Incidental thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: to find out the frequency of incidental thyroid carcinoma (ITC) in patients presumably operated for benign thyroid diseases.

Methods: a total of 187 patients undergoing surgery for benign thyroid diseases were included in the study. All the patients underwent fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).

Treatment of anal fissures using a combination of minoxidil and lignocaine: a randomized, double-blind trial.

Aim: Anal fissures are associated with hypertonia of the internal anal sphincter and pain. We evaluated the efficacy of local application of a combination of minoxidil and lignocaine in healing anal fissures.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 90 patients with anal fissure were recruited.

Risk factors predicting operative mortality in perforated peptic ulcer disease.

Following the introduction of H2-blockers and proton pump inhibitors, there has been a sharp decrease in elective peptic ulcer surgery. However, emergency operations for complications such as perforation are on the rise. This study was undertaken to review the factors which determine mortality following emergency surgery for peptic ulcer perforation.

Value of core needle biopsy in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumours.

We performed a prospective study to determine the accuracy of core needle biopsy in the diagnosis and grading of soft tissue tumours and to study the morbidity of core needle biopsy. Forty one cases of soft tissue tumours, 24 of them malignant and 17 benign, were biopsied with an 18G core needle. Core needle biopsy reports were compared with the final histopathological report after definitive procedure or incisional biopsy.

Recurrent gastric trichobezoar.

Trichobezoars are concretions of ingested hair that are found in the stomach. Recurrence of this condition has not been reported. We report an 18-year-old girl with recurrent trichobezoar; this emphasizes the need for counseling in these patients.