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DM Superspecialty · Book Guide

Books for DM Gastroenterology.

What DM Gastroenterology residents and departments actually read in 2026 — with journals, a year-wise reading plan, and the references you will need for your thesis and exit practical.

15Titles on the reference list
9Current-edition picks
3 yearsReading plan included

Sitting the DrNB instead? The same superspecialty is covered at DrNB Gastroenterology books.

Reference reading list

The national reference list for Gastroenterology

DM Gastroenterology and DrNB Gastroenterology cover the same superspecialty and the same exit-exam scope, so residents on both routes read the same texts. These 15 titles are the reading list the National Board of Examinations publishes for Gastroenterology, reproduced exactly — spelling and abbreviations included. Use it as your scope anchor, then buy the current edition of the titles you actually need from the next section.

  1. Sleisenger Z. Gastrointestinal & Liver Disease (2 Vol) - Saunders
  2. Sleisenger Z. Gastrointestinal & Liver Disease (2 Vol) - Saunders
  3. Yamada. Textbook of Gastroenterology (2 Vol)
  4. Walker. Paediatric Gastrointestinal Disease (2 Vol) - B.C. Docker
  5. A.K. Rustgi - Gastrointestinal Cancer. - Elsevier, Saunders
  6. Kelsen. Principles and practice of gastrointestinal oncology - LWW
  7. Castell D.O. The esophagus - LWW
  8. Schiff. Disease of Liver (2 Vol) - LWW
  9. Jaron Rodes. Textbook of Hepatology - Blackwell
  10. Sherlock S. Diseases of Liver & Biliary system - Blackwell
  11. umgart. Surgery of liver & biliary tract - Saunders
  12. Busutil R.W. Transplantation of Liver (2 Vol) - Elseiver Saunders
  13. Gore text book of Gastrointestinal Radiology.
  14. Bockus text book of Gastroenterology
  15. Esophagus: D Castell

Source: National Board of Examinations curriculum document for Gastroenterology

What residents actually use

Current editions, and what each one is for

The books most residents actually buy. These are the editions in circulation now, with a note on whether each is something you read through, keep as a reference, or open only for the viva.

  1. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver DiseaseFeldman, Friedman, Brandt (eds) · 11th edition · core referenceThe anchor text for DM Gastroenterology; the NMC DM Hepatology curriculum also lists it first.
  2. Yamada's Textbook of GastroenterologyPodolsky, Camilleri, Fitz, Kalloo, Shanahan, Wang (eds) · 7th edition · alternate core referenceStronger on physiology and motility; useful complement to Sleisenger.
  3. Sherlock's Diseases of the Liver and Biliary SystemDooley, Lok, Garcia-Tsao, Pinzani (eds) · 13th edition · hepatology coreCompact and examinable hepatology text used throughout Indian GI training.
  4. Schiff's Diseases of the LiverMaddrey, Schiff, Sorrell (eds) · 12th edition · hepatology referenceDepth reference for liver disease chapters and thesis background.
  5. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Practice / Practical Gastrointestinal EndoscopyCotton, Williams et al. · 7th edition · endoscopy manualThe standard hands-on endoscopy technique text for the procedural component.
  6. ERCPBaron, Kozarek, Carr-Locke (eds) · 3rd edition · therapeutic endoscopyReference for ERCP indications, technique and complications, which are staple viva topics.
  7. EndosonographyHawes, Fockens, Varadarajulu (eds) · 4th edition · EUS referenceStandard EUS text now that endoscopic ultrasound is routine in Indian DM units.
  8. Odze and Goldblum Surgical Pathology of the GI Tract, Liver, Biliary Tract and PancreasOdze, Goldblum (eds) · 4th edition · pathologyFor the histopathology slide station covering IBD, coeliac disease, liver biopsy and GI tumours.
  9. Indian Society of Gastroenterology / AGA / ACG / EASL–AASLD guidelines (current)Multiple societies · guideline setGuidelines on variceal bleeding, IBD, pancreatitis and viral hepatitis dominate the recent-advances paper.
Reading plan

What to read, and when

Three years of superspecialty training goes faster than it sounds, and most of it is spent on the floor. The order below is what works for most DM Gastroenterology residents.

