Objective: To determine gender associated differences in the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) and heart diameters in a normal Nigerian population.
Subject and Method: The normal heart diameters and cardiothoracic ratios were measured from posteroanterior (PA) chest radiographs of healthy 510 male and 508 female Nigerians of age range 4 - 80 years.
Results: Mean heart diameter of 13.0+ 1.5cm, 12.3+1.3cm and 12.6+1.5cm for males, females and both respectively and mean CTR values of 46.2 + 4.1, 47.2 + 4.4 and 46.7 + 4.3 of males, females and both respectively were noted in the studied population. . The study reports a consistent sex difference in heart diameter of 0.5 to 1.2cm and 1.0 to 3.1cm in chest diameter. It apportions a difference of up to 37% in heart size ratio to gender difference.
Discussion/Conclusion: The study established statistically significant differences in the heart diameter and CTR of the studied population, which is based on gender. Keywords : Sex dimorphism, cardiothoracic ratio, heart diameter. Nigerian Medical Journal Vol. 48 (1) 2007: pp. 24-26
Clinical determination of mild splenomegaly is notoriously inaccurate.To determine sonographically the spleen to left kidney ratio according to age and somatometric parameters among school age children in a tropical environment.A cross sectional study and convenience sampling were done on 947 apparently healthy subjects (496 boys and 451 girls) aged 6-17 years at the University of Nigeria Medical Centre, Nsukka. The sonographic examination was performed on Shenzhen DP-1100 machine with 3.5 and 5 MHz convex transducers. Spleen and left kidney lengths were obtained using appropriate techniques. The weight and height of the subjects were obtained with the participants wearing light weight street clothes without shoes.Measurement of spleen and left kidney lengths were reliable within and between sonographers. The spleen and left kidney lengths were not statistically different in boys and girls (p > 0.05). The spleen to left kidney ratio according to age and somatometric parameters is constant at about 1.13 with 1.3 as the upper limit of normal in the studied population.Sonography can be used to detect mild splenomegaly if the spleen to left kidney ratio is greater than 1.3 in the absence of renal disease among school age children.
Background: Uterine myomas co-existing with pregnancy could cause obstetric complications.Objectives: To assess sonographically the frequency of occurrence and effect of uterine myomas co-existing with pregnancy.Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted during a period of 23 months. A convenience sample of 816 consecutive consenting pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria was evaluated during routine prenatal ultrasound scan. The women were referred for prenatal sonography. One hundred of the subjects who had myoma co-existing with pregnancy and another 100 subjects without myoma were selected for follow-up. These groups were followed up till delivery and obstetric complications and outcomes were documented. Any changes in size and growth rate of myoma were documented.Results: Subjects with myoma co-existing with pregnancy were 12.3%. This was commoner with increasing maternal age. An increase was observed in myoma mean size from 60mm to 63mm from the 1st scan sequence to the 2nd scan sequence and a reduction from 63mm to 59mm in the 3rd scan sequence. Myoma growth rate was 0.667mm per week. Myomas inpregnancy especially large ones caused more complications during delivery when compared to pregnancies without myomas.Conclusion: Routine sonography is important in pregnancy management of uterine myomas co-existing with pregnancy.Keywords: Routine sonography; uterine myoma, pregnancy, obstetric complications.
