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Objectives: The radiographic assessment of the head is a crucial part of headache care. A computed tomography (CT) scan enables a more detailed analysis of the condition and more focused care. This study examined head CT scans to determine what kinds of anomalies were present in patients with headaches as their primary complaint. Methods: We evaluated 4 years' worth of CT scan data from head exams conducted at two diagnostic facilities in Ghana's western and central regions. We examined data on 477 patients with a headache as their primary complaint between January 2017 and December 2020. We employed chi‐square and Fisher's exact tests (where applicable) to compare head CT diagnoses between age groups, gender, headache subtypes, and brain lesion subgroups. Results: There were 53.5% (n = 255) females and 46.5% (n = 222) males in the study. The average age of patients was 38.67 ± 17.23 years, with an annual rate of abnormal CT diagnoses ranging from 35.9% in 2017 to 45.4% in 2022. Abnormal head CT diagnoses are strongly correlated with age groups and patient gender (p = 0.011 and p = 0.009, respectively). Of the 202 patients, 15.3% and 24.3% were classified as intracranial lesions and extracranial lesions, respectively. Maxillary sinusitis affected nearly 60% of the patients, while tumors and hemorrhages affected 25.2% and 11.9%, respectively. Conclusions: A CT scan of the head is essential to detect abnormalities in nearly 50% of patients suffering from various degrees of headache. Sinusitis, brain tumors, and hemorrhage were common lesions detected. It is crucial to create local standard operating procedures to promote better utilization of this type of imaging service, particularly among patients who have been diagnosed with headaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To document the location, size, and multiplicity of intracranial aneurysms in Ghanaians who have undergone digital subtraction angiography (DSA) at a single centre in Accra, Ghana. Design: We conducted a retrospective observational review of the medical records of all patients diagnosed with intracranial aneurysms on DSA. Setting: Patients' medical records at Euracare Advanced Diagnostic and Heart Centre were reviewed between March 2018 and March 2020. Participants: Thirty-one patients were identified with various intracranial aneurysms (IAs) within the study period. Patients' ages, sex, and types of IAs were extracted using a checklist and analysed using Microsoft Excel for Windows 2016. Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: The prevalence of types and distribution of intracranial aneurysms. Results: The age range of the patients was 26-76 years, with a mean age of 45.5±14.3 years. The mean age of men and women with IA was 45.5 ±15.9 years and 46.7 51.3±12.9 years, respectively. The most common IAs were located in the posterior communicating artery (PCOM) at 54.8% (95%CI: 36.0, 72.7), followed by the anterior communicating (ACOM), which constituted 32.3% (95%CI: 16.7, 51.4). The majority, 89.2% (33/37) of these aneurysms were less than 7mm in diameter. Single aneurysms were present in 25 (80.6%). Conclusion: The most common IAs were found in the PCOM and ACOM, and IAs tend to rupture at a younger age and smaller size among the Ghanaian adults examined. Early detection and treatment of IAs less than 7mm in diameter is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the chest plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 pneumonia shows typical CT Scan features which can aid diagnoses and therefore help in the early detection and isolation of infected patients. CT scanners are readily available in many parts of Ghana. It is able to show findings typical for COVID-19 infection of the chest, even in instances where Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) misses the diagnosis. Little is known about the diagnostic potential of chest CT scan and COVID-19 among physicians even though CT scan offers a high diagnostic accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disastrous effects and lifelong complications, ranging from respiratory and gastrointestinal burns to death can result from caustic soda ingestion. Accidental and non-accidental ingestions occur in different age groups. However, it is very troubling to find ingestion of caustic soda a very common occurrence among children below 5 years since they do not have the developmental level required to independently weigh up risks and are also under parental and societal protections. This study was therefore planned to investigate the ingestions of caustic soda by these children for purposes of proposing measures to curb the problem. Methods: Descriptive survey was employed for this study. A 14-item, semi-structure questionnaire was purposively issued to 57 parents/guardians whose wards had ingested caustic soda. Data was analysed with SPSS V.20. Results: Twenty-seven (47.4 %) children got access to the soda at storage, 1 (1.86 %) was administered accidentally by a sibling while 29 (50.9 %) ingested during soap preparation. In respect of the former, the majority got access because it was stored in soft drink and water bottles in their parents/guardians rooms or kitchen. For the