Pattern of Breast Diseases in Accra: Review of Mammography Reports

Objectives: To document the mammographic patterns in females seeking medical attention in Accra.Design: An analytic retrospective study was conducted using data extracted from mammography request forms and corresponding radiological reports of 180 females. Setting: The radiology departments of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Trust Hospital and Medical Imaging Ghana, all located in Accra.Results: One hundred and eighty radiologic request forms for mammographic evaluations and their corresponding reports from the study period were reviewed. The mean age of the study population was 48.7 years (SD=10.0), and the median age group was the 41–50 group. There were more screening mammography evaluations (115 examinations) than diagnostic mammography evaluations (65 examinations). Most of the cases diagnosed as breast cancer were in the age group 41–50 years. Benign lesions were commoner than cancer (55 and 16 cases respectively). The commonest presenting complaint was of pain.Conclusion: The larger number of screening mammographic evaluations conducted for asymptomatic females during the study period, as compared to diagnostic mammographic evaluations for symptomatic females, suggests that educational programs on early breast cancer detection are having a positive impact on the target population. The observation that 22.8% of lesions had features suggestive of breast cancer in the study is significantly high to also warrant intensification of the existing awareness programs. As non-specific masses were the most common radiographically observed lesions, hospitals equipped with sonography and biopsy facilities that compliment their mammography are better suited for thorough breast disease evaluation.Keywords: Mammography, sonography, screening study, diagnostic study, ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma

Maternal and Fetal Prognosis in Abruptio Placentae at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana

The study provided baseline data of abruptio placentae in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Ghana, and gave recommendations to minimize poor outcomes. A prospective cross sectional study was conducted at the Maternity Department of the KBTH between February 2008 and January 2010. Two hundred women with diagnosis of placental abruption were studied using a pretested standardized structured questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 was used to analyse the data. Fifteen thousand five hundred and ten (15,510) deliveries were recorded during the study period out of which 1.4% abruptio placentae cases were confirmed. The perinatal and maternal mortality rates were 65% and 2% respectively. The key risk factors identified were low socio-economic status, grandmultiparity and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Intrauterine foetal death, (IUFD) and maternal shock were significantly associated with coagulopathy (p= 0.001 and 0.004 respectively). Early diagnoses of placental abruption will significantly improve foetal and maternal survival.Keywords: abruptio placentae, foetal, maternal, mortalityL'étude a fourni des données de base de décollement prématuré du placenta au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Korle-Bu (CHUK) au Ghana, et a donné des recommandations pour minimiser les mauvais résultats. Une étude transversale prospective a été menée au Département de la maternité de CHUK entre le mois du février 2008 et janvier 2010. Deux cents femmes avec le diagnostic de décollement placentaire ont été étudiées en utilisant un questionnaire structuré pré-testé et normalisé. Le Paquet Statistique pour les sciences économiques (PSPSE) la version 17 a été utilisé pour analyser les données. Quinze mille cinq cent dix (15510) accouchements ont été enregistrés pendant la période d'étude dont 1,4% des cas de décollement placentaire ont été confirmés. Les taux de mortalité périnatale et maternelle étaient de 65% et 2% respectivement. Les principaux facteurs de risque identifiés sont le faible situation socio-économique, une grande multiparité et de l'hypertension pendant la grossesse. La mort intra-utérine du foetus, (MIUF) et le choc maternel étaient significativement associés à la coagulopathie (p = 0,001 et 0,004 respectivement). Les premiers diagnostics de décollement placentaire s’amélioreront de façon significative la survie foetale et maternelle. Mots clés: décollement prématuré du placenta, foetus, maternelle, mortalit