Trucut needle biopsy - accuracy and sensitivity in diagnosis of breast cancer: a study at Ganga Ram Hospital

In this study 410 patients with palpable breast masses clinically suspected of being carcinoma breast presenting to the breast cancer OPD at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore, were selected and subjected to Trucut needle biopsy from September 2002 to September 2003. Malignancy was confirmed in 360 patients by Trucut needle biopsy. Complications were rare, however slight bruising was seen in only 2% of cases. Intraductal carcinoma was seen in 72.70% patients. Only 4 false negative results but no false positive observed. Accuracy rate was 92.55%. Sensitivity was 94.4%

Better facilities of resuscitation and transportation make the major difference: Lessons learnt from 98 abdominal stabbings

A retrospective study was carried out on 98 consecutive stab wounds of abdomen who needed laparotomy in Mayo Hospital, Lahore, over a period of four years between 1982 and 1985. The criteria used for laparotomy were [a] Obvious signs of peritonitis [b] Evisceration through stab wound [c] Any suspicion on exploration of the wound that the peritonium had been penetrated. The youngest patient was 11 and the oldest was 65 years old. The mean age was 26.8 years. Duration between injury and hospitalization was 3.6 hours and the time that elapsed between hospitalization and operation was 3.2 hours on average. 13.26% laparotomies proved to be negative. The commonest organ injured was the small intenstine [26.3%]. The mortality was 6.1% and the morbidity 28.6%. The commonest factors responsible for death were infection and irreversible shock. We feel that improved techniques of resuscitation as well as quicker transportation to the hospital may change the mortality for the better. The authors, also conclude that every stab wound that is suspected of having penetrated the peritonium must be considered for exploration