Pathological anatomy in the teaching of rheumatology

Whereas rheumatology regroups nosological entities, its teaching must be partly based on a presentation of the corresponding anatomopathological aspects which in fact are various patchworks made up of elementary, generally nonspecific lesions of osteoarticular pathology. Such an approach will provide an objective guideline between the needs of the practitioner (who often thinks in terms of morphology through radiological images) and the plethora of modern basic data. Thus the methods can be adapted to the needs of various audiences (medical students, specialists in training, paramedical personnel) and to every material and financial possibilities. In all cases it must be integrated with clinical and radiological lectures, based on macroscopic and radiological correlations and complemented, as far as possible, with appropriate histological images.