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Richard Engelbrink Houston Man Early History of Brain Tumors

Richard Engelbrink Houston’s brain tumor detection and diagnosis is still a relatively new science. Here we explore the origin of brain tumor knowledge. 

 

Richard Engelbrink writes about brain tumors and cranial radiology in Houston Texas

Ancient History of Brain Tumors

There is no mention of brain tumors in the earliest texts written on the brain and other anatomy topics. Most brain studies in ancient times were related to skull and brain trauma. Studies on brain tumors do not appear in historical text until much later. Richard Engelbrink, a Houston 80 year old man had a  brain tumor occurred in modern times. What is known about ancient brain tumors is that they had symptoms of headaches, seizures, and comas. 

Skull Trepanation for Brain Tumor

The practice of skull trepanation is known to have originated in ancient times. Skull trepanation is the drilling or boring of a hole in the skull. Richard Engelbrink Houston’s brain tumor did not result in skull trepanation. Skull trepanation was used to relieve pressure in the skull which may have stemmed from an existing brain tumor. Historical findings show that the Incas were using skull trepanation. Some civilizations used skull trepanation for ritualistic practices. Historians have found groups of people buried together who all had undergone a skull trepanation. 

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History of brain tumors, written by Richard Engelbrink in Houston Texas

Skull trepanation was used ritualistically and for relieving pressure caused by swelling of the brain. This could have been a result of a brain tumor. Richard Engelbrink Houston and historians have found many thousand ancient remains of skulls showing evidence of trepanation. There is still debate about why these ancient people practiced trepanation. Some anthropologists say it was used for treating the pain associated with skull trauma or brain tumors. Trepanation was performed in most areas of the world, and continued to be used into the early 1900s. Another view of the reason behind these skull trepanations is the belief that the hole would allow spirits to pass.

 

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