The pattern of upper abdominal diseases shown by ultrasound examination at Kenyatta National Hospital
Abstract
This was a 3-month descriptive prospective study on the upper abdominal diseases
shown by ultrasound examination at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)
A total of 410 patients from clinics, wards and casualty underwent ultrasound
examination of the upper abdomen 53 !% (2! 9 patients) were detected to have
abnormalities and 46.8% had normal ultrasound - (US) findings.
The pattern of upper abdominal disease depicted were commonly renal conditions
namely acute/chronic inflammatory renal disease (acute/chronic renal failure) 96%.
hydronephrosis (76%) and nephroblastoma 2 0% (8 patients) Polycystic kidney and
simple renal cyst were among the rare renal conditions (05% each)
Splenomegaly with no specific cause constituted 5. 1%, (21 patients) of cases followed
by hepatosplenomegaly with ascites 44%: paraaortic lymphadenopathy 3 4% and
lymphoma, 15%
Liver diseases included often cirrhosis with portal hypertension (2.0°,0): hepatoma
(secondary to cirrhosis) 2.00;'0 and metastasis from known malignancies e.g.
carcinoma of breast, pancreas. etc. 15%. Other conditions such as hepatic abscess.
fatty infiltration to the liver and liver cyst were the least abnormalities noted (0 5%)
Citation
Masters of Medicine in Diagnostic Radiology of the University of Nairobi, 1999Publisher
University of Nairobi, School of Medicine