Legacy of Edwin Beer: fulguration of papillary bladder tumors.

PURPOSE Edwin Beer introduced the first endoscopic treatment of papillary bladder tumors in 1910. This historical review describes how his landmark discovery paved the way for office cystodiathermy to treat recurrent papillary tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS The medical writings of Edwin Beer and all studies pertaining to the treatment of papillary bladder tumors from 1879 to the present were reviewed. RESULTS Edwin Beer discovered that papillary bladder tumors could be destroyed through the ordinary cystoscope with high frequency current by electro-coagulation. This therapy revolutionized the treatment of bladder tumors. CONCLUSIONS The legacy of Edwin Beer is that office fulguration of recurrent papillary bladder tumors has now become a practical reality due to recent changes in the histological classification of papillary tumors, better definition of their biological behavior and improved endoscopic equipment.