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MCh Superspecialty · Book Guide

Books for MCh Gynaecological Oncology.

The NMC curriculum list, reproduced exactly, plus the editions residents actually read in 2026 — with journals, a year-wise reading plan, and the references you will need for your thesis and exit practical.

6Titles on the NMC list
9Current-edition picks
1Journals listed
3 yearsReading plan included
Official list

Books the NMC curriculum lists for MCh Gynaecological Oncology

These 6 titles are reproduced as they appear in the National Medical Commission curriculum document for Gynaecological Oncology — spelling and abbreviations included. Treat it as the scope anchor, not as a shopping list.

  1. Clinical Gynaecological Oncology by Berek et al
  2. Gynaecological Oncology by Hacker et al
  3. Clinical Gynaecological Oncology by Disia et al
  4. Cancer
  5. Telinde's Textbook of Operative Gynaecology
  6. Novak Textbook of Gynaecology
Read this before you buy. Curriculum documents are revised infrequently, so several entries name editions that are now years out of date and a few titles are out of print. Use the list to understand what you are expected to have covered, then buy the current edition from the next section.

Source: National Medical Commission curriculum document for Gynaecological Oncology

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. Berek and Hacker's Gynecologic OncologyJonathan S. Berek, Neville F. Hacker · 7th edition · core referenceCorresponds to the first two NMC entries and is the standard text.
  2. DiSaia and Creasman Clinical Gynecologic OncologyWilliam T. Creasman, Robert S. Mannel, Mary C. McMeekin, David G. Mutch · 10th edition · core referenceThe 'Disia' entry on the NMC list; excellent for management algorithms.
  3. Principles and Practice of Gynecologic OncologyDennis S. Chi, Andrew Berchuck, Don S. Dizon, Catheryn M. Yashar · 7th edition · comprehensive referenceDeepest multimodality coverage including radiation and systemic therapy.
  4. Te Linde's Operative GynecologyVictoria L. Handa, Linda Van Le · 13th edition · operative referenceNMC-listed; the operative gynaecology standard.
  5. Berek and Novak's GynecologyJonathan S. Berek · 16th edition · general gynaecology baseThe 'Novak' entry on the NMC list; maintains the general gynaecology foundation.
  6. FIGO Cancer Report and current FIGO staging (2018/2021/2023 updates); NCCN GuidelinesFIGO / NCCN · staging and guidelinesCervical, endometrial and ovarian staging have all been revised recently and are heavily examined.
  7. Blaustein's Pathology of the Female Genital TractRobert J. Kurman, Lora Hedrick Ellenson, Brigitte M. Ronnett · 7th edition · pathology referenceFor slide and specimen spots and histological subtype discussion.
  8. Perez and Brady's Principles and Practice of Radiation OncologyEdward C. Halperin, David E. Wazer, Carlos A. Perez, Luther W. Brady · 7th edition · radiation oncology backgroundBrachytherapy and chemoradiation questions require this depth.
  9. Bonney's Gynaecological SurgeryTito Lopes, Nick Spirtos, Raj Naik, John M. Monaghan · 12th edition · operative atlasClassic, concise surgical anatomy and technique for radical pelvic surgery.
Journals

Journals that matter in Gynaecological Oncology

Journal club and the recent-advances parts of the theory paper come from here. You do not need all of them — follow one Indian and two international titles properly.

3-5 international and two national journals (all indexed)
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 MCh Gynaecological Oncology residents.

Year 1

Build the base

Berek and Novak's Gynecology plus Te Linde for the operative base; Berek and Hacker read once end to end; FIGO staging memorised; register the thesis protocol.

Year 2

Go deep, collect thesis data

DiSaia and Creasman and Chi's Principles and Practice by disease site; Bonney's for radical surgical anatomy; Blaustein for pathology; brachytherapy exposure; thesis data collection.

Year 3

Revise, drill, submit

NCCN and ESGO guideline review, landmark trial reading (GOG-240, LACC, ICON/CHORUS, SOLO-1, KEYNOTE-826), a second Berek and Hacker pass, and intensive mock long/short cases with pathology, imaging and chemotherapy spots.

Thesis

References for your thesis

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

  • ICMR National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants (2017)
  • Indian Journal of Gynecologic Oncology and Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of India
  • Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) and International Journal of Gynecological Cancer (IGCS)
  • Journal of Clinical Oncology and The Lancet Oncology
  • Current FIGO staging, RECIST 1.1 and CTCAE v5.0 for endpoints
  • STROBE / CONSORT / PRISMA reporting statements (equator-network.org)
Practical & viva

What the practical actually tests

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

  • Two long cases requiring history, examination, interpretation, differential diagnosis, investigations, prognosis and management
  • Two to three short cases across the various sections of gynaecological oncology
  • Assessment of surgical procedures
  • Oral examination on surgical anatomy
  • Oral examination on instruments
  • Oral examination on radiology
  • Oral examination on surgical pathology
  • Chemotherapy drugs and spots; ward rounds
About the course

MCh Gynaecological Oncology in context

The NMC guideline sets summative assessment in three components. Theory has four papers: Paper I basic sciences, epidemiology and preventive oncology; Paper II surgical aspects in gynaecologic oncology; Paper III medical and radiation oncology related to gynaecologic oncology; Paper IV recent advances including clinical trials. The practical/clinical examination spans two days for fewer than five candidates and comprises two long cases, two to three short cases and assessment of surgical procedures. The oral examination covers surgical anatomy, instruments, radiology, surgical pathology, chemotherapy drugs/spots and ward rounds.

Frequently asked

MCh Gynaecological Oncology books — questions

Which books does the NMC curriculum list for MCh Gynaecological Oncology?

The National Medical Commission curriculum for Gynaecological Oncology lists 6 titles, beginning with Clinical Gynaecological Oncology by Berek et al. The full list is reproduced on this page exactly as it is published.

Which single book should I start with in MCh Gynaecological Oncology?

Berek and Hacker's Gynecologic Oncology by Jonathan S. Berek, Neville F. Hacker is the usual anchor. Corresponds to the first two NMC entries and is the standard text.

How is MCh Gynaecological Oncology different from the DNB or MD version?

MCh Gynaecological Oncology 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 MCh Gynaecological Oncology reading?

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

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