Pathology and the Internet

Abstract

Given the vast amount of surgical pathology content, pathologists rely on well-organized and user-friendly indices to quickly find information about a specific disease or pathology topic. Though textbooks are the most common reference, the Internet, with its advanced searching capabilities, provides a useful and powerful alternative. PathologyOutlines.com is one of the best examples of a web pathology index, providing a growing electronic textbook of pathology replete with text and images. The main page of Pathology Outlines provides a list of available outlines or chapters. The topic content is predominately subdivided by anatomic site, but also includes more specialized categories such as indices of CD markers, special stains, and molecular markers. Within each anatomic site chapter is a hyperlink-rich page featuring both normal histology and histopathology links. Users may select from normal, benign non-neoplastic, pre-malignant/pre-invasive, cytology, carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, or miscellaneous subcategories. At every level of the outline, useful references addressing the chosen topic are provided with links to an associated textbook publisher or PubMed abstract. Each specific entity is given a general text description, including a microscopic description with links to example images. The images are in jpeg format, either scanned or directly linked from pertinent literature on the topic. Many of the disease descriptions include a differential diagnosis listing and links to the recommended PubMedTM abstracts. Occasional topics include a discussion of the cytology and recommended therapies. Navigation throughout the outlines is both simple and intuitive. From a left-hand vertical menu, users may navigate to other portions of the site that include listings of conferences, fellowships, and jobs. These listings are some of the most active and updated listings on the Internet. The news button provides a text update of the most recently added content to the site. At the bottom of the main page there is a list of future topics to be covered, along with their tentative release dates. Graphic advertisements are accepted for the main page, but annoying pop-up ads are noticeably absent. No registration or username/password combinations are necessary to access the content. Though one is likely to find a more lengthy discussion of various diseases in textbooks, the Pathology Outlines web site is a great starting point to find references or get a brief summary on a wealth of pathology topics. Using the provided keyword search engine, finding a particular topic is fast and efficient. Furthermore, Dr. Pernick and his support staff are able to maintain a highly organized and updated site. For these reasons, the updated conference and job listings alone are worth a visit. In addition, users will find the immunohistochemistry, molecular marker, and special stain listings well worth an electronic bookmark. From the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Gynecologic and Breast Pathology Department, Washington, DC. www.digitalpathology.com Pathology outlines web site: http://www.PathologyOutlines.com TM PubMed is a Trademark of The National Library of Medicine (web site: www.pubmed.gov) Copyright © 2003 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins