Pellizzari, celso

(¤ 1851, † 1925) Dermatologist active in Siena, Pisa, Florence.

Celso Pellizzari (Figure ) discovered phototherapy, in particular the use of "actinic" or ultraviolet rays, for the treatment of lupus vulgaris. This observation gave rise to the idea of founding an institute for phototherapy in Florence, modeled on the Copenhagen institute of Niel Finsen. In January 1904, the idea took shape as the first public center for phototherapy in Italy, which was fully equipped and operational by the end of 1904, less than a year after the idea was conceived.

Thereafter, other physical therapies such as dermatological X-ray therapy, photochromic therapy, electrotherapy, radiofrequency therapy and Marconi therapy were gradually introduced in the dermatological clinic in Florence.

In 1904, Pellizzari acquired information on the treatment of skin tumors with radium applications. A year later, he bought ten milligrams of radium in London and personally brought it to Florence in a small container. In 1907, the Florentine Institute of Phototherapy was the first in Italy to systematically use radium to treat malignant skin tumors.

After Pellizzari, Jader Cappelli and his assistant Mario Scopesi, a brilliant master of radiotherapy, headed the Institute of Radiotherapy in Florence.