how to prepare?

[smellycat]

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I am interested in path and i'm going to be doing a month of surg path during the beginning of my fourth year.
i've been told that is enough. I was wondering if i should read up on path before i start it so i can have an edge and if so, what books would you recommend. i was going to start with the brs path review book...
any thoughts?

 

[yaah]

You will gain the biggest edge by being enthusiastic and showing interest, honestly.

Some would suggest reviewing basic histology so that you can determine what it is you are looking at. You can memorize what a synovial cell sarcoma looks like and impress someone, but during a 4th year rotation that isn't that productive. I would try to read about basic pathology as well. Cellular changes, malignancy, inflammation. If you can, look at a few slides. If you don't have access to slides, there are a few sites on the web, like

The Virtual Slidebox (iowa) and Webpath .

Some people like Sternberg's Histology for Pathologists but it is quite dense.

Lots of stuff to read. Any old surgical path textbook will usually have an introductory chapter towards the beginning. There are also grossing guides if your rotation will involve any grossing (even observing). This one by Lester is great

Well, now that I have mastered the hyperlink, perhaps I should start reading and preparing for the start of my residency!

 

[Doctor B.]

Best thing you can do is bust out Robbins (Big Robbins if you have it) and read some of it. It gives great concise gross and microscopic descriptions of many diseases. You can look some things up in Rosai or Sternberg but if you are like I was in 4th year, they won't make a whole lot of sense.