Raymond Garcin

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Biography

• 1897 – Born September 21 in Basse-Pointe, Martinique.
• 1915 – Moved to Paris for medical studies.
• 1917–1918 – Served as medical auxiliary during World War I.
• 1923 – Appointed intern at Salpêtrière under Georges Guillain.
• 1927 – Completed doctorate on unilateral cranial nerve palsy (Garcin syndrome).
• 1930 – Became Médecin des Hôpitaux de Paris.
• 1939 – Appointed chef de service at Hospice Debrousse; became agrégé.
• 1942–1944 – Head of neurology at Hôpital Saint-Antoine.
• 1944–1948 – Served at Hôtel-Dieu.
• 1947–1948 – Taught neurosurgical clinic at Paris Faculty of Medicine.
• 1948 – Returned to Salpêtrière as head of Division Mazarin.
• 1954 – Appointed full professor; taught general pathology and therapeutics.
• 1959 – Chair of Neurology created for him at Salpêtrière.
• 1960 – Elected to the Académie nationale de médecine.
• 1961 – Vice-president of the World Federation of Neurology.
• 1968 – Retired from Salpêtrière.
• 1971 – Died February 26 in Paris (7e arrondissement).

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Medical Eponyms

Garcin-Guillain syndrome (1927)

Garcin–Guillain syndrome, more commonly referred to as Garcin syndrome, describes the rare occurrence of unilateral cranial nerve palsies — involving most or all of the twelve cranial nerves on one side — without signs of long tract involvement or raised intracranial pressure. It typically results from infiltrative lesions at the skull base, most commonly due to lymphoepithelioma or nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The syndrome was initially mentioned by Georges Charles Guillain (1876-1961) in 1926 in collaboration with Théophile Alajouanine (1890–1980) and Garcin. However, it was Garcin’s 1927 Paris thesis that gave the first comprehensive clinical description, hence the naming predominance as “Garcin syndrome.”

The condition reflects peripheral cranial nerve involvement, usually from extracranial or parameningeal malignancy, with sparing of the brain parenchyma. Though exceedingly rare, it remains a key diagnostic consideration in progressive cranial neuropathies with imaging evidence of skull base pathology.

1926 – Guillain, Alajouanine, and Garcin co-author a note on a new form of cranial nerve paralysis – Le syndrome paralytique unilatéral global des nerfs crâniens

1927 – Raymond Garcin publishes his landmark thesis – Le syndrome paralytique unilatéral global des nerfs craniens: contribution à l’étude des tumeurs de la base du crâne

1930s–1950s – The syndrome is further observed in association with nasopharyngeal carcinomas, including the Schmincke type, and base of skull sarcomas.

Later 20th century – Often used synonymously with cranial polyneuropathy of neoplastic origin, the eponym persists in European neurology.

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Signe de la main creuse de Garcin (1955)

Garcin described a “hollow hand” sign arising from pyramidal tract lesions—distinct from similar postures caused by extrapyramidal damage.

In his 1955 article – Syndrome cérébello-thalamique par lésion localisée du thalamus; avec une digression sur le signe de la main creuse et son intérét séméiologique – Garcin described the “hollow hand” sign as a subtle indicator of pyramidal tract involvement, distinguishing it from similar postures caused by extrapyramidal damage.

The sign is elicited by having the patient hold their arms vertically with palms forward and fingers extended. In cases of discrete pyramidal lesions, the thumb may adduct slightly, deepening the palm concavity—hence the term “main creuse.”

Though not widely cited today, it remains a notable example of detailed French neurological semiology.

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Stern–Garcin syndrome (1962)

A rare, rapidly progressive subacute thalamic dementia characterized by severe cognitive decline, myoclonus, and bilateral symmetrical degeneration of the thalamus. First described by Kurt Stern (1894–1973) in 1939 and later expanded upon by Garcin in 1962, this syndrome is distinct from the more commonly known Garcin syndrome involving unilateral cranial nerve palsies.

Clinically, patients present with rapidly progressive dementia, myoclonic jerks, and parkinsonian features. Neuropathological findings include bilateral symmetrical thalamic degeneration, with relative sparing of the cortex. The syndrome has been associated with both sporadic and familial forms of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD), particularly the Stern–Garcin variant, which exhibits prominent early extrapyramidal symptoms and characteristic MRI findings involving the basal ganglia and thalamus

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Key Medical Contributions

Dysglobulinaemic Neuropathies (1962)

In collaboration with Rondot and others, Garcin helped characterize neuropathies linked to monoclonal gammopathies and macroglobulinemia, contributing to the broader recognition of paraneoplastic and immune-mediated neurological conditions.

A Legacy in Education and Neurology

Renowned for his teaching at the bedside, Garcin attracted a generation of neurologists to the Salpêtrière. Though much of his work remained in French, his methodical approach to neurological examination is remembered and celebrated by students and peers alike.

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Major Publications

• Guillain G. Alajouanine Th, Garcin R. Le syndrome paralytique unilatéral global des nerfs crâniens. Bulletins et mémoires de la Société médicale des hôpitaux de Paris, 1926; 50: 456-460 [Garcin – Guillain syndrome]
• Garcin R. Le syndrome paralytique unilatéral global des nerfs craniens: contribution à l’étude des tumeurs de la base du crâne. Thèse de médecine de Paris n° 34. 1927 [Garcin – Guillain syndrome]
• Garcin R. Syndrome cérébello-thalamique par lésion localisée du thalamus; avec une digression sur le signe de la main creuse et son intérét séméiologique [Cerebello-thalamic syndrome caused by localized lesion of the thalamus; sign of so-called main creuse and its symptomatologic value]. Rev Neurol (Paris). 1955;93(1):143-9.
• Garcin R, Brion S, Khochneviss A. Le syndrome de Creutzfeldt–Jakob et les syndromes cortico-striés du présenium (à l’occasion de 5 observations anatomo-cliniques). Revue Neurologique, 1962; 106: 506-509
• Garcin R, Brion S, Khochneviss A. Le syndrome de Creutzfeldt–Jakob et les syndromes cortico-striés du présenium. Revue Neurologique, 1963; 109: 419–441.

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References

Biography

• Alajouanine T. Raymond Garcin (1897-1971). Rev Neurol (Paris). 1971 Apr;124(4):257-60. 
• Lemaire A. Death of Mr. Raymond Garcin. Ann Med Interne (Paris). 1971 May;122(5):669-70.
• Guilly P. Raymond Garcin (1897-1971). Presse Med (1893). 1971 Jun 19;79(30):1401-2
• Lapresle J, Critchley M. Raymond Garcin (1897-1971). J Neurol Sci. 1971 Aug;13(4):503-5.
• Soriano V. Prof. Raymond Garcin. (1897-1971). Int J Neurol. 1972;9(1):87-9. 
• Lamy M. Raymond Garcin (1897-1971) Bull Acad Natl Med. 1972 Jan 25;156(2):56-62.
• Rondot P. Raymond Garcin (1897-1971). J Neurol. 2000 Apr;247(4):315-6.
• Dupuy-Olivier A. Raymond Garcin (1897-1971), figure emblématique de la Salpêtrière. Bibliothèque de l’Académie nationale de médecine
• Critchley M. Marie Mathieu Jean Raymond Garcin RCP Inspiring physicians

Eponymous terms

• Stern K. Severe dementia associated with bilateral symmetrical degeneration of the thalamus. Brain. 1939; 62(2): 57–171
• Little BW, Brown PW, Rodgers-Johnson P, Perl DP, Gajdusek DC. Familial myoclonic dementia masquerading as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Ann Neurol. 1986 Aug;20(2):231-9.