希波克拉底对肿瘤的认识

Hippocrates＇ Viewpoint on Cancer

希波克拉底继承了古埃及医学的认识，再结合自己的临床观察和医疗实践，对肿瘤的相关内容进行了探索。希波克拉底将肿瘤单独列为一类疾病进行研究，并认识到肿瘤富含血管、浸润性生长的特点；他从“四体液”学说探讨了肿瘤的发病原因；他虽然没有提出有效的治疗肿瘤的方法，但其所提倡的根据个体差别选择治疗方案，对无法治愈者采取姑息治疗的思想，符合当前肿瘤综合治疗的原则；他重视对肿瘤患者病情的把握和预测，并主张及时通知家属；他提出的相关伦理学思想至今仍在沿用。

Hippocrates pioneered the knowledge of cancer by inheriting the medical ideas of ancient Egypt in combination with his own medical practice and observation. He defined cancer as a special category of diseases, claiming that cancer is rich in blood vessels with infiltration capacity. He probed the pathogenesis of cancer on the basis of the ＂Four Humors＂ theory. He advocated the comprehensive treatment principles based on the patient＇ s individual condition even in the absence of effective therapeutic methods. For incurable patients, he adopted the principle of palliative therapy which was in conformation with the principles of treatment in modern medicine. He stressed the prognosis of cancer and timely notice of the condition to the patients＇ relatives. The relevant moral ideas he put forward are still applied nowadays.