Intra-abdominal pathology in the dissecting room: a study of incidence and its value in teaching

Having systematically studied the abdominal cavities of all cadavers dissected by the first year of medical students at our institution, this paper presents the results. Thirty six cadavers were dissected, and the students took an active role in the data collection of visceral pathology and anatomical variations encountered. It was shown how, in the vast majority of cadavers (89%), intra-abdominal pathology was seen by the medical students. The most common were gallstones (28%), hepatic metastases (25%), colonic diverticula (25%) and adhesions (25%). Two particularly interesting cases are presented in detail, along with photographs and histological slides. It is also noted that this pathology can be used to educate the students about common disease states that they will encounter in clinical practice.