DrNB Surgical Oncology: Admissions, Medical Colleges, Eligibility Criteria, fee details

DrNB Surgical Oncology or Doctorate of National Board in Surgical Oncology also known as DrNB in Surgical Oncology is a super speciality level course for doctors in India that they do after completion of their postgraduate medical degree course. The duration of this super speciality course is 3 years, and it focuses on the study of diagnosis, and treatment involving surgical removal of all types of cancers.

The course is a full-time course pursued at various accredited institutes/hospitals across the country. Some of the top accredited institutes/hospitals offering this course include P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, and more.

Admission to this course is done through the NEET-SS Entrance exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations, followed by counselling based on the scores of the exam that is conducted by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities.

The fees for pursuing DrNB (Surgical Oncology) vary from accredited institutes/hospital to hospital and may range from Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 2,00,000 per year.

After completion of their respective course, doctors can either join the job market or can pursue certificate courses and Fellowship programs recognized by NMC and NBE. Candidates can take reputed jobs at positions as Senior residents, Consultants, etc. with an approximate salary range of Rs. 4,00,000 to Rs. 26,00,000 per annum.

DNB is equivalent to MD/MS/DM/MCh degrees awarded respectively in medical and surgical super specialities. The list of recognized qualifications awarded by the Board in various broad and super specialities as approved by the Government of India are included in the first schedule of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.

The Diplomate of National Board in broad-speciality qualifications and super speciality qualifications when granted in a medical institution with the attached hospital or in a hospital with the strength of five hundred or more beds, by the National Board of Examinations, shall be equivalent in all respects to the corresponding postgraduate qualification and the super-speciality qualification granted under the Act, but in all other cases, senior residency in a medical college for an additional period of one year shall be required for such qualification to be equivalent for teaching also.

What is DrNB in Surgical Oncology?

Doctorate of National Board in Surgical Oncology, also known as DrNB (Surgical Oncology) or DrNB in (Surgical Oncology)is a three-year super speciality program that candidates can pursue after completing a postgraduate degree.

Surgical Oncology is the branch of medical science dealing with the study of diagnosis, and treatment involving surgical removal of all types of cancers.

The National Board of Examinations (NBE) has released a curriculum for DrNB in Surgical Oncology.

The curriculum governs the education and training of DrNB in Surgical Oncology.

The postgraduate students must gain ample knowledge and experience in the diagnosis, and treatment of patients with acute, serious, and life-threatening medical and surgical diseases.

PG education intends to create specialists who can contribute to high-quality health care and advances in science through research and training.

The required training is done by a postgraduate specialist in the field of Surgical Oncology would help the specialist recognize the health needs of the community. The student should be competent to handle medical problems effectively and should be aware of the recent advances in their speciality.

The candidate is also expected to know the principles of research methodology and modes of the consulting library. The candidate should regularly attend conferences, workshops, and CMEs to upgrade her/ his knowledge.

Course Highlights

Here are some of the course highlights of DrNB in Surgical Oncology

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for DrNB in Surgical Oncology are defined as the set of rules or minimum prerequisites that aspirants must meet in order to be eligible for admission, which includes: 

The feeder qualification mentioned here as of 2022 is MS/DNB General Surgery. For any further changes to the prerequisite requirement please refer to the DNB website.

Note:

• The prior entry qualifications shall be strictly in accordance with Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, and its amendments notified by the NMC and any clarification issued from NMC in this regard.
• The candidate must have obtained permanent registration with any State Medical Council to be eligible for admission.
• The medical college's recognition cut-off dates for the Postgraduate Degree courses shall be as prescribed by the medical council of India (now NMC).

