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It was so eye opening to be able to gross a specimen that we recently went over in our SPT and MOD classes. This is a specimen from a patient with Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease causes multiple cystic lesions on the capsular surface of the kidney as well as within the kidney parenchyma. It important to thoroughly examine each cystic space for any areas that could harbor renal cell carcinoma. I am so excited to be able to gross specimens of this complexity in my first year, and feel better prepared for my clinical clerkship next year.

A post shared by TulanePA (@tulanepathassist) on Oct 9, 2020 at 8:18am PDT

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We are finishing up the GU/male reproduction block in our mechanisms of disease and surgical pathology classes. In lab this week, we grossed orchiectomy specimens and model prostates. In this profession, it is important to be able to adapt our knowledge to the many anatomical variants that each specimen may present. We learn the standard procedures for grossing each specimen, but need to be able to adjust our techniques to specimens that stray from the "normal" presentations. Our instructor, Natalie, made clay model prostates that we used in lab to practice grossing prostate specimens. Though these were not real prostates, the models helped us understand the prostate margins and how to open the specimen.

A post shared by TulanePA (@tulanepathassist) on Oct 2, 2020 at 2:47pm PDT

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During the first year of our program we take mostly didactic courses, but we also have the opportunity to participate in clinical rotations in surgical and autopsy pathology! It is helpful and exciting to put our didactic knowledge into practice in the lab with faculty supervision. We start with low complexity specimens and work up towards more complex specimens as we gain more knowledge in class. We have been able to gross specimens such as placentas, limb amputations, appendectomies, cholecystectomies, etc, but recently have started to gross more complex specimens. One example is shown here - these are from a total hepatectomy specimen. During our second year we will complete a 12 month anatomic pathology clinical clerkship and continue to expand our knowledge and skills! ❓do you remember the surgical margins on a total hepatectomy specimen❓

A post shared by TulanePA (@tulanepathassist) on Oct 1, 2020 at 8:10pm PDT