pathology

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

DOapplicant

Senior Member
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
20+ Year Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2002
Messages
227
Reaction score
0
trying to find a good text to read for path.
is there a diff b/n the offical robbins and the 'basic path' robbins?
any other text some has used and would like to recommend.
i'm all about diagrams/visuals
thanks!
 
I would recommend the Stars Pathology text by Goljan. It is fairly condensed, high yield, and easy to read. Some good diagrams. There is a lot of text, however.
 
I like BRS Path and Goljan's Path Review for quick reading. And Robbins Review for more questions.
 
I would get Big Robbins. I have used it throughout my path course. Yes, it is a bit dense, but it is the best. Don't study path for the first time with a review book. It just doesn't have enough detail.
 
Originally posted by BamaAlum
I would get Big Robbins. I have used it throughout my path course. Yes, it is a bit dense, but it is the best. Don't study path for the first time with a review book. It just doesn't have enough detail.

Stars Pathology by Goljan is not a review book. Robbins is too thick for a medical student to study from. It should only be used as a reference or for residents.
 
I couldn't disagree more. I use it almost everyday. None of the pathology residents I know use Robbins. They use organ specific books. Robbins is written for medical students. It is in its 7th edition. It has been used for years by medical students. . Apparently they didn't feel it was too dense.
 
Originally posted by BamaAlum
I couldn't disagree more. I use it almost everyday. None of the pathology residents I know use Robbins. They use organ specific books. Robbins is written for medical students.

Well good luck with reading that thing. I wish you well. I didn't mean that residents use it as a primary text, just as a reference, same as medical students.
 
I'd get Essential pathology. Goes through each disease with pathophysiology, cause, prevalence, treatments etc. Great text!
 
Let's see, as a pathology course director....my opinion is you better read Robbins or some other Basic Patholgoy text such as Rubin farber, if you want to understand the pasic pathophysiologic mechanisms. This is the book my students are required to read. Simply trying to scoot thru your course without reading this text is like trying to learn OMM without practicing the manipulative moves.
You can Use Star pathology or other review texts to study for your boards, but they won't help you UNDERSTAND the mechanisms.
 
Originally posted by DermpathDO
Let's see, as a pathology course director....my opinion is you better read Robbins or some other Basic Patholgoy text such as Rubin farber, if you want to understand the pasic pathophysiologic mechanisms. This is the book my students are required to read. Simply trying to scoot thru your course without reading this text is like trying to learn OMM without practicing the manipulative moves.
You can Use Star pathology or other review texts to study for your boards, but they won't help you UNDERSTAND the mechanisms.

Not to disrespect you, but I think many of us who go through pathology feel that we all learn different ways. I read four books: Goljan Pathology (400+ pages), Robbins review questions (Klatt, et al), Ganong's Pathophysiology of Disease (LANGE), and Pathophysiology for the Boards and Wards (supplemental for 'high-yield'). I dont feel this is 'scooting' through any course. I also dont feel like lugging either Rubin or Robbins around. Your assumption is also that one can 'get' all of the basic mechanisms in Pathology with just one year of lecture and reading Robbins. I disagree and think that the class should be geared toward a basic understanding of concepts that will be further explored in year 3 and a year long prep for the boards.
 
I use both Rubin's "Essential Pathology" and Kumar and Cotran's "Basic Pathology".
Rubin's is simple and easy, and defines the curriculum at our university. Some chapters are better than others though. It's a good text for medical students who's main interest isn't pathology, but simply want to pass examinations.
K&C on the other hand is more thorough in it's descriptions. The text is far better and concievable than Rubin's. It's a book one enjoys reading. It doesn't take much for granted, and explains pathology very well.
I use K&C as a reference book, and am very satisfied with it. It is one of the best texts I've ever come across. I highly recommend it! However, if the curriculum at your uni is lower than what is suggested by K&C, then read Rubin's (or any other pathology text) before and after K&C and you will understand pathology.

Best regards, Singh.
 
As I am sure the OP can see, there is a huge variation in how people study path and what resources they use. I think the bottom line is "don't skimp on path resources" because it is all over your boards. Personally, I use them all. Big Robbins, Robbins review, Goljan review, Webpath and for more pictures I use a pathhisto atlas. For my boards I will be using primarily Robbins review for questions and Goljan review. Looking back at my list I see that it is a bit excessive, but hey, it worked for me and that is all that should matter to the OP. Find out what resource/s works for you and stick with it.
 
Originally posted by DrSmiles
Find out what resource/s works for you and stick with it.

Right on the money!

My path regimen in more detail:
Read over corresponding chapters in Robbins once, after lecture. As exams approach, read appropriate chapters in Goljan's Path Review and BRS Path, do all questions in those books plus the ones in Robbins Review. There are some good path websites out there too.

Our path class is strange. We had a lot of extra credit quizzes in lecture that could make up lost exam points, so almost everybody at this point should be getting 90s, if not 100.
 
Top