Admission Process

The admission process contains a few steps to be followed in order by the candidates for admission to DrNB in Surgical Oncology. Candidates can view the complete admission process for DrNB in Surgical Oncology mentioned below:

• The NEET-SS or National Eligibility Entrance Test for Super speciality courses is a national-level master's level examination conducted by the NBE for admission to /MCh/DrNB Courses.
• Qualifying Criteria-Candidates placed at the 50th percentile or above shall be declared as qualified in the NEET-SS in their respective speciality.
• The following Medical institutions are not covered under centralized admissions for DM/MCh courses through NEET-SS:

1. AIIMS, New Delhi, and other AIIMS

2. PGIMER, Chandigarh

3. JIPMER, Puducherry

4. NIMHANS, Bengaluru

• Candidates from all eligible feeder speciality subjects shall be required to appear in the question paper of the respective group if they are willing to opt for a super-speciality course in any of the super-speciality courses covered in that group.
• A candidate can opt for appearing in the question papers of as many groups for which his/her Postgraduate speciality qualification is an eligible feeder qualification.
• By appearing in the question paper of a group and on qualifying for the examination, a candidate shall be eligible to exercise his/her choices in the counselling only for those super speciality subjects covered in the said group for which his/ her broad speciality is an eligible feeder qualification.

Fees Structure

The fee structure for DrNB in Surgical Oncology varies from accredited institute/hospital to hospital. The fee is generally less for Government Institutes and more for private institutes. The average fee structure for DrNB in Surgical Oncology is around Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 2,00,000 per year.

Colleges offering DrNB in Surgical Oncology

There are various accredited institutes/hospitals across India that offer courses for pursuing DrNB in Surgical Oncology.

As per the National Board of Examinations website, the following accredited institutes/hospitals are offering DrNB (Surgical Oncology) courses for the academic year 2022-23.

Syllabus

A DrNB in Surgical Oncology is a three years specialization course that provides training in the stream of Surgical Oncology.

The course content for DrNB in Surgical Oncology is given in the NBE Curriculum released by the national board of Examinations, which can be assessed through the link mentioned below:

A trainee in Surgical Oncology has to become familiar with the basic principles of:

• Surgery

• Radiotherapy

• Chemotherapy

• Endocrine therapy

• Immunotherapy

• Evaluation of the choices of treatments

• Adverse effects of these treatments

• Interactions of these treatment modalities with those of surgery

i. Part I

Basic Sciences

Broad knowledge is needed to plan optimal treatment for an individual cancer patient throughout the disease course. The trainee in Surgical Oncology must therefore know the fundamental biology of cancer including etiology and epidemiology, the natural history of malignant diseases, cancer biology as well as tumor immunology.

a) Etiology and epidemiology of malignant diseases

• Genetic Predisposition to Cancer

• Chemical Carcinogenesis

• Hormones and the Etiology of Cancer

• Ionizing Radiation

• Ultraviolet Radiation Carcinogenesis

• Physical Carcinogens

• Trauma and Inflammation

• Tumor Viruses

• Herpes viruses

• Papillomaviruses and Cervical Neoplasia

• Hepatitis Viruses

• Parasites

• Environmental factors in carcinogenesis

b) Prognosis and natural history of malignant diseases

• Mechanisms and patterns in local, regional, and distant dissemination of malignant diseases

• Differences in natural history between hereditary and sporadic forms of cancer

• Diseases predisposing to malignancy e.g. Inflammatory bowel disease or primary sclerosing cholangitis

• Prognostic and predictive factors

• Genetics of hereditary malignant diseases

c) Cancer biology

• Cell kinetics, proliferation, apoptosis, and the balance between cell death and cell proliferation

• Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis

• Genome maintenance mechanisms to prevent cancer

• Intercellular and intermolecular adhesion mechanisms and signalling pathways

• Potential effects of surgery and surgery-related events on cancer biology (e.g. Angiogenesis)

d) Tumor immunology

• Cellular and humoral components of the immune system

• Regulatory mechanisms of the immune system

• Tumor antigenicity

• Immune-mediated antitumor cytotoxicity

• Effect of cytokines on the tumour

• Effects of the tumour on anti-tumour immune mechanisms

• Potential adverse effects of surgery and surgery-related events (like blood transfusions) on the immunological responses

e) Cancer Screening and Early Detection

• Cancer screening and early detection

f) Basic principles of cancer treatment

A trainee in Surgical Oncology has to become familiar with the basic principles of

