Search

Stroke represents the 2nd cause of mortality and 1st cause of physical disability in the adult population. In Senegal, it represents 30% of hospitalization and 2/3 of the mortality in the department of neurology in the capital city, Dakar. Objective: To specify the types of stroke and to evaluate diagnostic delays in Senegal’s regional hospitals. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, multicentric study for 4 years (from 2014 to 2017) including any patient presenting a clinical suspicion with a CT scan confirmation of stroke in one of the 9 regional hospitals in Senegal with a recruitment period of 6 months per hospital. CT scans were performed with a 16 slices machine in 6 hospitals, 4 slices in 2 hospitals and 2 slices in 1 hospital. We studied the types and location of strokes, the associated signs and the time from stroke onset to admission and the time from admission to CT scan. Results: 655 patients were retained including 322 men and 333 women for an M/F ratio of 0.96. The average age was 63 years (range: 7 years, 112 years). High blood pressure was noted in 59.2% of patients and diabetes in 10.7% of patients. Strokes were ischemic in 76% of cases involving the middle cerebral artery in 73% of cases and hemorrhagic in 24%, of which 80.7% were deep localized. A mass effect was noted in 7.5% of cases, an engagement in 6.9% of cases and ventricular hemorrhage in 2.7% of cases. The delay between the onset of the deficit and admission was less than 6 hours in 10.6% of patients. The time between the onset of stroke and admission to hospital was specified in 416 patients (63.5%) of the study population, it was less than 6 hours in 10.6% of patients, between 6 hours and 24 hours for 29.3% and more than 24 hours for 60.1%. Between admission and the CT scan, the time was precise in 459 patients (70%), it was less than 6 hours in 37.9%, between 6 hours and 24 hours in 43.6 % and more than 24 hours in 18.5%. Conclusion: CT is central to the diagnosis of stroke in rural areas. However, there is a significant delay in diagnosis and management.

Background: Tolosa Hunt Syndrome is an inflammatory condition of unknown etiology of the cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure. Because of the difficulty in establishing histological evidence, his diagnosis is based on a set of arguments established by the International Headache Society. MRI allows indirect visualization of the granuloma and plays a key role in diagnosis and follow-up. Aim: To illustrate High-field MRI contribution in Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome (THS). Cases Presentation: Two patients, a 25-year-old female and a 40-year-old male were recruited in this retrospective case report study at the Radiology service of Fann University Hospital (Dakar Senegal). The first patient has been suffering from a right retro-orbital pain and diplopia for 2 months and the second from a painful oculomotor nerve palsy for 3 months. Blood tests, lumbar puncture, thyroid hormone levels and an infectious screen were done. Screening for converting enzymes, and serum antibodies were also done. They underwent a high field MRI (Siemens 1.5T) with T1, T2, FLAIR, T2*, diffusion B1000, TOF polygon, CISS 3D and T1 gadolinium sequences in the 3 planes space. No significant abnormality was detected in blood tests or CSF analysis. Screening for converting enzymes and serum antibodies screen were also negative. For each patient, MRI examinations showed a non tumoral thickening of the right cavernous sinus, suggesting a granulomatous involvement. Tolosa Hunt Syndrome was evoked firstly. They were put on corticotherapy at high doses with a spectacular regression of symptoms. The Criteria of the International Headache Society of THS were met in both patients. Conclusion: High-field MRI is a significant diagnostic tool in the assessment of painful ophthalmoplegia. It allows a direct visualization of the granuloma of the cavernous sinus and assesses its course throughout the disease.

Parathroid Carcinoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (PPH). His diagnosis is a real challenge. We report an observation and discuss the diagnostic guidelines before surgery.A 31-year-old Senegalese woman was admitted to our department for the exploration of diffuse bone pain and multiple pathological fractures. Physical examination revealed a right lateral mass of the neck. Serum calcium level was 142.2 mg / l and serum parathyroid hormone 42 N. Ultrasound and cervical tomodensitometry showed a parathyroid mass compressing the thyroid and trachea. The extension assessment revealed osteolytic lesions and T4-T5 epiduritis evoking metastases. Surgery and histology were performed. According to the histopathology and clinical context, the tumor was identified as a parathyroid carcinoma.The preoperative evaluation of a patient with severe hypercalcemia and high PTH levels should include the possible diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma, especially in symptomatic patients or in case of palpable neck mass.

La hernie inguinale de l’enfant est une pathologie fréquente. L’étranglement herniaire est la principale complication de cette pathologie et constitue une véritable urgence diagnostique et thérapeutique. L’imagerie en particulier l’échographie joue un rôle primordial en cas de doute diagnostic surtout lorsque la hernie survient dans un contexte de testicule oscillant car le tableau peut mimer une torsion du cordon spermatique. La réalisation d’une échographie doit être de mise devant un tableau de hernie étranglée dans un contexte de testicule oscillant pour éliminer une ischémie testiculaire associée.

Nous rapportons le cas d'une patiente de 7 ans qui a consulté pour une douleur abdominale aigue paroxystique siégeant au niveau de l'épigastre associée à des vomissements sans arrêt des matières et des gaz. L'examen clinique ainsi que le bilan biologique étaient sans particularité. L'échographie abdominale demandée en première intention a montré une masse du flanc et de la fosse iliaque droite échogène, homogène à contours réguliers sans signal vasculaire au Doppler associée à un signe du tourbillon des vaisseaux mésentériques. A la tomodensitométrie cette masse correspondait à une formation lipomateuse, bien limitée, exerçant un effet de masse sur le cœcum avec volvulus du mésentère au contact. La disposition des vaisseaux mésentériques à leur origine était normale. Le diagnostic de volvulus du mésentère sur lipome a été retenu. La prise en charge chirurgicale et l'analyse anatomopathologique de la pièce opératoire a confirmé le diagnostic. Nous allons à travers ce cas clinique revoir l'apport de l'échographie et du scanner dans le diagnostic de volvulus du mésentère.The Pan African Medical Journal 2016;25