Neck mass and tracheostomy in a young lady depicted by Piero di Cosimo

Hormones (Athens). 2020 Jun;19(2):261-264. doi: 10.1007/s42000-019-00146-0. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Abstract

Among surgical procedures currently in use, tracheostomy has a particularly long history. The first written description of the procedure is due to Brasavola, and dates from 1546. Piero di Cosimo (1462-1522) was an early Renaissance painter who painted a work traditionally known as Cephalus and Procris or The Death of Procris (1495-1500). In this painting, a vertical tracheostomy can be observed in a young woman lying on the ground. A giant mass can be seen in the lower left neck with superficial venous vessels, suggesting a thyroid malignancy. This appears to be the first detailed depiction of a malignant cervical mass and a possibly therapeutic tracheostomy. We discuss the clinical differential diagnosis and also make some comments from an art history perspective.

Keywords: Neck Mass; Piero di Cosimo; Thyroid cancer; Tracheostomy.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • History, 16th Century
  • Humans
  • Medicine in the Arts / history*
  • Paintings / history*
  • Tracheostomy / history*
  • Young Adult