Development of Cerebral Endoscopy in Italy: Background, Narration, and Legacy

Bibliometric analysis shows that neuroendoscopy (NE) overcame its pioneering phase in the late 1980s, and became a significant technological and clinical innovation in the early 1990s. During those years the charge-coupled device digital video cameras were introduced and videoendoscopy had its decisive breakthrough, laying the foundation for NE take-off. NE can be considered an early product of artificial intelligence, as much as neuroimaging and neuronavigation. In Italy, cerebral NE started in 1993 and, despite a couple of years of relative delay, gained ground rapidly thanks also to the personal contribution of Michelangelo Gangemi (1949-2017), to whose memory this article is dedicated. In this paper we try to re-create the history of Italian NE through original documents and other testimonials, in the context of the general worldwide development of NE. The modality of its rapid diffusion throughout our peninsula seems a good paradigm of how cooperation without unnecessary competition can be rewarding and constructive.