Pathology Residency Curriculum: Time for a Change?

The current Anatomical and Clinical Pathology residency curriculum, as outlined by the American Board of Pathology (ABP), emphasizes resident exposure to a wide variety of subjects without in-depth training. This has led to a large number of residents pursuing fellowship training. With the demand for further sub-specialization, there is a necessity for the establishment of an updated curriculum that not only encompasses the basic knowledge of pathology but is also focused on training residents in their desired subspecialty.We herein propose a new comprehensive AP/CP residency syllabus. The new curriculum will be divided into two major categories: preliminary and subspecialty training. The curriculum will require residents to undergo basic pathology training within the first two preliminary years, followed by two subspecialty years. In their subspecialty years, each resident will be required to either pick two subjects as majors, each having a duration of one year, or one subject as a major and two subjects as minors, in which case the major will have a one-year duration and the minors will each be six months in length. The proposed curriculum meets the current guidelines of the ABP, reduces the burden of residents to complete multiple fellowships, and allows residents earlier entrance into the workforce.

A case of Brucella aortitis associated with development of thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortobronchial fistula.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this case report is to document the occurrence of granulomatous aortitis complicated by formation of a saccular aneurysm and aortobronchial fistula due to Brucella infection. METHODS: A 65-year-old man with a history of feral swine hunting presented with hemoptysis and was found to have a saccular thoracic aortic aneurysm and associated aortobronchial fistula. The aneurysm underwent operative repair with closure of the aortobronchial fistula. RESULTS: Histopathological examination of the aneurysm wall revealed evidence of granulomatous aortitis. Cultures of the blood and aortic wall tissue were positive for Brucella suis. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, Brucella infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of aortic aneurysm with granulomatous aortitis.