Cranial computed tomography utilization in head trauma in a Southern Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is the imaging modality of choice in evaluating patients with acute head trauma. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess CT utilization in head trauma in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) with reference to sociodemographic characteristics and cause of injury. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of patients who had CT scanning done for head trauma in the UBTH, from 2011 to 2013 was undertaken. Medical Records of patients with special emphasis on the patient′s demographic characteristics and detailed information about the cause of injury of the patients were obtained from the accident and emergency department of the hospital. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results: A total of 1387 patients with male: female ratio of 3.7:1 were studied. The mean age of the patients was 33.2 ± 18.8 years. Road traffic accidents (RTA) were the predominant cause of injury among the patients accounting for 62.6% of the cases. Gunshot injury (GSI) and patients struck by objects accounted for only 2.7% and 1.3% of the cases, respectively. The Glasgow coma score (GCS) of the patients revealed that 42.0%, 26.1%, and 31.9% of patients had severe head injury, moderate injury, and mild injury, respectively. Conclusion: Road traffic accidents involving young adult males constituted the predominant cause of injury in patients that had brain CT in UBTH. There is an urgent need for improvement in the condition of roads and enforcement of the use of protective devices by road users to curb the epidemic of head injury resulting from RTAs

Computed tomographic evaluation of proptosis in a Southern Nigerian tertiary hospital

Objective: To describe the pattern of computed tomographic findings in patients presenting with proptosis at our institution. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with proptosis who were referred to the Radiology Department for cranial Computed Tomography (CT) scan at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria from January 2010 to September 2013 was undertaken. SPSS version 16 software was used for data analysis. Results: The request forms, CT images and reports of 33 patients which comprised 15 males and 18 females were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 28.83 ± 17.43 years (age range 2 to 63 years). The disease presentation was unilateral in 29 patients and bilateral in 4 patients. Computed Tomographic diagnosis of tumor in 27 patients was the commonest finding. Conclusion: Computed tomography is a valuable tool in the management of patients with proptosis providing useful information regarding possible etiology and extent of causative lesion

Delayed diagnosis of an aspirated tooth in an adolescent

A case of a 13 year old unconscious girl who aspirated her molar tooth when she sustained a fall is presented. Chest radiograph demonstrated the aspirated tooth in the left main bronchus but it was unidentified by the attending pediatricians because the radiograph was not reported. The value of radiology in the diagnosis and management of such a case, the complications of this life threatening condition and the role of the pathologist is discussed