The practice of cadaveric dissection has long been considered to be the principal method to instruct medical students in human anatomy. In the setting of the dissection room, medical students develop a sense of respect and of compassion, and are provided with the opportunity to explore the human body in detail and under the supervision of qualified anatomists. 1 They acquire knowledge of the fundamentals of normal human anatomy and also develop a basic appreciation of biological variations and pathological conditions. The Department of Anatomy at King's College London is one of the departments in the United Kingdom where teaching by dissection still exists. Currently cadaveric teaching, once considered pivotal in the training of the medical undergraduate, is facing a crisis with growing controversy concerning its continuing role in the teaching of gross anatomy. Some suggest that a combination of computer assisted learning, supplemented with surface anatomy and medical imaging can provide medical students with adequate knowledge of gross anatomy in the absence of cadaver-based education. 2 In the light of the changes currently proposed by some authorities, this study aims to illustrate that anatomical dissection not only plays a pivotal role in the instruction of normal gross human anatomy, but that it also provides students with a valuable introduction to commonly encountered surgical pathologies. 3 This will be illustrated in the context of pathology encountered in the dissection room with respect to the abdominal cavity, and specifically the gastrointestinal viscera.
A detailed understanding of the performance of all the imaging modalities available to the stone surgeon in 2013 is vital in order to offer well tolerated and effective imaging strategies for all stages of the patient journey. CT has developed a pre-eminent role in the diagnosis of urinary stone disease, it has also found favour as a valuable surgical planning tool and is being advocated in the surveillance protocols. However, we must keep in mind the risks of radiation exposure in a patient population characterized by youth and a susceptibility to repeated acute disease episodes.
Moses Maimonides was not only one of the most influential religious figures of the middle ages, but also a pioneer in a wide variety of medical practices. A brief history of his life, and what is known about his medical education, is given here. His paper on haemorrhoids is summarised, as well as a review of the current understanding of the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of this common condition. The comparison of Maimonides' writings to modern understanding of not only the prevention and treatment of haemorrhoids, but also his approach to the patient as a whole in terms of pre- and postoperative care, demonstrate how ahead of his time this great philosopher was.
Our small study suggests that laparoscopic nephrectomy in this age group is feasible, although the results are far from ideal. Cancer-specific survival rates are poor in this population, and therefore the risk to benefit ratio should be weighed up carefully prior to committing a patient in this age group to extirpative surgery.
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