It is rather poignant that this year’s EAU Congress was held in Barcelona, Spain, because it offers the opportunity to look back at the rich history of urology in the country. Some of urology’s founding fathers were born under the Spanish sun, and their influence remains significant despite the many technological advances of the discipline since their work was first published. In this special congress feature, we explore some of the most famous names in Spanish urological history to provide some context to the vast contributions of this year’s EAU hosts to this fascinating and continually evolving field of study.
As we direct our gaze closer to modern times, another pre-eminent Spanish urologist stands out as an exceptional influence: Salvador Gil Vernet. Gil Vernet dedicated his life to the study of anatomy, with a focus on urological systems, in particular the purpose and function of each component of the prostate. Gil Vernet’s opinion was that an understanding of how anatomical systems work was the necessary expertise for any researcher, and that descriptions of the systems were not sufficient. His dedication to the discipline led to many advancements in the field and subseqüent decoration with a myriad of awards and honours across his lifetime.
Quite possibly his greatest achievement is his publication ‘Patología Urogenital’, widely considered one of the most prestigious Spanish contributions to urology. The text is split into three volumes, discussing, amongst a number of other topics, important discoveries regarding the prostate gland and prostate cancer, including the key role that is played by diet, race, and genetics in the development of prostate cancer, and the origin of malignant neoplasms in the prostate gland itself as opposed to regions of benign prostate hyperplasia.
The contributions of Spanish scientists continue to play a vital role in the progression and advancement of our understanding of urological diseases and their treatment. The discoveries and achievements listed above firmly place Gutiérrez de Toledo, Díaz, and Gil Vernet among the giants of urology, but what remains to be seen is: who’s next to join the ranks?
See the entire chapter.