Raymond Garcin

Raymond Garcin (1897-1971) portrait

Raymond Garcin (1897-1971) was a French neurologist

Garcin was a distinguished French neurologist and a prominent figure of the Salpêtrière tradition. Born in Basse-Pointe, Martinique, in 1897, Garcin relocated to mainland France in 1915. His career in medicine was marked by clinical precision, educational dedication, and a commitment to the neurological sciences. After serving as a military auxiliary during World War I, he entered the service of Georges Guillain, eventually becoming his son-in-law.

An astute clinician and diagnostician, Garcin was known for his rigorous bedside teaching and deep intellectual generosity. He earned recognition for his careful analyses of cranial nerve syndromes, motor control disorders, and postural responses. His 1927 thesis described the now-eponymous Garcin syndrome—a unilateral cranial nerve palsy due to skull base infiltration—laying the foundation for subsequent clinical neuroanatomical work.

Throughout his career, Garcin held leading roles in Parisian hospitals, culminating in a specially created Chair of Neurology at the Salpêtrière in 1959. He published over 325 works and collaborated internationally, promoting a humanistic and patient-centered approach to neurology. A mentor to many, including Michel Fardeau, he left an enduring legacy in clinical neurology. He died in Paris in 1971.


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).

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.


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.


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


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.


Major Publications

References

Biography

Eponymous terms

Eponym

the person behind the name

BA MA (Oxon) MBChB (Edin) FACEM FFSEM. Emergency physician, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Passion for rugby; medical history; medical education; and asynchronous learning #FOAMed evangelist. Co-founder and CTO of Life in the Fast lane | Eponyms | Books |

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