- Georgios Papanikolaou
Infobox Scientist
name = Georgios Papanikolaou
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image_width = 50px
caption = Georgios Papanikolaou's bust in Athens.
birth_date =May 13 ,1883
birth_place =
death_date = death date and age|1962|2|19|1883|5|13
death_place =New Jersey ,USA
residence = USA
nationality = Greek, American
ethnicity = Greek
field =Pathologist
work_institutions =Cornell University New York Hospital
alma_mater =University of Athens University of Munich
doctoral_advisor =
doctoral_students =
known_for =Cytology Pap smear
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footnotes =Georgios N. Papanikolaou (or George Papanicolaou; _el. Γεώργιος Παπανικολάου) (
May 13 ,1883 –February 19 ,1962 ) was born at Kimi on the island of Evia, inGreece . He was a pioneer incytology and early cancer detection.He studied at the
University of Athens where he received his medical degree in 1904. Six years later he received his Ph.D. from the University ofMunich ,Germany . In 1913 he emigrated to the U.S. in order to work in the department ofPathology ofNew York Hospital and the Department ofAnatomy at the Weill Medical College ofCornell University . He first reported that uterine cancer could be diagnosed by means of a vaginal smear in 1928, but the importance of his work was not recognized until the publication, together withHerbert Traut , of 'Diagnosis of Uterine Cancer by the Vaginal Smear' in 1943. The book discusses the preparation of the vaginal and cervical smear, physiologic cytologic changes during themenstrual cycle , effect of various pathological conditions, and the changes seen in the presence ofcancer of thecervix and theendometrium of theuterus . He thus became known for his invention of Papanicolaou's test, now known as thePap smear or Pap test, which is used worldwide for the detection and prevention ofcervical cancer and other cytologic diseases of the femalereproductive system .In 1961 he moved to Miami to develop the Papanicolaou Cancer Research Institute at the
University of Miami , but died in 1962 prior to its opening.Dr. Papanicolaou was a recipient of the
Lasker Award .He was featured on the 10000 drachma note.
References
* Papanicolaou G.N, Traut H.F. Diagnosis of Uterine Cancer by the Vaginal Smear. New York,
The Commonwealth Fund , 1943.
* Speert H. Obstetric and Gynecologic Milestones. New York, 1958. The MacMillan Company. Page 285-291.
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