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Five children with an inflammatory monarthritis due to penetration of the joint by plant thorns are presented. The clinical presentation was that of a transient acute synovitis followed by a relatively asymptomatic period, and later by chronic arthritis often after the thorn injury was forgotten. Histopathology demonstrated a granulomatous synovitis. Polarized light microscopy facilitated identification of the plant tissue within the synovium. Conservative medical therapy was ineffective, but surgical excision of the affected synovium resulted in normal joint function. The differential diagnosis of monarthritis in children is extensive, and awareness of this From the

This is a retrospective and all inclusive study of 925 patients who had isolated lymph node biopsies for diagnosis from 1973 to 1977. Overall, 60% of the nodes had benign lesions, 28% carcinoma, and 12% lymphoma. The comparable figures for abdominal nodal biopsies were 63%, 33% and 4%; for intrathoracic nodes, 73%, 26% and 1%; for peripheral nodes, 56%, 29% and 15%. Detailed distribution according to specific site of nodal biopsy, histological subtypes, age, and sex of patients are presented. Statistically, age is the most important factor useful in estimating the probability of whether the lymphadenopathy is due to a benign or malignant process.