Year 1

Build the base

Read Sleisenger and Fordtran systematically alongside ward and endoscopy postings, with Sherlock's for the liver rotation. Log diagnostic endoscopies, learn scope handling, and register the thesis.

Year 2

Go deep, collect thesis data

Add procedural depth — Cotton and Williams, Baron on ERCP, Hawes on EUS — read in parallel with therapeutic endoscopy exposure. Use Yamada for motility and physiology gaps; collect thesis data.

Year 3

Revise, drill, submit

Second pass of Sleisenger plus Sherlock's, systematic guideline reading (Baveno, EASL, AGA, ACG, ISG), weekly image and slide station practice, and long-case drills. Submit the thesis.

Thesis

References for your thesis

Protocol, methodology and reporting standards examiners expect you to have followed.

  • Indian Journal of Gastroenterology and the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology — Indian disease patterns
  • Gastroenterology, Gut, Hepatology, Journal of Hepatology, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy — primary literature
  • ICMR National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants (2017)
  • Baveno consensus on portal hypertension for standard endpoint definitions
  • STROBE / CONSORT reporting checklists
Practical & viva

What the practical actually tests

Cases, spotters and stations that come up again and again in the exit exam.

  • Long case: cirrhosis with portal hypertension, chronic liver disease, IBD or chronic pancreatitis
  • Short cases: hepatosplenomegaly, ascites, jaundice, abdominal lump, post-transplant patient
  • Endoscopy station: live upper GI endoscopy or colonoscopy with findings and therapeutic plan
  • Image viva: endoscopic stills and video, ERCP and MRCP films, CT/MRI abdomen, EUS images
  • Histopathology station: liver biopsy, gastric and colonic biopsies, coeliac and IBD slides
  • Manometry and pH-impedance tracings
  • Instrument viva: scopes, variceal bands, sclerotherapy needles, stents, dilators, ERCP accessories
About the course

DM Gastroenterology in context

DM Gastroenterology is a three-year course after MD/DNB in General Medicine or Paediatrics. The NMC exit examination format is four theory papers of 100 marks each with a clinical/practical and viva voce component, and a thesis must be accepted before the candidate appears. The practical is distinctive for its live endoscopy component and its endoscopic-image and histopathology stations.

Frequently asked

DM Gastroenterology books — questions

Which books should I read for DM Gastroenterology?

The titles on this page are the ones residents and departments actually use, each with the edition in circulation now. Start with the first one listed and add the references as your reading deepens.

Which single book should I start with in DM Gastroenterology?

Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease by Feldman, Friedman, Brandt (eds) is the usual anchor. The anchor text for DM Gastroenterology; the NMC DM Hepatology curriculum also lists it first.

How is DM Gastroenterology different from the DNB or MD version?

DM Gastroenterology is a superspecialty course taken after a broad-specialty MD, MS or DNB, so the reading is narrower and deeper. The broad-specialty texts are assumed knowledge by the time you start.

Do I need to buy every book listed?

No. Most residents own two or three and use the department or library copy for the rest. That is exactly why printing selected chapters from a PDF works out cheaper than buying volumes you will open twice.

Can you print these books for me?

We print from the PDF you send us. Send the file on WhatsApp with your page count and whether you want colour, black and white or mixed, and we print, bind and deliver anywhere in India. We do not supply copyrighted book files.

How much does printing cost?

Black and white is 50 paise a page, colour is Rs 1 a page, and binding is Rs 40 per bound volume. A 400-page mixed set with binding usually works out around Rs 300 plus delivery.

Printing your DM Gastroenterology reading?

Send the PDF on WhatsApp — colour Rs 1/page, B&W 50p/page, binding Rs 40. Printed, bound and delivered anywhere in India.

Other superspecialties

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