CODE | MDS3009 | ||||||||
TITLE | Pathology | ||||||||
UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||
DEPARTMENT | Faculty of Medicine and Surgery | ||||||||
DESCRIPTION | The description was updated as follows: (I have the track changes version if required). This study-unit provides a solid grounding in systemic pathology building on the previously acquired knowledge in general pathology. Systemic pathology lectures delivered simultaneously throughout the year in the integrated multidisciplinary study units dealing with organ systems and MDS3009 amplifies and supplements these with more detailed practical information in small group/individual teaching. In addition there are lectures to cover haematological diseases from both a clinical and pathological aspect. The basis of this study-unit is in anatomical pathology but incorporates aspects of the disciplines of chemical pathology, microbiology, haematology, genetics and immunology. There is emphasis on aetiology, pathogenesis, morphology relevant to clinical diagnosis, laboratory diagnostic tests, including laboratory problems, disease complications and prognosis. Management is important in the disciplines of chemical pathology, haematology and microbiology. Molecular biology and genetics are incorporated horizontally in all teaching sessions. Small group teaching sessions provide the opportunity for the students to discuss topics raised in the lectures and also those not covered in the integrated pathology lectures as well as providing training in the application of pathology to patient management. In addition the students have the opportunity to get a ‘taste’ of the different Pathology subspecialties through a compulsory 2 week lab and clinical placement. Here the students rotate through 4 different pathology specialties (from Clinical Haematology including Blood Transfusion Medicine, Biochemistry, Histopathology, Microbiology and Genetics) to gain exposure to different labs and clinics where different conditions are diagnosed and treated. They also have the opportunity to witness postmortems performed by expert pathologists. Training provided is aimed at the recognition and interpretation of pathological changes in different body tissues. There is a special emphasis on clinical interpretation of the different tests and also clinical management. The laboratory / clinical attachments provide one-to-one approach so that the student can ask and discuss topics with the relevant specialist apart from providing a first hand experience of these laboratory based specialties. The examination consists of 2 papers. These are compensatory. Paper 1 consists of short answer questions that relate to knowledge of whole breadth of Pathology. Questions relate to data interpretation, identification of specific pathologies from a combination of clinical and pathological information, explanation of common pathologies etc. This paper tests the capacity of students to integrate multimodal information to come up with a diagnosis and basic management. Paper 2 is a multiple choice paper that tests the factual knowledge of students in Pathology. Finally, the Pathology Department through the UOM Senate appoints a Visiting External Examiner in order to audit the exam papers and to recommend improvements. This examiner also forms part of the board for the Viva session offered for the award of the Pathology Prizes. Study-unit Aims: To provide: - The core knowledge of the pathology of disease processes in organ systems and haematology; - The core knowledge of the role of pathology disciplines in the diagnosis and management of patients; - Training in how to diagnose and manage common haematological conditions; - Training in how to interpret laboratory results; - Training in how to apply pathology knowledge to clinical practice. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the aetiology, pathogenesis and morphology (when clinically relevant) of haematological and organ system diseases; - Discuss the relevance of risk factors for haematological and organ system diseases; - Describe the clinical features of haematological diseases; - Outline the clinical consequences of haematological and organ system diseases; - Explain the development of complications of organ system diseases and haematological diseases; - Describe the types of laboratory tests available for clinical diagnostic purposes; - Set out the underlying principles as to how such laboratory tests work; - Explain why problems arise in the collection of specimen material for clinical diagnosis; - State the problems encountered in laboratory processing that may affect test results; and - Interpret basic laboratory tests from the different pathology disciplines. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Interpret common symptoms and signs in terms of possible underlying pathology in the haematopioetic system and in the organ systems studied and outline a differential diagnosis; - Identify risk factors for disease; - Identify pathological prognostic features in malignancy; - Recognise different classes of disease on selected gross and microscopic specimens; - Correlate the use of simple diagnostic laboratory tests with clinical and morphological features of disease; - Choose the appropriate laboratory tests to confirm diagnosis; - Interpret a simple laboratory report; - Identify the appropriate methods of disease prevention; - Choose the appropriate management for haematological diseases; - Choose the best antibiotic therapy for microbiological infections; - Present a postmortem case with appropriate clinico-pathological correlation. Main Texts: Systematic Pathology (and Haematology) - Herrington, C.S. (ed.) (2020), ‘Muir’s textbook of pathology’ - Hoffbrand, A.V. and Steensma, D.P. (2020), ‘Hoffbrand’s essential haematology’. Microbiology - Elliott, T. et al. (2011), ‘Medical Microbiology and infection: Lecture notes’ - Humphreys, H. and Irving, W.L. (2004), ‘Problem-oriented clinical microbiology and Infection’ - ‘Basic Concepts of Infection Control’ IFIC. Available at: http://www.theific.org/ Alternative texts: - Cross, S.S. (2019), ‘Underwood’s pathology: A clinical approach’ - Kumar, V. et al. (2018), ‘Robbins basic pathology’ - Ward, K.N. et al. (2014), ‘Notes on medical microbiology: Including virology, mycology and parasitology’ Supplementary Readings: - Roberts, F. and MacDuff, E. (2018), ‘Pathology illustrated e-book’ - Klatt, E.C. and Kumar, V. (2022), ‘Robbins and COTRAN Review of Pathology’ - Kumar, V. et al. (2021), ‘Robbins & COTRAN pathologic basis of disease’ - Greenwood, D. et al. (2018), ‘Medical microbiology: A guide to microbial infections: Pathogenesis, immunity, laboratory diagnosis and Control’ Online resources: - http://emedicine.medscape.com/ - http://www.medicalstudent.com/ - http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/webpath.html |
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STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study & Placement | ||||||||
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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LECTURER/S | Christopher Barbara Michael Angelo Borg Gerald C. Buhagiar David P. Busuttil David James Camilleri Alexander Gatt Stefan Laspina Claire Marantidis Cordina David Pisani Ian Said Huntingford Peter Zarb |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |