This study aimed to clarify whether positive temporal artery biopsies had a greater sample length than negative biopsies in temporal arteritis. It has been suggested that biopsy length should be at least 1 cm to improve diagnostic accuracy. A retrospective review of 149 patients who had 151 temporal artery biopsies was conducted. Twenty biopsies were positive (13.3%), 124 negative (82.1%) and seven samples were insufficient (4.6%). There was no clinically significant difference in the mean biopsy size between positive (0.7 cm) and negative samples (0.65 cm) (t-test: p = .43 NS). Ninety-four patients fulfilled all three ACR criteria prior to biopsy (62.3%) and four patients (2.6%) changed ACR score from 2 to 3 after biopsy. Treatment should not be delayed in anticipation of the biopsy or withheld in the case of a negative biopsy if the patient's symptoms improve.

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Surgical correction of genital prolapse under local analgesia in elderly or unlit women is described. One hundred patients undergoing such surgery between 1972 and 1984 were reviewed. Eighty-five per cent were more than 60 years of age. Over 50 per cent had Fothergill repairs. Ninety-six per cent were assessed as having a good result. The incidence of postoperative complications was 20 per cent and there was no mortality. From our experience the technique seems to be a safe and worthwhile procedure.

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