Plastic-Embedded, Surgically Resected Specimens for Teaching Surgery / 医学教育

I have used plastic-embedded, surgically resected specimens to teach surgery. These specimens were obtained from more than 100 cases of important surgical diseases, such as gastric cancer, goiter, and inflammatory diseases. They are more easily carried than are formalin-preserved specimens. After I teach my students each disease, I show the corresponding specimen, explain the pathologic changes, and discuss the surgical procedure with which they were obtained. I then let the students handle and examine the specimens. Observation of actual specimens will help students clearly understand diseases and give stronger impressions than can words, illustrations, or photographs.