The material in this text is compiled to help students in the study for board examinations. It is not intended as a textbook, nor is it felt to be a complete reference book. It is my hope that it will be used to jog one's memory of material previously learned and to point out important concepts that should be grasped. The author has made every effort to include the learning objectives as outlined by the Committee on Curriculum of the Association for Surgical Education in this text. The book is laid out with much the same table of contents as most textbooks in general surgery. It is organized primarily in an organ system fashion but every effort has been made to address common clinical problems and differential diag noses. It has been written in an outline form and the author would encourage students to highlight important areas, write in the margins, and expand on the concepts or key phrases listed in the book.