History of the Pancreas: Mysteries of a Hidden Organ

Never before has a comprehensive history of the pancreas like **History of the Pancreas** been published. It not only is a historical review of the science of medicine, it is liberally interspersed with anecdotal vignettes of the researchers who have worked on this organ. Much of it, such as the discovery of the duct of Wirsüng, of the islets of Langerhans, of insulin, gastrin and their tumors, reads like the adverture, which it is. This book, divided into 14 chapters, is written in a narrative style and is easily readable, as glimpses of the investigators, those who failed as well as those who succeeded, adds both perspective and human interest. Each chapter is completely referenced, totaling over 1500 references. As a reference book for students, teachers, investigators, writers, its detailed hjistorical documentation is unique. From the pre-Christian era of Asia Minor, to Greece, Rome, Europe and America, to the explosive progress in Japan, the history is there. **History of the Pancreas: Mysteries of a Hidden Organ** fills a gap. Never before has such a history of the pancreas been presented. From antiquity until today, "rediscovery", translation and sequential presentation, in step with cultural changes in society, make this a unique contribution. Only from the perspective of the two octogenarian-authors could such a narrative have been produced. Discoveries resulting either from chance observation or careful scientific inquiry "come alive" as the authors present not only the people who made them but the setting in which they occurred. Key Features: *From the pre-Christian era of Asia Minor, to Greece, Rome, Europe and America, to the explosive progress in Japan, the dreams, near-misses and great discoveries have been traced to their sources. *The great discoveries of the anatomists, Wirsüng, Santorini, Oddi, Vater and their colleagues have been recreated from their original reports. *Physiology is traced through the discovery of the digestive enzymes; the islets, by the Berlin student for whom they were named; the hormones, beginning with the dramatic discoveries of insulin, gastrin and their fascinating tumors. *Diseases of the pancreas, particularly pancreatitis and cancer, but also congenital anomalies and trauma, are described from the era preceding the microscope to the dawn of the 21st Century. *The explosive developments of imaging, diagnosis and pancreatic transplantation are presented, leading to the development of the challenging field of Pancreatology - its science and clinical practice. *Finally the authors, having spent many years distilling the contribution of the giants of the past and present, present a thought provoking Chapter entitled "Lessons from History and their Application to the Future". Front Matter....Pages i-xix The Early Surgeon-Anatomists....Pages 1-64 Physiology of the Exocrine Pancreas....Pages 65-98 The Endocrine Pancreas....Pages 99-164 Acute Pancreatitis....Pages 165-260 Chronic Pancreatitis, Including Pancreatic Lithiasis....Pages 261-316 Pancreatic Cysts,Pseudocysts,* and Cystic Tumors....Pages 317-362 Trauma to the Pancreas....Pages 363-397 Congenital Anomalies....Pages 399-419 Tumors of the Ampulla of Vater and Pancreas (Non-Islet Cell)....Pages 421-518 Treatment of Pancreatic and Ampullary Cancer....Pages 519-591 Progress in the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Diseases....Pages 593-632 Transplantation of the Pancreas and Islet Cells....Pages 633-656 The Lessons of History and Their Application to the Future....Pages 657-664 Back Matter....Pages 665-729