National diagnostic reference levels for digital diagnostic and screening mammography in Uganda.

Introduction: Screening and diagnostic mammography are associated with some risk of radiation-induced breast cancer. This study was conducted to establish the National Diagnostic Reference Levels (NDRLs) for digital diagnostic and screening mammography in Uganda to achieve breast radiation dose optimization.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among female participants recruited by consecutive sampling from three selected hospitals with digital mammography in Uganda.

High resolution chest computed tomography findings in patients with clinically suspected COVID-19 pneumonia in Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The alarming spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shortage of RT-PCR kits in Uganda necessitating the use of high-resolution chest Computed Tomography to guide patient management and treatment.

Main Objective: To describe the chest HRCT findings in patients with clinically suspected COVID-19 pneumonia and to compare its diagnostic accuracy to RT-PCR. .

Point of care obstetric ultrasound training for midwives and nurses: implementation and experiences of trainees at a rural based hospital in Sub-saharan Africa: a qualitative study.

Background: Point of care ultrasound training has been successfully implemented in some settings. This has been done due to a shortage of radiology human resource gap especially in the rural areas of low-resource settings. The purpose of the study was to implement a point of care obstetric ultrasound training program for midwives and nurses and explore their experiences following the training at a rural based hospital in Uganda.

Diagnostic accuracy of chest ultrasound scan in the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis.

Chest Ultrasound Scan (CUS) has been utilized in place of CXR in the diagnosis of adult pneumonia with similar or higher sensitivity and specificity to CXR. However, there is a paucity of data on the use of CUS for the diagnosis of childhood TB. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of CUS for childhood TB.

Typical Diagnostic Reference Levels of Common Indications for Computed Tomography Scans Among Adult Patients in Uganda: a Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Medical exposure to ionizing radiation has increased due to an increase in the number of computerized tomography (CT) scan examinations performed. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends indication-based diagnostic reference levels (IB-DRLs) as an effective tool that aids in optimizing CT scan radiation doses. In many low-income settings, there is a lack of IB-DRLs to support optimization of radiation doses.

Cardiovascular abnormalities in chest radiographs of children with pneumonia, Uganda.

Objective: To describe chest radiograph findings among children hospitalized with clinically diagnosed severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia at three tertiary facilities in Uganda.

Methods: The study involved clinical and radiograph data on a random sample of 375 children aged 28 days to 12 years enrolled in the Children's Oxygen Administration Strategies Trial in 2017. Children were hospitalized with a history of respiratory illness and respiratory distress complicated by hypoxaemia, defined as a peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO) < 92%.

Sex modulates the association between inflammation and coronary atherosclerosis among older Ugandan adults with and without HIV.

Objective: Inflammation is key in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). Distinct sex-specific inflammatory mechanisms may contribute to CAD in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where environmental and biological determinants of systemic inflammation may differ from those in high-income settings.

Approach And Results: We investigated sex differences in inflammatory markers and CAD in a 2-year prospective cohort of Ugandan adults enriched for cardiometabolic risk factors (RFs) and HIV.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings among children with epilepsy in two urban hospital settings, Kampala-Uganda: a descriptive study.

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in children worldwide. Its presentation is heterogeneous, with diverse underlying aetiology, clinical presentation, and prognosis. Structural brain abnormalities are among the recognized causes of epilepsy.

Myxoid Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans of the Scrotum: Rare Tumor in an Uncommon Location.

Background: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon tumor that involves the skin with a low metastatic rate; however, this tumor has a tendency to recur locally. Myxoid DFSP is a rare variant, with a few cases mentioned in the literature, and may present diagnostic difficulties on histopathological examination.

Case Presentation: We present a 9-year-old male with a history of a left scrotal mass for 3 years.

Sex-specific performance of the ASCVD pooled cohort equation risk calculator as a correlate of coronary artery calcium in Kampala, Uganda.

Introduction: The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rising in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it is not known whether current risk assessment tools predict coronary atherosclerosis in the region. Furthermore, sex-specific performance and interaction with HIV serostatus has not been well studied.

Methods: This cross-sectional study compared ASCVD risk scores and detectable coronary artery calcium (CAC>0) by sex in Kampala, Uganda (n = 200).

Adult Computed Tomography examinations in Uganda: Towards determining the National Diagnostic Reference Levels.

Introduction: Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs), typically set at the 75th percentile of the dose distribution from surveys conducted across a broad user base using a specified dose-measurement protocol, are recommended for radiological examinations. There is a need to develop and implement DRLs as a standardisation and optimisation tool for the radiological protection of patients at Computed Tomography (CT) facilities.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in seven (7) different CT scan facilities in which participants were recruited by systematic random sampling.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings among young adults with low back pain at Nsambya hospital.

Background: Studies on MRI findings among patients with LBP have been conducted; especially among adolescents and young adult population in developed countries. However, MRI lumbar spine evaluation findings in young adult patients with low back pain in Uganda is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine the MRI findings and their correlation to clinical features in young adult patients with low back pain in Nsambya hospital.

Pedicle Morphometry of Subaxial Cervical Spine Using Computed Tomography Scans among Adult Ugandan Subpopulation.

Background: Accurate placement of pedicle screws in the subaxial cervical spine requires precise understanding of vertebra anatomy. Little is known about the morphometric characteristics of the subaxial cervical pedicle in the Ugandan population. The objective of the study was to determine the morphometric dimensions of pedicles in the subaxial cervical spine among the adult Ugandan population.

Sex modifies the association between HIV and coronary artery disease among older adults in Uganda.

Introduction: Little is known about the epidemiology of coronary artery disease (CAD) in sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of people living with HIV (PLHIV) live. We assessed the association of HIV with CAD and explored relationships with monocyte activation in sex-stratified analyses of older PLHIV and people without HIV (PWOH) in Uganda.

Methods: The Ugandan Study of HIV effects on the Myocardium and Atherosclerosis (mUTIMA) follows 100 PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 100 age- and sex-matched PWOH controls in Kampala, Uganda; all >45 years of age with >1 cardiovascular disease risk factor.

HIV and pericardial fat are associated with abnormal cardiac structure and function among Ugandans.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between pericardial fat (PCF) and cardiac structure and function among HIV-infected patients in the sub-Saharan African country of Uganda. People living with HIV (PLHIV) have altered fat distribution and an elevated risk for heart failure. Whether altered quantity and radiodensity of fat surrounding the heart relates to cardiac dysfunction in this population is unknown.

Coronary artery calcium, HIV and inflammation in Uganda compared with the USA.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of detectable coronary artery calcium (CAC) among higher risk, older people living with HIV (PLWH) and uninfected persons in Uganda versus the USA, and second to explore associations of CAC with HIV-specific variables and biomarkers of inflammation.

Methods: This cross-sectional study of 430 total subjects compared 100 PLWH on antiretroviral therapy and 100 age-matched and sex-matched HIV-uninfected controls in Uganda with 167 PLWH on antiretroviral therapy and 63 uninfected controls in the USA. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations with detectable CAC (CAC >0).

Clinical and cranial computed tomography scan findings in adults following road traffic accidents in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Globally, road traffic accidents are a major cause of death and disability. The developing countries bear a disproportionately large share of the RTAs which account for about 85% of the deaths. Most of these RTAs result in head injury, which globally, most scholars and medical practitioners consider a significant economic, social and medical problem.