title: Avenzoar's (1091-1162) clinical description of cancer.
abstract: In the 11(th) and 12(th) century the Western caliphate flourished, making Cordoba the capital of physicians and philosophers. During that period lived and practised the famous physician Ibn Zuhr or Avenzoar. In his monumental treatise Al Taysir, Avenzoar provided the first clinical description of a polypoid colorectal tumour as well as the case of a uterine cancer and a basal cell carcinoma. His medical work remained popular through middle ages, influencing the development of western medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of History of Medicine, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karamanou
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsoucalas
authors.forename: Zenia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Saridaki
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iavazzo
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Androutsos
mesh_terms: D049691:History, Medieval; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000266:history*; D010820:Physicians