John A. Sampson
Encyclopedia
John Albertson Sampson (August 17, 1873–December 23, 1946) was a gynecologist who studied endometriosis
.
Sampson was born near Troy, New York
and graduated from Johns Hopkins
in 1899. After completing his training in gynecology, he settled in Albany, New York
. He worked at the Albany Hospital, and later became Professor of Gynecology at the Albany Medical College
.
While endometriotic cysts had been described before - so by W.W.Russell in 1898 -, it was Sampson who studied the disease systematically, described the clinical manifestations, and contributed to our understanding by proposing , in 1921, that endometriosis - a term he coined - is a process produced by the escape of menstrual debris including endometrial tissue that escapes retrograde through the fallopian tube
s into the pelvis. This then leads to secondary reactions of inflammation, repair, and scar formation. His theory of 'retrograde menstruation' explains the typical distribution of endometriosis in the pelvis and why women with cervical or vaginal obstruction have a high incidence of endometriosis, it does not , however, provide an answer why some women have endometiosis after hysterectomy or in distant organs. Thus alternative theories have been developed, including the concept that endometriosis that starts in the pelvis de novo from stem cells. Even today, these and other theories coexist, as the cause of endometriosis remains a subject of debate.
He has the distinction of having an artery named after him Sampson artery
.
Sampson died in Albany.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
.
Sampson was born near Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
and graduated from Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1899. After completing his training in gynecology, he settled in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. He worked at the Albany Hospital, and later became Professor of Gynecology at the Albany Medical College
Albany Medical College
Albany Medical College is a medical school located in Albany, New York, United States. It was founded in 1839 by Amos Dean, Dr. Thomas Hun and others, and is one of the oldest medical schools in the nation...
.
While endometriotic cysts had been described before - so by W.W.Russell in 1898 -, it was Sampson who studied the disease systematically, described the clinical manifestations, and contributed to our understanding by proposing , in 1921, that endometriosis - a term he coined - is a process produced by the escape of menstrual debris including endometrial tissue that escapes retrograde through the fallopian tube
Fallopian tube
The Fallopian tubes, also known as oviducts, uterine tubes, and salpinges are two very fine tubes lined with ciliated epithelia, leading from the ovaries of female mammals into the uterus, via the utero-tubal junction...
s into the pelvis. This then leads to secondary reactions of inflammation, repair, and scar formation. His theory of 'retrograde menstruation' explains the typical distribution of endometriosis in the pelvis and why women with cervical or vaginal obstruction have a high incidence of endometriosis, it does not , however, provide an answer why some women have endometiosis after hysterectomy or in distant organs. Thus alternative theories have been developed, including the concept that endometriosis that starts in the pelvis de novo from stem cells. Even today, these and other theories coexist, as the cause of endometriosis remains a subject of debate.
He has the distinction of having an artery named after him Sampson artery
Sampson artery
The Sampson artery runs under the round ligament.It represents the anastomosis of the uterine artery and ovarian artery.It is named for John A...
.
Sampson died in Albany.