All Boards/FEBS-SO

FEBS-SO

FEBS Surgical Oncology

Exam Overview

FormatWritten MCQ examination + oral examination (two components)

DurationWritten: 3 hours; Oral: 30–45 minutes

FrequencyAnnual

Pass Rate~70%

Exam Fee€600–€800 EUR

Eligibility Requirements

Minimum 5 years postgraduate surgical training (equivalent to European standards)

At least 2 years in a recognized surgical oncology unit

Logbook demonstrating sufficient case volume in oncologic surgery

European surgical practice or equivalent recognized training

Membership or affiliation with a national surgical society within UEMS

Exam Syllabus & Content Areas

Colorectal Cancer Surgery20%

Breast Cancer Surgery & Oncoplastic Techniques20%

Upper GI & Gastric Cancer15%

Hepatopancreatobiliary Oncology15%

Melanoma & Soft Tissue Sarcoma15%

Endocrine Oncology10%

Peritoneal Surface Malignancy5%

Recommended Resources

ESMO Clinical Practice GuidelinesGuideline

NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in OncologyGuideline

Oxford Textbook of Oncology

Book

EJSO — European Journal of Surgical Oncology landmark papers

Guideline

Principles and Practice of Surgical Oncology (Pawlik & Sosa)

Book

BoardsQA Coverage

~440

questions available

Topics covered

ColorectalBreastUpper GIHPBMelanoma & SarcomaEndocrinePeritoneal

6-Month Preparation Timeline

Month 1

Colorectal cancer: TME, laparoscopic/robotic resection, neoadjuvant radiotherapy, ESMO guidelines

Month 2

Breast cancer: surgical options, SLNB, oncoplastic reconstruction, systemic therapy overview

Month 3

Upper GI oncology: gastric cancer staging (JGCA/AJCC), D1/D2 gastrectomy, FLOT protocol

Month 4

HPB: liver resection techniques, pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, cholangiocellular carcinoma

Month 5

Melanoma (SLNB, immunotherapy context), STS and retroperitoneal sarcoma, endocrine tumors

Month 6

Peritoneal malignancy, oral exam preparation, mock viva with structured feedback

Ready to prepare for FEBS-SO?

Practice with 440+ targeted questions covering the full syllabus.

Board information is updated regularly. Always verify with the official certifying body.