Advertisement
Review Article|Articles in Press

Eponyms: A historical pathway to safe thyroidectomy

Published:January 27, 2022DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otot.2022.01.001

      HIGHLIGHTS

      • Eponyms provide rich historical context in medical discourse.
      • Thyroid surgery requires excellent understanding of compact and complex anatomy.
      • Eponyms are an efficient way to reference key areas of anatomical importance.

      ABSTRACT

      Objective

      This historical review aims to discuss not only the surgical significance of eponyms commonly encountered during thyroid operations but also about the people behind them who have lent their names to anatomical structures and surgical landmarks important for completing a safe and effective thyroidectomy.

      Finding

      Kocher describes anomalous venous anatomy, proper patient positioning and incision placement. Reeve and Joll define anatomical spaces relevant to the dissection of the upper pole of the thyroid that assist with identification and preservation of the nerve of Galli-Curci. The Glands of Owen must also be carefully identified and preserved during thyroidectomy. Identification and protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, is guided by anatomical landmarks described by Berry and Zuckerkandl, as well as triangles named after Lore, Beahrs, and Simon.

      Conclusion

      The elegant simplicity and efficiency in describing complex surgical anatomy and surgical concepts continue to make utilization of eponyms useful during thyroid operations.

      Keywords

      To read this article in full you will need to make a payment

      Purchase one-time access:

      Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online access
      One-time access price info
      • For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
      • For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'

      Subscribe:

      Subscribe to Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
      Already a print subscriber? Claim online access
      Already an online subscriber? Sign in
      Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect

      References

        • Halsted WS.
        The operative story of goitre. The author's operation.
        J Am Med Assoc [Internet]. 1920 Mar 6; 74 (Available from http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/jama.1920.02620100053037 Accessed July 24, 2020): 693
        • Bliss RD
        • Gauger PG
        • Delbridge LW.
        Surgeon's approach to the thyroid gland: Surgical anatomy and the importance of technique.
        World J Surg. 2000; 24: 891-897
        • Chintamani D.
        Editorial: “Ten Commandments” of safe and optimum thyroid surgery.
        Indian J Surg. 2010; 72: 421-426
        • Upile T
        • Jerjes W
        • Mahil J
        • et al.
        How to do it: The difficult thyroid.
        Head Neck Oncol [Internet]. 2011 Dec 23; 3 (Available from https://headandneckoncology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1758-3284-3-54 Accessed July 24, 2020): 54
        • Waseem M
        • Khan M
        • Hussain N
        • et al.
        Eponyms: Errors in clinical practice and scientific writing.
        Acta Orthop Belg. 2005 Feb; 71: 1-8
        • Strous RD
        • Edelman MC.
        Eponyms and the Nazi era: Time to remember and time for change.
        Isr Med Assoc J. 2007 Mar; 9: 207-214
        • Dubose CJ
        • Barnett CR
        • Ragsdale MT.
        Honest and sensible surgeons: The history of thyroid surgery.
        Curr Surg. 2004; 61: 213-219
        • Sakorafas GH.
        Historical evolution of thyroid surgery: From the ancient times to the dawn of the 21st century.
        World J Surg. 2010; 34: 1793-1804
        • Gemsenjaeger E.
        Incisions; Thyroid Exposure. In: Atlas of Thyroid Surgery.
        Thieme Publishing Group, New York, NY2009: 4-14
        • Hua N
        • Quimby A
        • Johnson-Obaseki S.
        Comparing hematoma incidence between hemostatic devices in total thyroidectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
        Endocr Surg. 2019; 161: 770-778
        • Kocher ET
        • Choong C
        • Kaye AH.
        Emil Theodor Kocher (1841–1917).
        J Clin Neurosci. 2009; 16: 1552-1554
        • Kocher ET.
        Uber kropfextirpation und ihre folgen.
        Arch Klin Chir. 1883; 29: 254-265
        • Cheruiyot I
        • Kipkorir V
        • Henry BM
        • et al.
        Surgical anatomy of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Langenbeck's.
        Arch Surg. 2018; 403: 811-823
        • Chintamani D.
        A tale of two nerves in thyroid surgery.
        Indian J Surg. 2017; 79: 375-377
        • Reeve T.
        Following fortune's path.
        Med J Aust. 2004; 181: 615-619
        • Brennan MF.
        The surgeon as an international citizen.
        ANZ J Surg. 2008; 78: 1070-1075
      1. Cecil Augustus Joll MRCS FRCS (1885-1945) [Internet].
        WikiTree. 2018; ([cited 2020 May 31]. Available from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Joll-31 Accessed September 10, 2020)
        • LECN
        GREAT TEACHERS OF SURGERY IN THE PAST: SIR JAMES BERRY (1860-1946).
        Br J Surg [Internet]. 1965 May; 52 (Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14286975 Accessed September 11, 2020): 321-323
        • Crookes PF
        • Recabaren JA.
        Injury to the superior laryngeal branch of the vagus during thyroidectomy: Lesson or myth?.
        Ann Surg. 2001; 233: 588-593
        • Marchese-Ragona R
        • Restivo D
        • Mylonakis I
        • et al.
        The superior laryngeal nerve injury of a famous soprano.
        Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2013; 33 (Amelita Galli-Curci): 67-71
        • Bruno OD.
        Why did Amelita Galli-Curci lose her voice?.
        Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2019; 63: 314-317
        • Orloff LA
        • Wiseman SM
        • Bernet VJ
        • et al.
        American thyroid association statement on postoperative hypoparathyroidism: Diagnosis, prevention, and management in adults.
        Thyroid. 2018; 28: 830-841
        • McAneny D
        • Beazley R.
        The glands of Owen ... who was Owen?.
        Surgery. 2016; 159: 7-10
        • Felger E
        • Zeiger M.
        The death of an Indian rhinoceros.
        World J Surg. 2010; 34: 1805-1810
        • Modarai B
        • Sawyer A
        • Ellis H.
        The glands of Owen.
        J R Soc Med. 2004; 97: 494-495
        • Breimer L
        • Sourander P.
        The discovery of the parathyroid glands in 1880: Trumph and tragedy of ivar sandstrom.
        Bull Hist Med. 1981; 55: 558-563
        • Fundakowski CE
        • Hales NW
        • Camacho PM
        • et al.
        Surgical management of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroidectomy : American Head and Neck Society Consensus statement.
        Head Neck. 2018; 40: 663-675
        • Royal College of Surgeons of England
        Biographical Entry: Sir James Berry [Internet].
        Royal College of Surgeons, 2013 ([cited 2020 Sep 20]. Available from: https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/client/en_GB/lives/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ASSET$002f0$002fSD_ASSET:376015/one?qu=%22rcs%3A+E003832%22&rt=false%7C%7C%7CIDENTIFIER%7C%7C%7CResource+Identifier Accessed September 11, 2020)
      2. FALLEN IDOLS: SIR JAMES BERRY'S ORATION.
        Br Med J. 1932 May 14; 1: 904-905
      3. Sir James Berry's Gold Medal.
        Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1963 Jan; 32: 68
        • Bunch PM.
        Anatomic eponyms in neuroradiology: Head and neck.
        Acad Radiol. 2016; 23: 1319-1332
        • Mirilas P
        • Skandalakis JE
        • Emerson RW.
        Zuckerkandl's Tubercle: Hannibal ad Portas.
        J Am Coll Surg. 2003; 196: 796-801
        • E Z
        Nebst Bermerkungen uber die Epithelkorperchen des Menschen.
        Anat Hefte. 1902; I: 61
        • Shoja MM
        • Tubbs RS
        • Loukas M
        • et al.
        Emil Zuckerkandl (1849-1910): Anatomist and Pathologist.
        Ann Anat. 2008; 190: 33-36
        • Ober W.
        Emil Zuckerkandl and his delightful little organ.
        Pathol Annu. 1983; 18: 103-119
      4. John M Lore, Jr. [Internet]. American head and neck society. 2016 [cited 2020 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.ahns.info/about-ahns/past_presidents/lore/ Accessed July 20, 2020.