later, the children got access to the left-over soda because the soap-makers failed to adhere to good storage and disposal practices. Conclusion: Storage of caustic soda in soft drink and water bottles in accessible places, and training of children to drink directly from bottles influence caustic soda ingestion in children under five. Non-compliance to good practices of storage and disposal of caustic soda during soap preparation increases exposure and access of children to caustic soda ingestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive jaundice is a term that describes the clinical entity of yellowness of the skin and mucous membranes due to the inability of bile to flow freely into the duodenum. This is commonly due to mechanical or physiological blockage of either the intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts. Malignancies are responsible for the most cases of obstructive jaundice in our locality., Aim: The study sought to analyse all cases of obstructive jaundice that presented to a tertiary referral centre over a 36-month period, to determine the age at presentation, sex distribution, and aetiological spectrum., Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study., Study Setting: Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana., Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based study of all cases of obstructive jaundice that were seen over a 36-month period from May 2017 to April 2020, at the Hepatobiliary Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The unit serves as a referral centre for all liver, pancreas, and biliary tract cases, including cases presenting with obstructive jaundice. The demographic data and diagnosis of all cases of obstructive jaundice seen over the study period were retrieved from both out-patient and in-patient records., Results: Three hundred and sixty cases of obstructive jaundice were studied; 141 (39.2%) were males and 219 (60.8%) were females, giving a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.6. The mean age of the patients was 56.8 (SD, 15.9) years. Malignant conditions accounted for 314 (87.2%) cases, whilst 46 (12.8%) were due to benign conditions. The mean age of the patients with benign conditions (40.4 [SD, 15.7] years) was significantly lower than that of those with malignant conditions (59.4 [SD, 14.9] years) ( P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in sex ratios between patients with malignant and benign causes ( P = 0.996). Pancreatic head cancer was the commonest malignant cause of obstructive jaundice accounting for 139 (38.61%), followed by gallbladder tumour, 81 (22.5%), whilst choledocholithiasis (23 [6.39%]) was the commonest benign cause of obstructive jaundice., Conclusion: Obstructive jaundice in our setting was more prevalent in females. Malignant aetiologies were more common than benign ones: pancreatic head and gallbladder cancers were the commonest malignancies, whilst choledocholithiasis was the commonest benign cause. Malignant causes occurred in older patients than benign conditions, but there was no difference in sex ratios between the two categories., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of the West African College of Surgeons.)

Introduction: The cardio-thoracic ratio (CTR) and the transverse cardiac diameter (TCD) on Plain chest radiography are the two parameters commonly used to diagnose cardiomegaly and heart disease. A CTR of greater than 50% on a PA film is abnormal and normally indicates cardiac or pericardial disease condition, whiles an increase of TCD from 1.5 to 2cm on two consecutive radiographs, taken at short interval, suggests possible cardiac pathology. The aim was to determine the suitability of using the same TCD and CTR to detect cardiomegaly for all age groups and genders respectively., Methods: A retrospective study involved the review of 1047 radiological images of adults aged 21 to 80 years, who had plain postero-anterior chest radiographs between January 2012 and November 2013 by 3 radiologists. Data recorded included the transverse cardiac, thoracic diameter and the cardiothoracic ratios. Descriptive analyses were carried out using the Microsoft excel 2010., Results: The mean age and standard deviation for the study population was 35.1 ± 12.7. The mean and standard deviations for the transverse cardiac diameter, thoracic diameter, and the cardiothoracic ratios for male participants were 13.08cm ± 1.2, 29.7cm ± 2.7 and 46.6% ± 3.9; and 12.9 cm ± 1.3, 27.1 cm ± 2.6, and 47.8% ± 4.8 for females. An increase in TCD of 1cm resulted in a CTR of greater than 50.0% in all but the males aged 21-40 years., Conclusion: The study found that the same TCD and CTR values are not suitable in detecting cardiomegaly for all age groups and genders.

The occurrence of chromosomal aberrations resulting in congenital transposition of internal organs is rare. Isolated congenital stomach and spleen (multiple) transposition with partial pyloric stenosis, where the rest of the internal organs remain in their normal positions, to the best of our knowledge has not been reported before. Attention to, knowledge and records of this case should be considered vital for understanding future symptoms and occurrences and also for prevention of surgical mistakes.