre Denonvilliers (1808–1872) and Joseph-Francois Malgaigne (1806–1865) [4]. In 1887 he replaced Leon Athanese Gosselin (1815–1887) at the „Academie des Sciences” [4]. The scientific activities of Verneuil were numerous but among others he is best known for contributions made in the development of wound dressing, and is credited for introducing forcipressure in treatment of hemorrhage [4]. THE FADING EPONYM OF „VERNEUIL’S DISEASE’’