Thyroid swellings in the art of the Italian Renaissance

Abstract Background Thyroid swellings in the art of the Italian Renaissance are sporadically reported in the medical literature. Methods Six hundred paintings and sculptures from the Italian Renaissance, randomly selected, were analyzed to determine the prevalence of personages with thyroid swelling...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of surgery 2015-09, Vol.210 (3), p.591-596
Main Authors: Sterpetti, Antonio V., M.D., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S, De Toma, Giorgio, M.D, De Cesare, Alessandro, M.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artists
History, 15th Century
History, 16th Century
History, Medieval
Iodine - deficiency
Italian Renaissance
Italy
Larynx
Medicine in the Arts
Neck
Paints
Prosperity
Sculpture
Studies
Surgery
Thyroglossal Cyst - history
Thyroid Diseases - history
Thyroid swellings
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Summary:Abstract Background Thyroid swellings in the art of the Italian Renaissance are sporadically reported in the medical literature. Methods Six hundred paintings and sculptures from the Italian Renaissance, randomly selected, were analyzed to determine the prevalence of personages with thyroid swellings and its meaning. Results The prevalence of personages with thyroid swellings in the art of Italian Renaissance is much higher than previously thought. This phenomenon was probably secondary to iodine deficiency. The presence of personages with thyroid swelling was related to specific meanings the artists wanted to show in their works. Conclusions Even if the function and the role of the thyroid were discovered only after thyroidectomy was started to be performed, at the beginning of the 19th century, artists of the Italian Renaissance had the intuition that thyroid swellings were related to specific psychological conditions. Artistic intuition and sensibility often comes before scientific demonstration, and it should be a guide for science development.
ISSN:0002-9610
1879-1883
DOI:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2015.01.027