SECT. XXXVIII.—ON BRONCHOCELE.
A large round tumour forms on the neck from the inner parts, whence it obtains the appellation of bronchocele, of which there are two varieties, the steatomatous and the aneurismatical. The aneurismatical we judge of from the symptoms of aneurism, and abandon as hopeless, like all other aneurisms which it is dangerous to meddle with, as is the case most especially with those of the neck, owing to the size of the arteries.
The steatomatous we operate upon like steatomes in general, distinguishing and avoiding the vessels, in the same manner as we described for strumæ.
Commentary. The surgical operation for bronchocele is described by Celsus. He says that its contents may be evacuated by caustics, but that the knife is a more expeditious process of cure. For this purpose he directs us to make a single incision down to the cyst, and to dissect it from the surrounding parts with the fingers. When its cyst cannot be removed he recommends us to destroy it with caustic medicines. (vii, 13.)
Aëtius and Albucasis give exactly the same account of bronchocele as our author.
The poet Juvenal alludes to the prevalence of bronchocele among the people at the foot of the Alps. (Sat. xiii, 162.)
Pliny attributes it to the corruption of the water. (xi, 37.)
Rolandus, Guy of Cauliac, and other of the earlier modern authorities, direct us to remove the tumour by means of two cross setons.