Revealing the production process of Joaquín Albarrán's Les Tumeurs de la Vessie 125 years after its writing

Objective: Investigate how in 1891 Joaquín Albarrán organised and wrote his Les Tumeurs de la Vessie, a manuscript printed by Georges Steinheil in 1892.

Material and methods: An analysis was conducted of the manuscript that compiles the casuistry set forth in the work, which helps us understand his production process. The contents of the text are analysed, revealing the originality and value of the text in the manuscript.

Results: The book describes the author's personal histopathology findings from surgical and autopsied cases in Necker Hospital between 1868 and 1891: 28 numbered autopsy specimens and 67 identified by the patient's name (or, in lieu thereof, the physician's name, bed, ward and date of surgery). The notebook also contains the preliminary design of a number of photomicrographs printed in the book. Histopathology data are provided on the classification of bladder cancer, the pathway of lymphocytic spread, the genesis of cancer, tumoural heterogeneity and a number of original descriptions (squamous cell carcinoma, Von Brunn nests). Other notable clinical concepts include diagnostic symptomatology, prognosis assessment, extirpation by vesical height (with primary closure of the bladder and abdominal wall), the role of nascent endoscopic tumour extirpation and the experimental development of radical cystectomy with urinary diversion.

Conclusions: Joaquín Albarrán analysed his experience and that of professors Reverdin, Guyon and Horteloup. He reviewed autopsies and surgical specimens from patients and performed the histopathology study in each case. The main original observations from the work are discussed.