Editorial: Getting more information from the surgical specimen

In 1821, Antonio Scarpa reported removing a tumor from the orbit without removing the eye. This publication is thought to be the first description of surgical treatment of an optic nerve glioma but there is considerable doubt about the exact diagnosis. Even though Scarpa was arguably the most prominent anatomist and surgeon of his day there was little he could do to learn more about the origin of the excised tumor except for gross inspection and perhaps dissection. 1 Surgical specimens removed during the early 19th century were probably discarded or, in exceptional cases, put in a glass jar for display in a museum.