History of Neuroradiology

Neuroradiology: past, present and future by D. Balériaux from Philips Medical Systems News Center Publications Medica Mundi vol. 40 no. 3, 2002.
Summary: Initially, imaging of the radiolucent soft tissue of the brain within the bones of the skull seemed to present an insuperable problem, and many indirect techniques were developed, based on detecting displacement of structures within the brain. The introduction of CT, in 1972, made it possible to visualize pathological changes in the soft tissue directly. In many cases, even better results were obtained with MR imaging, while the development of DSA facilitated a whole range of interventional procedures. Future developments are expected to include more combinations of diagnosis and treatment, functional imaging, and combinations of modalities. Download article as pdf file.

Wolpert SM. In re: Di Chiro G, Schellinger D. Computed tomography of spinal cord after lumbar intrathecal introduction of metrizamide (computer assisted myelography). AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2001 Jan;22(1):218-21.

Leeds NE, Kieffer SA. Evolution of diagnostic neuroradiology from 1904 to 1999. Radiology. 2000 Nov;217(2):309-18.

Wolpert SM. Neuroradiology classics. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2000 Mar;21(3):605-6.

Wolpert SM. Neuroradiology classics. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1999 Oct;20(9):1752-3.

Alper MG. Three pioneers in the early history of neuroradiology: the Snyder lecture. Doc Ophthalmol. 1999;98(1):29-49. Abstract: The early history of neuroradiology is linked to three pioneers who worked during the first half of the 20th century. Two were neuropsychiatrists and one was a neurosurgeon. Arthur Schuller, a Viennese neuropsychiatrist, was the first to study systematically the X-ray skull changes caused by intracranial disease. He is generally regarded as the 'father of neuroradiology'. Walter Dandy, the great neurosurgeon of Johns Hopkins, introduced ventriculography and penumoencephalography. Egas Moniz, a Portuguese neuropsychiatrist, developed cerebral angiography, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for originating prefrontal lobotomy. The work of these three pioneers laid the basis through which modern neuroradiology became a separate discipline. PMID: 10941593 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Schindler E. Arthur Schuller: pioneer of neuroradiology. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1997 Aug;18(7):1297-302. [PDF]

Wolpert SM. On the radiologic diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms with plain films and cerebral angiography: a historical survey. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1995 Jan;16(1):181-4. [PDF]

Houser OW. Neuroradiology: a historical perspective.Radiology. 1995 Jul;196(1):1-2. PMID: 7784551 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Taveras JM. Diamond Jubilee lecture. Neuroradiology: past, present, future.
Radiology. 1990 Jun;175(3):593-602. PMID: 2188291 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Taveras JM. Neuroradiology: the next 25 years. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1987 Sep;149(3):572-4. PMID: 3497546 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

History of Neuroradiology in the U.S.A.

In Memoriam: Juan Manuel Taveras, MD (1919-2002). By Dr. Michael Huckman, Editor Emeritus and Historian for the American Society of Neuroradiology.  Abstract: Juan M. Taveras, MD, Professor Emeritus at the Harvard Medical School and Radiologist-in-Chief Emeritus of the Massachusetts General Hospital, died in his native Dominican Republic on March 28, 2002. His death marks the passing of a dominant force in the establishment and advancement of the specialty of neuroradiology. His landmark innovations in training, investigation, radiologic administration, and professional organization had global impact, not only on neuroradiology but also on the broader spectrum of radiology and the neurosciences in North America and throughout the world.

Wolpert SM. Neuroradiology in Boston: historical beginnings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1995 May;16(5):1093-8. [PDF]

Kieffer SA. Cornelius G. Dyke and the Neurological Institute of New York: the foundations of American neuroradiology. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1997 May;18(5):801-9. [PDF]

Gutierrez C. The birth and growth of neuroradiology in the USA. Neuroradiology. 1981;21(4):227-37. Abstract: Neuroradiology in the USA was started by the neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing, who personally made the first X-rays used to treat a patient with a neurological disability, and Walter Dandy, who first performed air ventriculography, ventriculoscopy, air encephalography and air myelography. The father of neuroradiology in the USA was Merrill Sosman, Cushing's associate. Modern neuroradiology was introduced into the USA from Europe by Mannie Schechter who was one of the original team of three Chief Editors of Neuroradiology. PMID: 7019751 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Taveras JM. Development of the first fellowship training program in neuroradiology in North America. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1991 Jul-Aug;12(4):587-90. PMID: 2505532 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Taveras JM. Training in interventional neuroradiology. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1989 Sep-Oct;10(5):909-10. PMID: 2505532 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

History of Pediatric Neuroradiology

Ball WS Jr. Pediatric neuroradiology. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2000 Jan;21(1):29-36.

