Josef Thurner
Josef Thurner (1927-2025) was an Austrian pathologist
His 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 later became head of the Pathological Institute of the Salzburg Provincial Hospitals, where he shaped diagnostic pathology, teaching, and research for several decades. Between 1976 and 1980 he oversaw the transformation of the Salzburg institute into a modern pathology department, strengthening specialist pathological services across the region. He was remembered by colleagues as a rigorous but warm teacher, with wide general knowledge and a strong sense of ethical responsibility.
Biography
- Born August 25, 1927 in Imsterberg-Endsfeld, Tyrol, Austria.
- 1940s – Wartime service as a Luftwaffenhelfer; later returned from American captivity.
- 1947 – Completed Matura; obituary specifies Gymnasium in Landeck.
- 1953 – Graduated Dr. med. univ. from the University of Innsbruck.
- 1953–1961 – Specialist training in pathology at the Pathological Institute of the University Clinic Innsbruck under Prof. Dr. Lang; habilitated in General and Special Pathology and Pathohistology.
- 1956 – With Robert May, described the pelvic venous spur, Beckenvenensporn, as a cause of predominantly left-sided pelvic vein thrombosis.
- 1957 – May and Thurner published “The cause of the predominantly sinistral occurrence of thrombosis of the pelvic veins” in Angiology.
- 1961 – Habilitated; awarded the C.-Reichert-Ehrenpreis, Vienna.
- 1964 – Appointed head / Vorstand of the Pathological Institute of the Salzburg Provincial Hospitals.
- 1966 – Awarded the Anton-von-Eiselsberg-Preis, Vienna.
- 1967 – Received the scientific prize of the Swiss Society of Phlebology, Zurich.
- 1968 – Appointed außerordentlicher Universitätsprofessor / Associate University Professor.
- 1970 – Editor and author of the textbook Iatrogene Pathologie.
- 1976–1980 – Led a comprehensive reconstruction of the Salzburg Pathological Institute into a modern pathology department, in collaboration with the Salzburg Provincial Hospitals and Salzburg State Government.
- 1987 – Served as Tagungspräsident of the German Society for Pathology congress in Salzburg; later regarded as one of the “Grand Seniors” of German-speaking pathology.
- 1992 – Awarded the Ehrenbecher of the Salzburg State Government for services to health care in Salzburg; made honorary member of the Salzburg Medical Society.
- 1994 – Retired with emeritus status
- Post-retirement – Returned in later years to Innsbruck, where he lived until his death.
- Died November 26, 2025 in his 99th year.
Medical Eponyms
May–Thurner Syndrome (1957)
Anatomical compression of the left common iliac vein by the overlying right common iliac artery, predisposing to iliofemoral venous thrombosis.
1957 – Robert May and Thurner publish “The cause of the predominantly sinistral occurrence of thrombosis of the pelvic veins” in Angiology. In 430 cadaver dissections, they reported characteristic “spurs” in 22%, histologically composed of fibrous tissue due to repetitive arterial pulsations. The term “May–Thurner syndrome” was adopted later.
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. 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
We are especially grateful to the eminent plastic surgeon Dr. med. Josef Thurner, for sharing his father’s Nachruf and helping preserve the personal and professional legacy of one of Austria’s distinguished pathologists. His contribution provided valuable insight into Thurner’s life, character, teaching, and enduring influence on pathology in Salzburg and beyond.
Biography
- Thurner, Josef. Who’s who in medicine. 1981: 216
- Thurner, Josef. Kürschners Deutscher Gelehrten-Kalender 1996 : Bio-bibliographisches Verzeichnis 1986:
- 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: 342-346
- Cockett FB, Thomas ML. The iliac compression syndrome. Br J Surg. 1965 Oct;52(10):816-21.
- Cockett FB, Thomas ML, Negus D. Iliac vein compression.–Its relation to iliofemoral thrombosis and the post-thrombotic syndrome. Br Med J. 1967 Apr 1;2(5543):14-9.
- Cockett FB. Venous causes of swollen leg. Br J Surg. 1967 Oct;54(10):891-4.
- 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
MBBCh Cardiff Medical School. PGCert in Medical Education, Manchester University. Currently working as a doctor in the emergency department at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Australia. Plan for a future in Emergency and Prehospital Medicine.
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 | On Call: Principles and Protocol 4e| Eponyms | Books |