• Surgery

• Radiotherapy

• Chemotherapy

• Endocrine therapy

• Immunotherapy

• Evaluation of the choices of treatments

• Adverse effects of these treatments

• Interactions of these treatment modalities with those of surgery

ii. Part II

a) Cancer Epidemiology

• Cancer Epidemiology

b) Cancer Prevention

• Prevention of tobacco-related cancers

• Nutrition in the aetiology and prevention of cancer

• Chemo-prevention of cancer

• Cytokinetics

• Drug resistance and its clinical circumvention

• Principles of dose, schedule, and combination

• Chemotherapy

• Regional Chemotherapy

• Animal models in developmental therapeutics

• In vitro and in vivo predictive tests

• Pharmacology

• Toxicology by organ system

c) Chemotherapeutic Agents

• Folate Antagonists

• Pyrimidine and Purine Antimetabolites

• Alkylating Agents and Platinum Antitumor Compounds

• Anthracyclines and DNA Intercalators

• Epipodophyllotoxins / DNA Topoisomerases

• Microtubule – targeting anticancer drugs derived from plants and microbes

• Vinca Alkaloids, Taxanes, Epothilones, Asparaginase

• Recent Advances/concepts

d) Principles of Endocrine Therapy

• Steroid Hormone Binding and Hormone Receptors

• Hypothalamic and Other Peptide Hormones

• Corticosteroids

• Estrogens and Anti-estrogens

• Clinical use of Aromatase Inhibitors in Breast Carcinoma

• Progestins

• Androgen Deprivation Strategies in the treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer

e) Principles of Cancer Pathology

• Principles of cancer pathology

f) Principles of Imaging

• Imaging neoplasms of the head and neck and central nervous system

• Imaging neoplasms of the thorax

• Imaging neoplasms of the abdomen and pelvis

• Cross-sectional imaging of musculoskeletal neoplasms

• Imaging the breast

• Ultrasound in cancer medicine

• Radionuclide imaging in cancer medicine

• Perspectives in imaging

• Interventional radiology for the cancer patient

g) Principles of Surgical Oncology

• Principles of Surgical Oncology

• Vascular access in cancer patients

h) Principles of Radiation Oncology

• Physical and biological basis of Radiation Oncology

• Principles of Hyperthermia

• Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer

i) Principles of Medical Oncology

• Principles of Medical Oncology

j) Principles of Biotherapeutics

• Immunostimulants

• Active specific immunotherapy with vaccines

• Interferons

• Cytokines: biology and applications in cancer medicine

• Hematopoietic Growth Factors.