Sequel to a car crash, Chief A, a 52-year old bankerpresented in the Orthopaedic Unit of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu with fracture right forearm bones and minor bruises in the abdomen and buttocks. His fractured right forearm was treated surgically and patient was dischharged. A month later, Chief A developed breathlessness and was therefore re-admitted in same hospital where radiological survey including plain chest radiography and tailored barium meal revealed a hitherto clinically Occult rupture left hemi-diaphragm with mediastimal shift to the contra-lateral side. We present this case to highlight the pleomophism of traumatic rupture of diaphragm with emphasis on the causes, clinical presentation, complications and model of progression and different treatment options.Key words: Traumatic, Rupture, DiaphragmJournal of Experimental and Clinical Anatomy Vol. 4 (1) 2005: 25-27
An 18-year-old male professional footballer presented in the surgical outpatient department (SOP) of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu complaining of bilateral knee-joint pains and tenderness severe enough to prevent him from participating in training sessions and professional league matches. Both knee joint were X-rayed and the radiographs revealed bilateral Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee joints (Osgood schlatters disease). This case is being reported to highlight on the epidemiology, etiology clinical appearance, possibilities for radiological diagnoses, classification of osteochondritis dissecans, the various treatment modalities available complications of osteochondritis dissecans and above all emphasizes on the benignity of the disease.Key words: Osteochondritis dissecans, Knee joints, Osgood Schlatters disease
Cervical cancer is to a large extent preventable by effective screening. The effectiveness of such screening depends on the knowledge and attitude of the women. Objectives : To ascertain the knowledge of the certified nurses in a teaching hospital in Nigeria to cervical cancer, their attitude to cervical cancer screening and factors hindering their uptake of available screening services (pap smear test). Methods : Structured questionnaires were self administered to the consenting certified nurses working at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, in South Eastern Nigeria. Results : Showed that 92.2% of the nurses were aware of cervical cancer screening. Fifty three percent of the respondents attributed the cause of cancer of the cervix to sexually transmitted infection and 2.2% of them identified human papilloma virus as a factor. Only 28 (12.2%) of the respondents have ever done pap smear test. The commonest reason given by the nurses who had never been screened was that they did not have any complaint and hence not at risk of having cervical cancer. Years of practice has a significant influence on the knowledge of cervical screening and screening procedures. Conclusion : The nurses have good knowledge of cervical cancer screening but very low uptake of Pap smear test. There is a great need for continuous education of the nurses on the need to change attitude that will ensure improved uptake of cervical cancer screening (Pap smear test). Key Words : Cervical cancer, screening, knowledge, Pap smear, certified nurses.
Background: Accuracy of some ultrasound equations used in our locality for fetal weight estimation is doubtful.Objective: To assess the accuracy of common ultrasound equations used for fetal weight estimation.Subjects and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted on selected Nigerian obstetric population at Central Hospital, Kwale between March, 2009 and January, 2011. Sonography was performed on 412 women with advanced singleton cyesis and measurements of BPD, HC, AC, and FL were obtained and figured into 12 common ultrasound equations for the estimation of fetal weight. The actual birth weight at delivery was recorded.Results: The highest intraclass correlation coefficient was generated by the Hadlock 5 and Hsieh 2 equations. The least mean absolute percent error was obtained with Hsieh 2 equation, followed by Woo 3, and Hadlock 5. These equations also had the least percentage error and the least range of limits of agreement in the same order with no significant difference between their mean fetal weight estimates and that of the actual birth weight (p > 0.05). All twelve equations had strong positive correlation with the actual birth weight with Nzeh 2 equation the least.Conclusion: Hsieh 2 equation has the best accuracy in fetal weight estimation studied.Key Words: Validation; Fetal Weight; Sonography; Advanced Cyesis; Nigerian Population
Malignant bone tumors are classified based on their predominant histological components.For example, chondrosarcoma is a tumor that consists of cartilage forming matrix.This may also translates to anticipated radiological features which will confer reasonably degree of diagnosis even prior to histology.The afore mentioned underlies our selection of some malignant bone tumors typified pictorially to buttress our reasoning.
Regional variations in size and parenchyma echo-texture of the spleen among sickle cell disease (SCD) patients have been documented in various publications. The objectives of this study were to assess the size and parenchyma echo-texture of the spleen of SCD patients and ascertain the relationship of age, height and weight with the spleen sizes.This was a cross sectional study involving 103 each of SCD and age matched control subjects. Aloka ST- 550 -3500 ultrasound machine with 3.5 and 5 MHz convex transducers was used to scan the subjects over a 15 months period (September, 2012 to November, 2013). The age, height and weight of each subject were recorded.The spleen sizes of SCD patients were generally larger than those of the controls (p < 0.05). Abnormal spleen parenchyma of varied appearances was found among the SCD subjects. There were negative correlations between mean spleen sizes and height, weight and age in SCD patients but positive correlations were found between them in the controls.Routine sonographic assessment of spleen size and echo-texture is useful in the management of SCD patients.
