Aspects of Dermatopathology will be taught using the two illustrated resources. The book Requisites in Dermatopathology has excellent illustrations and a series of very good lectures. It costs about $125 AUS including the website access. It can be purchased from Amazon
The second resource is the Derm101 website. It has a remarkable selection of dermpath cases and books available online. You can access it here and pay for it monthly for about $12 AUS.
This course will be delivered through a series of podcasts which you purchase via Pay Pal but you initially need to organise access to these two resources.
Using this method you can pay only for the elements of this course that best suit your needs. eg If you are mainly in GP Skin Cancer work and require some directed instruction in tumour pathology then you would only select and pay for those podcasts relevant to Skin Cancer.
Following completion of the course you can opt to sit an online examination and if you pass be awarded a Certificate in Skin Cancer Histology or the Certificate in Dermatopathology from the Australian Institute of Dermatology. Details of these exams can be found here.
If you are working in the skin cancer field then you need to have some idea of the histology of the lesions you are biopsying. You need to know the terms used in dermatopathology reports to assess their significance. It is not enough to look at the diagnosis at the end. BCCs are managed on the nature of their histological pattern. There is a big difference in management options between a superficial multifocal BCC and an infiltrating or morphoeic BCC. Similarly with SCC and whether they are well differentiated, moderately differentiated or poorly differentiated.
Melanocytic lesions present other difficulties because of the way lesions are sampled for examination and the problems the pathologist has in differentiating between dysplastic nevi and early melanoma.
You also have to understand the indications for and the limitatations of different types of biopsy of pigmented lesions eg punch, shave, incisional and excisional biopsies.
The resources on which this course is based go only so far. You will benefit from being led through these resources by an expert trained in both dermatology and dermatopathology, pointing out what is important and why and at the same time directing you through the pitfalls, using podcasts and videoconferences.
This method is the most economical I could come up with to deliver this educational experience. Should you wish to take an online examination at the end of the course then the Australian Institute of Dermatology will organise this and will issue you with a Certificate should you reach the required standard.
Beginning the Course You can start this course whenever you want. The first step is to purchase the resource material above and then look at the posts starting with number 1 and working methodically through. The Skin Cancer Pathology course is numbers 1-8 and the full dermatopathology course includes the rest of the posts. I hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions email me at imccoll@ozemail.com.au
Best wishes
Dr Ian McColl FACD
Dermatologist.
Beginning the Course You can start this course whenever you want. The first step is to purchase the resource material above and then look at the posts starting with number 1 and working methodically through. The Skin Cancer Pathology course is numbers 1-8 and the full dermatopathology course includes the rest of the posts. I hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions email me at imccoll@ozemail.com.au
Best wishes
Dr Ian McColl FACD
Dermatologist.
