Lady Andromache (Mary) Papanicolaou: The Soul of Gynecological Cytopathology

This commentary serves to impress the astonishing and selfless contributions that Andromache (Mary) Papanicolaou made toward the scientific development of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test; for she alone was, and remains, the hidden soul of gynecological cytopathology. The odyssey assumes even greater significance as 2014 marks 100 years since the beginning of this saga at Cornell Medical College. An awareness of the background historical details and events is important and relevant to this commentary. Her kindness, thoughtfulness, and devotion to her husband, Dr. George N. Papanicolaou, and his work, shall survive her indefinitely through the Pap test and through the women surviving cervical cancer globally as a result of their combined revolutionary scientific work.