Gene Boyer: Dr. George Nicholas Papanicolaou

Artist: Gene Boyer

Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1978
Image Size: 15 by 15 inches
Overall Size: 16.5 by 16.5 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Cold Press Illustration Board

The Papanicolaou Smear Test is most commonly used to detect cancer of the cervix and uterus. The test is named for George Nicolas Papanicolaou, the Greek-American physician who developed it. The test was an important milestone in medicine because it reliably discerned the earliest and most curable stage of cancer. Indeed, Dr. Papanicolaou's uterine cell examination has already helped to save the lives of well over one hundred thousand women. In the 1920's, George Papanicolaou began to publish his studies on the structure, function, and transformation of cells as viewed under a microscope (a branch of biology known as cytology). In 1928, he suggested that this method was of value in cancer diagnosis of the uterine cervix. Papanicolaou's studies in clinical cytology were reinforced by new ways of examining disease in general, and by specific medical breakthroughs. These milestones include the discovery of the electron microscope in 1931; the concept of cell theory; the techniques of fixing, staining, and mounting specimens; and finally the realization that, from the study of cells or tiny tissue fragments on a slide, one can often distinguish between healthy and diseased bodily changes. The acceptance of diagnostic cytology as a valuable vanguard tool in medicine was largely due to the work of Dr. George Papanicolaou, the father of modern cytology. Today, Dr. George Papanicolaou is remembered as one of the first great physicians to spearhead the campaign for early cancer detection.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day of Issue Proofcard for the U.S. 13¢ Dr. George Nicholas Papanicolaou stamp May 18, 1978.

Artwork Copyright © 1978 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

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