Josef Thurner
Josef Thurner (1927 – ) Austrian pathologist
Thurner, Austrian pathologist whose name endures through the May–Thurner syndrome. As a young assistant in the Pathological Institute at Innsbruck, Thurner collaborated with vascular surgeon Robert May (1912–1984) to define a clinically significant venous anomaly now known worldwide.
Thurner advanced academic pathology in Austria through prolific scholarship, notable publications in joint disease and iatrogenic pathology, and academic leadership as head of pathology in Salzburg. His research combined precision dissection, clinical relevance, and keen morphological insight.
Biography
- 1927 – Born August 25 in Imsterberg-Endsfeld, Tyrol, Austria.
- 1945 – Released from wartime American captivity; completed Matura in 1947.
- 1953 – Graduated as Dr. med. univ. from the University of Innsbruck.
- 1953–1961 – Completed pathology training in Innsbruck; habilitated in General and Special Pathology and Pathohistology.
- 1956 – Co-discovered and described the pelvic vein spur (Beckenvenensporn) with Robert May; foundational work on May–Thurner syndrome.
- 1961 – Awarded C.-Reichert-Ehrenpreis, Vienna.
- 1964 – Appointed Head of the Institute of Pathology, Salzburg Provincial Hospitals.
- 1966 – Awarded Anton-von-Eiselsberg-Preis.
- 1967 – Received the Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Phlebologie, Zürich.
- 1968 – Appointed Associate University Professor.
- 1970s–1980s – Published extensively on iatrogenic pathology, liver disease, and surgical pathology.
- 1992 – Honoured by the Salzburg State Government and Salzburg Medical Society.
- 1993 – Officially retired (emeritus status).
Medical Eponyms
May–Thurner Syndrome
Definition: Anatomical compression of the left common iliac vein by the overlying right common iliac artery, predisposing to iliofemoral venous thrombosis.
First described: 1956 by Robert May and Thurner after investigating 430 cadavers; found in 22% of cases. Validated clinically after a fatal pulmonary embolism exposed its pathophysiologic relevance.
Key publication: May R, Thurner J. The cause of the predominantly sinistral occurrence of thrombosis of the pelvic veins. Angiology. 1957;8(5):419–427.
Major Publications
- May R, Thurner J. Ein Gefässporn in der Vena iliaca communis sinistra als Ursache der überwiegend linksseitigen Beckenvenenthrombosen [A vascular spur in the vena iliaca communis sinistra as a cause of predominantly left-sided thrombosis of the pelvic veins]. Z Kreislaufforsch. 1956 Dec;45(23-24):912-22.
- May R, Thurner J. The cause of the predominantly sinistral occurrence of thrombosis of the pelvic veins. Angiology. 1957 Oct;8(5):419-27.
- Thurner J, Hasenohrl K. Zur Mondorschen Krankheit [Mondor’s disease]. Klin Med Osterr Z Wiss Prakt Med. 1957 Apr;12(4):151-7.
- Thurner J, May R. Probleme der Phlebopathologie, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Phlebosklerose [Problems of phlebopathology with special reference to phlebosclerosis]. Zentralbl Phlebol. 1967 Aug 15;6(3):404-82.
- Thurner J. Iatrogene Pathologie [Iatrogenic pathology]. Hippokrates. 1973 Dec;44(4):368-78.
- Thurner J, Binazzi R. Deformierende Insertionstendopathie [Deforming insertion-tendopathy]. Wien Med Wochenschr. 1978;128(16):522-5.
References
Biography
- Hach W, Hach-Wunderle V. Robert May (1912–1984) und die Phlebologie in seiner Zeit. Gefässchirurgie 2000; 5: 200–207
- Hach W, Hach-Wunderle V. Robert May (1912-1984)* Das wissenschaftliche Werk. Zentralblatt Für Chirurgie, 2001; 126(6): 429–432.
- Hach W, Hach-Wunderle V. Die Geschichte des May’schen Beckenvenensporns. Gefässchirurgie, 2014; 19(4): 365–370.
Eponymous terms
- McMurrich JP. The occurrence of congenital ahhesions in the common iliac veins and their relations to thrombosis of the femoral and iliac veins. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 1908, 135:342.
- Cockett FB, Thomas L. The iliac compression syndrome. The British Journal of Surgery, 1965, 52: 816-821.
- Cockett FB. Venous causes of swollen leg. The British Journal of Surgery, 1967, 54: 891-894.
- Harbin MM, Lutsey PL. May-Thurner syndrome: History of understanding and need for defining population prevalence. J Thromb Haemost. 2020 Mar;18(3):534-542.
- Junianto I, Zuhri E, Andriantoro H, Indriani S, Siddiq T, Adiarto S. May-Thurner Syndrome: A Forgotten Cause of Deep Vein Thrombosis. Int J Angiol. 2022 Nov 2;34(2):122-125.
- Mangla A, Hamad H. May-Thurner Syndrome. 2024 Mar 11. In: StatPearls
- Skalina T. Perforators of the leg and calf (venae perforantes cruris). Radiopaedia
Eponym
the person behind the name
