Background & objectives: Inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH) is a common condition causing nasal obstruction. This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser and diode laser in the reduction of the turbinate size. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 209 patients with ITH. Pre-operative symptoms were assessed based on the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) score. Diagnostic nasal endoscopy was done to rule out other nasal sinuses. Nasal mucociliary clearance was measured by saccharin transit time (STT). Postoperatively, the NOSE score, STT and complications were assessed at days one and two, at one week, one month and three months. Results: Of the 209 patients analyzed at day one, the median NOSE score was 50 in the diode group and 40 in the KTP group, and at three months, 15 in the diode group and five in the KTP group. KTP laser showed a 93 per cent improvement in the NOSE score as compared to 77 per cent improvement shown by diode laser group. Among the intra-operative complications, of the 104 patients in the diode group, 6.73 per cent had burning sensation and 91.43 per cent had bleeding, and of 105 patients in the KTP group, 54.29 per cent had burning sensation and 36.54 per cent had bleeding. Among the post-operative complications in the KTP group, 32 and 34 per cent had bloody nasal discharge on days one and two, compared to 12 and 14 per cent in diode group. Crusting was present in 61 and 49 per cent on days one and two in KTP group as compared to 9 and 15 per cent in diode group, respectively. In the KTP group 30 per cent had synechiae as compared to 10 per cent in diode group. Interpretation & conclusions: KTP laser was more efficacious than diode laser in improving the NOSE scores but with slightly increased rate of complications in early post-operative period. Both the lasers impaired the mucociliary clearance mechanism of the nose till three months of post-operative follow up.

Cecal leiomyomas are rare benign tumors of smooth muscle arising from the colonic muscularis mucosa or muscularis propria. They are usually asymptomatic in nature and, if symptomatic, may present as pain in the abdomen, intestinal obstruction, or bleeding. In some cases, leiomyoma can cause free perforation leading to peritonitis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and colonoscopy were the diagnostic modalities used for evaluation. It is extremely unusual for a benign lesion of the cecum to present as a ruptured subcutaneous abscess. A 40-year-old man presented to the surgical emergency with complaints of right loin swelling and dull aching pain for one week. The patient did not have any significant medical history. Examination revealed a 5×5 cm swelling in the right anterior lumbar region. Blood investigations revealed anemia with leukocytosis. An abdominal CECT revealed a 9×6 cm heterogeneous enhancing mass lesion arising from the cecum with hypodense areas abutting the anterior abdominal wall and tracking into the intermuscular plane. The patient underwent surgical exploration, and a 9×6 cm growth arising from the cecum with a localized abscess tracking into the intermuscular plane in the right anterior abdominal wall and forming a subcutaneous abscess was intraoperatively found. A right hemicolectomy with ileocolic anastomosis was done, with external drainage of the subcutaneous abscess. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed a leiomyoma of the cecum with abscess. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of cecal leiomyoma to rupture into the subcutaneous space and present as a flank abscess.

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Thyroglossal cysts are the most common thyroid anomaly with a majority of it being diagnosed at fourth decade of life. Authors report a case of 32-year-old lady with a globular swelling of 3×2 cm moving with deglutition with no cervical lymph nodes and a normal thyroid function test. Intra operatively a distinct lesion of 3×2 cm was found superior to the thyroid gland with firm nodules in the right lobe of the thyroid. Patient underwent total thyroidectomy with central compartment neck dissection and Sistrunk’s operation followed by a negative radio iodine scan and thyroid hormone suppression. This was considered based on intraoperative nodularity of the thyroid gland.

Cryptococcosis is a disseminated fungal infection commonly affecting the lungs and the central nervous system in immunocompromised patients. Herein we report a rare case of isolated mastoid osteomyelitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans which was initially not recognized due to its uncommon presentation akin to a Betzold’s abscess. A 61-year-old male presented with complaints of left ear discharge for a 1-month duration associated with a swelling in the left side of the neck for which he underwent incision and drainage without any significant improvement. a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan revealed extensive erosion of the left mastoid cavity with a collection. Intraoperatively, red friable granulation tissue was seen within the antrum, histopathology of which revealed capsulated yeast forms. The patient underwent left canal wall down mastoidectomy along with antifungal treatment. Bone involvement is rare in patients with cryptococcal infection with vertebrae being the most common site of cryptococcal osteomyelitis. The clinical presentation is nonspecific and can pose a diagnostic dilemma, as the condition can mimic both Betzold’s abscess as well as malignancy. CT findings and the use of specific fungal stains in histopathology will aid in diagnosing this condition. The purpose of this case report is to establish the first case of isolated cryptococcal mastoid osteomyelitis in the database of fungal osteomyelitis. The confirmation of fungal osteomyelitis should be based on histopathological examination. The possibility of fungal osteomyelitis should be borne in mind in any case of insidiously increasing mass with unclear etiology so that prompt antifungal therapy with surgical debridement is initiated.