Dr. Soju Kurihara: increased awareness of cytologic diagnosis

Cytopathology is now regarded as an important tool for detecting cancer, especially uterine cervical cancer. There was, however, a hard way to acquire the current status. This technique, the diagnosis of cancer by light microscopic examination of exfoliated cells, was first established by Dr. Papanicolaou in the 1940's. For spreading this technique and acknowledgement of this clinical field by conservative pathologists, many doctors including Dr. Kurihara, Professor emeritus of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, have made efforts for about fifty years. Dr. Kurihara and his colleagues made a clinical study and revealed the natural history of uterine cervical cancer from dysplastic lesions. Based on these results, he supported the establishment of the new screening system for uterine cervical cancer, "Tohbo-Hoshiki", which is now widely employed in Japan. This system has played an important role to decrease the mortality from uterine cervical cancer. Dr. Kurihara is one of the founders of the Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology, which has played a central role in the development of cytologic diagnosis in Japan, and he also contributed to bring up many gynecologic oncologists specializing in cytopathology and the treatment of cancer. Although remarkable progress has been made in computer-related technology and the automation of cytologic diagnosis is no longer a dream, the results of the untiring efforts of Dr. Kurihara and his colleagues will continue to play an instrumental role in the future advancement of cytologic diagnosis.