Isadore Max Tarlov (May 16, 1905 – June 4, 1977) was an American neurosurgeon, academic and researcher. He was the first doctor to provide a methodical description of perineurial cysts of the spinal region, which are now known as

Tarlov cyst Tarlov cysts, are type II innervated meningeal cysts, cerebrospinal-fluid-filled (CSF) sacs most frequently located in the spinal canal of the sacral region of the spinal cord ( S1– S5) and much less often in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar ...

Biography

Tarlov was born in

Norwalk, Connecticut Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The city, part of the New York metropolitan area, New York Metropolitan Area, is the List of municipalities of Connecticut by population, sixth-most populous city in Connecticut ...

, to Russian Jewish immigrant parents. He graduated from

Clark University Clark University is a private research university in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1887 with a large endowment from its namesake Jonas Gilman Clark, a prominent businessman, Clark was one of the first modern research uni ...

and earned his medical degree from

Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...

in 1930. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Tarlov researched the use of blood plasma clotting agent as an adhesive to repair nerve cells. Tarlov first noticed the cysts while doing a postmortem examination of 30

filum terminale The filum terminale ('terminal thread') is a delicate strand of fibrous tissue, about 20 cm in length, extending inferiorly from the apex of the conus medullaris to attach onto the coccyx. The filum terminale acts to anchor the spinal cord ...

specimens in 1938, and he published his findings in the ''Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry''. He initially believed the cysts were the result of meningeal diverticula and long arachnoid prolongations. It wasn't until 10 years later that he discovered their significance, and that these cysts can appear symptomatic in patients. An important distinguishing factor is that the walls of Tarlov cysts contain nerve fibers, in contrast to the meningeal diverticula which has no evidence of neural elements. In 1951, Tarlov joined

New York Medical College New York Medical College (NYMC or New York Med) is a Private university, private medical school in Valhalla, New York. Founded in 1860, it is a member of the Touro University System. NYMC offers advanced degrees through its three schools: the ...

as a professor of neurology and neurosurgery, and director of the neurology department. The following year he received a grant from the

United States Public Health Service The United States Public Health Service (USPHS or PHS) is a collection of agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services which manages public health, containing nine out of the department's twelve operating divisions. The assistant s ...

to study spinal cord compression. He published a book about his findings in 1957.

Personal life

He married Fredericka (''née'' Bechman), a native of Latvia; they had a son Edward, who is also a neurosurgeon; and two daughters, Ann and Susan. Tarlov died in 1977, aged 72.

Bibliography

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tarlov, Isadore 1905 births 1977 deaths American neurosurgeons American people of Russian-Jewish descent Clark University alumni Johns Hopkins University alumni New York Medical College faculty 20th-century American surgeons