Carl Arnold Ruge

Carl Arnold Ruge (September 24, 1846 - 1926) was a German pathologist who was a native of Berlin. For most of his career he was associated with clinical work done at the Charité-Berlin. From 1882 until 1912 he was director of the pathological institute at the gynecological clinic at the Charité. He worked closely with Karl Ludwig Ernst Schroeder (1838-1887), who was director of the gynecology clinic. Ruge was a nephew of pathologist Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902).

Ruge pioneered microscopic diagnostics in the field of gynecology. With his associate Johann Veit (1852–1917), he is credited with establishing the groundwork for contemporary gynecological pathology and histology. In the 1870s the two men introduced the surgical biopsy as a necessary diagnostics tool. From their biopsies, they demonstrated that there were too many cases of unnecessary surgeries for cervical cancer, and proved that physicians were often incapable of detecting cancer without the aid of a biopsy. Ruge is also credited for contributions made concerning early detection of uterine cancer.

Ruge is also credited with having first defined varicose veins as "any dilated, elongated and tortuous vein irrespective of size".

References

* [http://www.advancedhealthplan.com/biopsy.html Advanced Health Plan; Biopsies]