Ludwig Rehn (1849-1930) - Pioneering findings on the aetiology of bladder tumours

One hundred and six years ago, the surgeon Ludwig Rehn from Frankfurt am Ma in held a pioneering lecture in Berlin about the possible origins of bladde r tumours. He thereby gave the decisive impulse for cancer research in gene ral and specifically for the investigation of aetiological factors involved in the development of urogenital tract tumours. Thereafter, this resulted in an intensified scientific discussion addressing this issue. Although the detailed evaluation of the causes finally contributing to tumour growth is still ongoing, the work of Ludwig Rehn on bladder tumours among aniline wo rkers considerably promoted the establishment of urology as a specialised f ield within German clinical medicine and is therefore a milestone in the hi story of medicine.