B Moifo

Prevalence and determinants of extrapulmonary involvement in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in a Sub-Saharan African country: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Determinants of extrapulmonary involvement during pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) have not been extensively investigated. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of extrapulmonary involvement during PTB in a Sub-Saharan African country with a high prevalence of both TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Methods: The medical records of patients aged ≥ 15 y, admitted for a first episode of TB to the Pneumology Service of Yaoundé Jamot Hospital, Cameroon, between 2009 and 2010 were considered. Determinants of extrapulmonary involvement were investigated through logistic regression. Results: A total of 984 patients (58.9% male), with a median age (25th–75th percentiles) of 32 (25–41) y were admitted for a first episode of TB, including 629 (63.9%) with isolated PTB, 127 (12.9%) with isolated extrapulmonary TB (EPTB), and 228 (23.2%) with both PTB and EPTB (PTB/EPTB). Therefore, the prevalence of EPTB among those with PTB was 26.6% (228/857). The main determinants of EPTB among patients with PTB were male sex (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.71, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.71–4.03), HIV infection (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.36–3.55), absence of fibrotic lung lesions (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.23–3.14), smear-negative PTB (OR 7.20, 95% CI 4.13–12.56), anaemia (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.03–2.50), and leukopenia (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.12–5.98). Conclusions: About a quarter of patients with PTB in this setting also have extrapulmonary involvement. EPTB is less contagious, less frequent than PTB, and less well addressed by programs in developing countries, while its identification is important for optimizing care. The presence of determinants of EPTB among patients with PTB should motivate active investigation of extrapulmonary involvement in order to improve management.

[Assessment of the completeness of medical imaging request forms in a sub-Saharan African setting].

UNLABELLEDnThe technical quality, interpretation, and clinical utility of diagnostic imaging examinations can increase considerably when the request forms are correctly filled out. This study sought to evaluate the completeness of these request forms at the Women and Childrens Hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to the 8 criteria established by the French High Health Authority (HAS, France).nnnMETHODSnThis cross-sectional study evaluated 118 request forms for ultrasounds, 110 for conventional radiography, and 34 for computed tomography (CT scans), all completed by physicians at our university-affiliated hospital. They were sampled consecutively three days a week for several weeks, on days randomly selected at the beginning of each week, to minimize bias and ensure that as many different physicians as possible were assessed. We doubled the sample size recommended by the HAS. Conformity was defined by the presence of the required data on the request forms (data classified as either administrative or clinical).nnnRESULTSnOverall, 52 request forms (19.8%) had all 5 administrative items, but only 9.2% had all 3 clinical components. Only 3 forms (1.1%) were 100% complete, including all 8 items; 85% included at least 5 components, and 35.1% had 6. The patients last name was always included. Only 4.2% of the request forms included the prescribers telephone number; 8% did not include the date and 17.2% (n = 45) did not state the clinical findings. On 30% of the forms, symptoms were the only clinical information listed; 23.7% (n = 62) stated the purpose of the examination (that is, the diagnosis to be confirmed or ruled out). The rate of missing information was highest in the requests for conventional radiography (49.5% compared to 38% with ultrasound and 12.3% for CT scans).nnnCONCLUSIONnThe request forms for imaging examinations provided inadequate administrative and clinical data, especially those for conventional radiography. This missing information makes it harder to perform and interpret these examinations. An electronic request form with mandatory fields might improve the overall quality of the forms.

Derivation, validation and comparative performance of a simplified chest X‐ray score for assessing the severity and outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis

To derive and validate against the Ralph etu2009al. score, a simplified chest X‐ray (CXR) score (SCS) for predicting the outcome of smear‐positive pulmonary tuberculosis (SPPTB) among patients with high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Performance of users in tropical areas with the BI-RADS classification of breast lesions for predicting malignancy

OBJECTIVESnTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of radiologists in Cameroon using the BI-RADS classification to interpret mammograms and ultrasound scans together for the prediction of malignant breast lesions.nnnMETHODSnThis cross-sectional study took place at the Womens and Childrens Hospital in Yaounde from July 2009 to April 2010 and included 211 women with breast lesions identified on mammograms during a breast screening campaign and subsequently assessed with ultrasonography and histology. The BI-RADS classifications of these lesions were compared to the corresponding histology results to evaluate the accuracy of predictions of malignancy from the mammograms and ultrasound scans interpreted with the BI-RADS system. The rate of malignancy in each ACR-classified category was also compared to the standard ACR categories as stipulated in the ACR classification.nnnRESULTSnIn all, 339 women aged from 16 to 78 years were screened, and lesions requiring biopsies were identified for 211. The age group included most often was the 41-50 year-old group (nu2009=u200998, 46.4%). Overall, 135 (64%) women had benign lesions and 76 (36%) malignant. Invasive carcinoma was found in 49 (65%) of the malignant lesions, in situ intraductal carcinoma in 23 (30%), and sarcoma in 4 (5%). Based on the BI-RADS classification, 124 (58.7%) breast lesions were classified as ACR2, 15 (7.1%) as ACR3, 44 (20.8%) as ACR4, and 28 (13.3%) as ACR5. Comparison of the BI-RADS classification and the histological findings showed that 19% of ACR2-classified lesions were malignant, 13% of those classified ACR3, 66% ACR4, and 75% ACR5. The global accuracy in the prediction of malignancy the BI-RADS classification was 77.3%.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe accuracy of the radiologists using the BI-RADS classification in our hospital was good at 77.3%, although shortcomings in the evaluation and interpretation of some lesions resulted in a relatively high prevalence of malignant lesions in categories ACR2 and ACR3.

Urethral Duplication with a Cystic Phallic Urethra Associated with a Uterus Didelphys, Partial Agenesis of the Tibia, and an Equinovarus Foot

Urethral duplication is a rare congenital malformation, especially in females. It may be associated with complex urogenital malformations, but the association with a cystic phallic urethra and a uterus didelphys is exceptional. We report a case of a newborn with urethral duplication, with the accessory urethra exteriorized by a large cyst, associated with a uterus didelphys and bone malformations. We discuss the clinical, radiographic, and therapeutic aspects as well as a literature review.

Epilepsy and skin anomalies in tuberous sclerosis complex: Report of five cases and review of the sub-Saharan African literature

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multi-organ disease characterized by hamartomatous involvement of several organs notably the brain, skin, eye, kidneys, heart and lungs. This rare disorder (incidence is estimated between 1/5,800 and 1/10,000 births) results from mutation of the TSC1 gene on chromosome 9q34 or from mutation of the TSC2 gene on chromosome 16q13. In 80% of cases, it is a consequence of a de novo mutation while in the remaining cases its transmission follows an autosomal dominant pattern. Epilepsy is the main neurological complication associated with TSC, with 80 to 90% of patients having epilepsy in their lifetime while skin anomalies are seen in 60 to 70% of cases. There have been few reports on TSC from sub-Saharan Africa and to the best of our knowledge none has focused specifically on neurological complications mainly epilepsy and specificities of skin abnormalities in the sub-Saharan black Africans. Five cases of TSC with characteristics skin lesions and drug resistant epilepsy are reported. Children presenting with epilepsy, especially focal epilepsy should have a careful dermatological examination. Similarly, all suspected cutaneous lesions must be evaluated with imaging study for the detection of signs of TSC. An earlier management of epilepsy may prevent cognitive impairment associated with frequent epileptic seizures.