• Monoclonal Serotherapy

• Cancer Gene Therapy

• Hepatitis Viruses

• Parasites

k) Neoplasms of the Thorax

• Cancer of the Lung

• Malignant Mesothelioma

• Thymomas and Thymic Tumors

l) Neoplasms of the Female Reproductive Organs

• Neoplasms of the vulva and vagina

• Neoplasms of the cervix

• Endometrial cancer

• Neoplasms of the fallopian tube

• Ovarian cancer

• Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

m) Neoplasms of the Breast

• Neoplasms of the breast

n) Neoplasms of the Skin

• Neoplasms of the skin

o) Malignant Melanoma

• Malignant melanoma

p) Neoplasms of the Bone and Soft Tissue

• Bone Tumors & Sarcoma of non- osseous tissues

q) Neoplasms of the Hematopoietic System

• Myelodysplastic Syndrome

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia in adults

• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

• Tumors of the heart and great vessels

• Primary germ cell tumors of the Thorax

• Metastatic tumors in the Thorax

• Hairy – Cell Leukemia

• Hodgkin's Disease

• Non – Hodgkin's Lymphomas

• Mycosis Fungoides and the Sezary Syndrome

• Plasma cell tumors

• Mast cell Leukemia and other mast cell neoplasms

• Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia

r) Neoplasms of the Alimentary Canal

• Neoplasms of the Esophagus

• Neoplasms of the Stomach

• Primary Neoplasms of the Liver

• Treatment of Liver Metastases

• The Gallbladder

• Diagnosis and Management of Biliary Tract Cancer

• Neoplasms of the Ampulla of Vater

• Neoplasms of the Exocrine Pancreas

• Neoplasms of the small intestine, vermiform appendix, and peritoneum,

colon and rectum & anal canal

s) Neoplasms of the Genitourinary Tract

• Renal Cell Carcinoma

• Neoplasms of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter

• Bladder Cancer

• Neoplasms of the Prostate

• Neoplasms of the Penis

• Neoplasms of the Testis

• Neoplasms in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

t) Neoplasms of Unknown Primary Site

• Neoplasms of unknown primary site

u) Neoplasms in Children

• Principles and practice of pediatric oncology

• Incidence, origins, epidemiology

• Principles of pediatric radiation oncology

• Late effects of treatment of cancer in children and adolescents

• Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

• Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia

• Hodgkin's disease in children and adolescents

• Non – Hodgkin's Lymphoma in children

• Langerhan's Cell Histiocytosis

• Hepatic tumours

• Renal tumours of childhood

• Germ cell tumours

• Neuroblastoma

• Soft tissue sarcoma of childhood

v) Complications of Cancer and its Treatment

• Management of cancer pain

• Anorexia and Cachexia

• Antiemetic Therapy

• Neurologic complications

• Dermatologic complications of cancer chemotherapy

• Skeletal complications

• Hematologic complications of cancer

• Blood bank support

• Coagulopathic complications of cancer

• Urologic complications

• Cardiac complications

• Respiratory complications

• Liver function and hepatotoxicity in cancer

• Gastrointestinal complications

• Oral complications

• Gonadal complications

• Endocrine complications

• Secondary cancers: incidence, risk factors, and management

w) Infections in Patients with Cancer

• Infections in patients with cancer

x) Oncologic Emergencies

• Oncologic Emergencies

y) Other areas in which knowledge is to be acquired:

• Biostatistics, Research Methodology and Clinical Epidemiology

• Ethics

• Medico-legal aspects relevant to the discipline

• Health Policy issues as may be applicable to the discipline

z) Rotation and Posting in Other Departments

aa) Optional Rotation

• Clinical rotation at an outside reputable national or international cancer institute as an Observer for 1 month

Career Options

After completing a DrNB in Surgical Oncology, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well as in the Private sector.

In the Government sector, candidates have various options to choose from which include Registrar, Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor, etc.

While in the Private sector the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant, Visiting Consultant (SurgicalOncology), Junior Consultant, Senior Consultant (Surgical Oncology), etc.

Courses After DrNB in Surgical Oncology Course

DrNB in Surgical Oncology is a specialization course that can be pursued after finishing a Postgraduate medical course. After pursuing a specialization in DrNB in SurgicalOncology, a candidate could also pursue certificate courses and Fellowship programs recognized by NMC and NBE, where DrNB in Surgical Oncology is a feeder qualification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – DrNB in Surgical Oncology Course

Question: What is the full form of DrNB?

Answer: The full form of DrNB is a Doctorate National Board.

Question: What is a DrNB in Surgical Oncology?

Answer: DrNB Surgical Oncology or Doctorate National Board in Surgical Oncology also known as DrNB in Surgical Oncology is a super specialty level course for doctors in India that they do after completion of their postgraduate medical degree course.

Question: What is the duration of a DrNB in Surgical Oncology?

Answer: DrNB in Surgical Oncology is a super specialty program of three years.

Question: What is the eligibility of a DrNB in Surgical Oncology?

Answer: Candidates must have a postgraduate medical Degree (MS/DNB) in General Surgery from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India (now NMC)/NBE. This feeder qualification is for the year 2022. For further updates, please refer to the NBE website. 

Question: What is the scope of a DrNB in Surgical Oncology?

Answer: DrNB in Surgical Oncology offers candidates various employment opportunities and career prospects.

Question: What is the average salary for a DrNB in Surgical Oncology candidate?

Answer: The DrNB in Surgical Oncology candidate's average salary is between Rs. 4,00,000 to Rs. 26,00,000 per annum depending on the experience.

Question: Can you teach after completing DrNB Course?

Answer: Yes, the candidate can teach in a medical college/hospital after completing the DrNB course.

Question: What is the difference between DrNB and DNB?

Answer: As of today, DrNB is a super-specialist qualification imparted by the NBE (SS level). Whereas DNB is a specialist qualification (PG level). Earlier DrNB used to be called DNB SS but now it is called DrNB.