ABS General Surgery case studies
ABS General Surgery · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The General Surgery Certifying Examination (GSCE) is the second of the two examinations the American Board of Surgery requires for certification in general surgery; candidates must first pass the General Surgery Qualifying Examination (GSQE). The GSCE is for surgeons who have completed an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited general surgery residency and are within the seven academic years following training during which certification must be achieved. The ABS General Surgery case studies are 5 cases and about 3,140 words.
1Right Lower Quadrant Pain in a 68-Year-Old on Warfarin
A 68-year-old man presents with 30 hours of periumbilical pain that migrated to the right lower quadrant, now localized and constant. He has atrial fibrillation and takes warfarin; his last INR was 3.1.
588 words, about 3 min2A Growing Breast Mass in a 34-Year-Old
A 34-year-old woman notices a firm, 2.5 cm mass in the upper outer quadrant of her right breast that has enlarged over 6 weeks. No nipple discharge, no skin changes.
618 words, about 3 min3Postoperative Oliguria After Emergency Laparotomy
A 71-year-old man is 8 hours out from an emergency laparotomy and small bowel resection for adhesional obstruction with ischemic bowel. He has a history of heart failure with an ejection fraction of 35%.
612 words, about 3 min4A Pigmented Lesion on the Back of a 58-Year-Old
A 58-year-old man asks about a mole on his upper back that his wife says has changed over the past year. It is 9 mm, asymmetric, with irregular borders and two shades of brown; it does not itch or bleed.
649 words, about 3 min5A 24-Year-Old with a Neck Mass and Palpitations
A 24-year-old woman presents with a 6-month history of a painless, enlarging left-sided neck mass, palpitations, heat intolerance, 6 kg weight loss, and insomnia. She has no dysphagia or hoarseness.
673 words, about 3 min