Carl Rokitansky: his life, work, and contributions to dermatopathology on the occasion of his 200th birthday.

Already in his lifetime, Carl Rokitansky was celebrated as the "pioneer of modern pathology." It was he, more than anybody else, who launched the era of morphology in medicine. Close correlation between findings uncovered at autopsy and clinical signs and symptoms helped to shape the view of diseases as distinct pathologic processes, rather than accidental constellations of findings. On the occasion of his 200 birthday, this review describes the life and work of Rokitansky, including his discoveries, misconceptions, and contributions to dermatopathology.