Zimmerman RA. Past, present and future of pediatric neuroradiology. Childs Nerv Syst. 1999 Nov;15(11-12):624-34. [PDF] Review.

Harwood-Nash DC. Edward B. D. Neuhauser Lecture. Pediatric neuroradiology: its evolution as a subspecialty. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1993 Jan;160(1):5-14. Abstract: Pediatric neuroradiology emerged as the first formal subspecialty of pediatric radiology during the late 1960s. The history of its development as an unusual and effective combination of an age-related and a specific organ-directed clinical subspecialty, and the considerable technical adaptation and innovation within the diagnostic imaging so required, merits its inclusion within the history of the modern matrix of radiology. This Neuhauser Lecture outlines the odyssey of this subspecialty until the present: the adaptation of techniques and equipment to accommodate imaging of patients of all sizes--from 1-kg infants to young adults--and the understanding of the wide spectrum of CNS diseases, many often extremely complex. The evolution of this special body of knowledge and experience, the established and productive fellowship programs, and the significant part pediatric neuroradiology now plays in major scientific and professional associations and societies have led to this subspecialty becoming a lifelong persuasion for a growing number of radiologists. PMID: 8416645 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

History of the American Society of Neuroradiology

Dinner at Keen's: The Founding of the American Society of Neuroradiology by Michael S. Huckman, M.D., Editor Emeritus and Historian for the American Society of Neuroradiology

Taveras JM. ASNR: the silver anniversary. Neuroradiology: the next 25 years. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1987 May-Jun;8(3):393-5. PMID: 3111202 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Dr Juan Taveras in his office at the Neurological Institute in New York in 1962.

Founding Members of the American Society of Neuroradiology Norman E. Chase, MD Giovanni Di Chiro, MD* William N. Hanafee, MD Fred J. Hodges III, MD Colin B. Holman, MD Norman E. Leeds, MD Eugene V. Leslie, MD Donald L. McRae, MD* Thomas H. Newton, MD Harold O. Peterson, MD* D. Gordon Potts, MD Mannie M. Schechter, MD* Juan M. Taveras, MD* Ernest H. Wood, MD* *deceased

History of Neuroradiology in Other Countries

The History of the Swedish Society of Neuroradiology by Prof. Sten Cronqvist, Founding Member

Greitz T. The history of Swedish neuroradiology. Acta Radiol. 1996 May;37(3 Pt 2):455-71. PMID: 8652312 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Lindgren E, Greitz T. The Stockholm School of Neuroradiology. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1995 Feb;16(2):351-60.

Leonardi M. A history of neuroradiology in Italy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1996 Apr;17(4):721-30. [PDF]

Takahashi M. Pioneers and history of Japanese neuroradiology. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1995 Apr;16(4):741-4.[PDF]

Sage MR. The history of neuroradiology: an Australian perspective. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1995 16: 1295-1302. [PDF]

History of CT Scanner

Sir Godfrey Hounsfield, D.Sc., one of the developers of computer tomography, died August 12, 2004 at the age of 84.

Dr. Godfrey Hounsfield received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1979 together with the nuclear physicist Alan M. Cormack, M. Sc. The Nobel Prize committee wrote “with an unusual combination of vision, intuition, and imagination, and with an extraordinary sure eye for the optimal choice of physical factors in a system that must have offered very great problems to construct, he obtained results which in one blow surprised the medical world. It can be no exaggeration to maintain that no other method within x-ray diagnostics has, during such a short period of time, lend to such remarkable advances, with regard to research and number of applications, as computed as tested tomography.” Dr. Godfrey Hounsfield received many awards for his invention and among others was the RSNA Gold Medal in 1980.