      5. Flynn. John M Lore Jr dies; Renowned cancer surgeon. The Buffalo News [Internet]. 2004 Jan; Available from: https://buffalonews.com/2004/01/13/dr-john-m-lore-jr-dies-renowned-cancer-surgeon/ Accessed September 10, 2020.

        • Tainmont J.
        A historical vignette: The eponyms of the anatomical triangles of the neck.
        B-ENT. 2008; 4: 259-268
        • Beahrs Jain V.
        Triangle: The surgical anatomy.
        World J Endocr Surg. 2017; 9: 35
        • Russell T.
        • Oliver Beahrs MD.
        Remembering Oliver H. Beahrs.
        Oncology Times. 2006; 28: 33-34
        • Beahrs Dr.Oliver H.
        Obituary.
        Star Tribune. 2006 Jan;
        • Kumar PA.
        The rationale of triangles in relation to thyroid surgery: A proposed unified ‘area of danger’ for safe thyroidectomy.
        IP Indian J Anat Surg Head, Neck Brain. 2020; 4: 48-51
        • Max Dreishpoon G.
        • Simon M.
        Personal Correspondence. 2020 Nov; (1898-1986): 1-3
        • Taylor Mrs.Samuel
        • Simon Dr.Max M.
        Wed. Poughkeepsie Journal [Internet]. 1968 Oct 9; 61 (Available from https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19452764/mrs-samuel-taylor-and-dr-max-m-simon/ Accessed July 19, 2020)
        • Simon MM.
        Recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery: Triangle for its recognition and protection.
        Am J Surg. 1943; 60: 212-220
        • Dr Mrs
        Simon Visit Vatican, Receive Audience With Pope.
        Poughkeepsie Journal [Internet]. 1950 Feb; 44 (Available from https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=19587927&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjExNDkyMzgyMSwiaWF0IjoxNjA3OTE5MTYyLCJleHAiOjE2MDgwMDU1NjJ9.K64AA0-JuJBtTTjZwTRxlcLHf5xebcDilrePH1QLbCQ Accessed July 19, 2020)