Search

BACKGROUND: Typhlitis, (neutropenic enterocolitis), is a necrotizing enteropathy of the right colon, and is characterized by the clinical triad of fever, abdominal pain, neutropenia and imaging findings of right-side colonic inflammation. It is seen in the setting of severe neutropenia in immune suppressed patients who undergo treatment for malignancies, in those who have organ transplant(s) or congenital or other acquired immunosuppression. We report the clinical and imaging findings of typhlitis in pediatric cancer patients who had received chemotherapy in the largest tertiary center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia over a period of 20 months. METHODS: The medical records of hospitalized cancer patients on treatment and with suspected typhlitis and with ultrasound reports were screened (November 2018-July 2020). Retrospective analysis of the clinical and sonographic data of those with typhlitis was done. RESULTS: Typhlitis was identified in 4.2% (12/286) of the patients on chemotherapy. 11 (91.7%) had hematologic malignancies (leukemia, lymphoma), one had a solid tumor (Head and neck embryonal RMS). Most (83.3%) had abdominal pain, diarrhea and neutropenia. Fever was identified in 67.7%. All had ultrasound evidence of typhlitis. and treated with IV antibiotics. Neither complications requiring surgical intervention nor death were seen. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of disease was comparable to what had previously been reported in other studies. While the presence of clinical a triad should prompt suspicion for the diagnosis, sonography can be used for confirmation and follow up obviating radiation, with good access in a resource limited setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite advances in non-invasive radiological techniques for the treatment of intussusception, management of the entity still remains exclusively surgical in many developing countries, including Ethiopia. Fluoroscopic units are rare or mostly dysfunctional. Ultrasound scanners are more commonly available. Ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction (USGHR) was recently introduced to the main referral hospital in Ethiopia, and subsequently has been adopted as the initial management option for intussusception.Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience with USGHR in Ethiopia and measure the impact on patient care.Methods: A prospective study was conducted between July 2014 and August 2015 on all pediatric patients, with US-confirmed intussusception, at the Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. All patients, excluding those with signs of peritonitis, bowel ischemia, or symptoms lasting longer than 4 days, were selected to undergo USGHR.Results: A total of 53 children were diagnosed with intussusception, confirmed via ultrasound. Following exclusion criteria, USGHR was attempted in 47 of the patients. Forty-one of the 47 patients (87.2%) had successful reduction, resulting in a 77% overall rate of successful non-operative management in all patients with intussusception.Conclusion: The rate of operative reduction of intussusception decreased by 77% following the introduction of USGHR as the initial non-surgical intervention. Therefore, we believe USGHR should be fully implemented in our hospital, and recommend that this study serves as an example to other institutions in our country as well as in other developing countries facing similar challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality of the pediatric female pelvis and is often requested to evaluate girls with pelvic or abdominal pain or abnormal bleeding. The US interpretation can help guide the clinician toward medical or surgical management. Here we discuss the normal US anatomy of the female pelvis and illustrate, through case examples, conditions encountered when performing emergent pelvic US for common and uncommon clinical scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]