TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF RADON TREATMENT OF CANCER OF THE BLADDER

Abstract

The following history of a case is taken from the 1915 files of the Memorial Hospital. It is the record of the first case of cancer of the bladder cured by radium therapy at this hospital and is one of the earliest cases reported anywhere. Mrs. C. A. G., aged 69, first came to the Memorial Hospital on Dec. 1, 1915, with a history of painful and frequent urination for a year and hematuria for the past six months. Cystoscopic examination revealed a large, red cauliflower growth with grayish necrotic areas over the left ureteral orifice. A biopsy specimen was obtained through the cystoscope. Dr. Ewing's report stated: "The section was of a small mass of tumor tissue 2 mm. in diameter. It showed the structure of a small alveolar carcinoma, much inflamed, with dilated blood vessels. The cells were clear and irregular in size, with large hyperchromatic nuclei arranged