Computed tomographic findings of the brain in adult HIV-infected patients at Doctor George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa

Background/Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of computed tomographic (CT) findings in HIV-infected patients referred for CT brain at Doctor George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH) and to correlate the CD4 counts with CT brain findings of the patients on antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, and those that are ARV naïve. Methods: A descriptive, retrospective review of CT brains obtained from 128 slices Philips and GE, CT scanners, medical records, and laboratory results of 364 adult HIV-infected patients over a 6-month period (October 1, 2016­March 31, 2017) was conducted at Radiology Department of DGMAH. Statistical analyses were made using a Statistical Program for Social Sciences software (SPSS version 19.0). Results: From the 364 CT brain findings of HIV-infected patients reviewed, 46.2% were male and 53.8% were female. The findings were as follows: brain atrophy (168; 46.2%); infarcts (55; 15.1%); hydrocephalus (24; 6.6%); white matter disease (18; 4.9%); mass lesions (13; 3.6%); rim enhancing lesions (12; 3.3%); intracranial bleed (11; 3.0%); tuberculous granuloma (32; 8.8%); tuberculous meningitis (15; 4.1%); and cryptococcal meningitis (2; 0.5%). Opportunistic infections and mass lesions still predominate at CD4 count <200 cells/mm3 although the reduction in the prevalence of opportunistic infections was observed. Brain infarct was seen at CD4 count <200 cells/mm3, and brain atrophy was seen at all CD4 count levels (median= 84 cells/mm3). Conclusion: This study was conducted in the post-highly active ARV therapy era, and the most common CT scan brain finding was brain atrophy, followed by brain infarct

Interdisciplinary investigation of occurrence of diverticular disease among patients referred for barium enema and colonoscopy studies at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa

Background: Diverticular disease (DD) is believed to be a disease which is prevalent in developed countries. Contrary to this belief, DD has been reported with an increasing trend in prevalence in Africa for the past four decades. Objectives: The objective of this study was to highlight the increasing trend of DD and to corroborate barium enema findings obtained from Diagnostic Radiology Department, with colonoscopy results from the Surgery Department at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital. Methods: Results for barium enema and colonoscopy investigations of all the patients referred over a 1-year period were retrospectively reviewed by two independent research groups; each of these groups was unaware of the research carried out in the Departments of Diagnostic Radiology and Surgery. Data from the records were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS, version 22.0), New York, USA, version 22.0. Results: Barium enema results of 166 patients were evaluated for DD, and out of these, 129 patients (77.7%) were negative, while 37 patients (22.3%) (95% confidence interval = 19.07­25.50) were positive. A review of 384 colonoscopy results also revealed positive evidence for 47 patients (13.5%) (95% confidence interval = 10.30­17.50) for DD and 337 patients (86.5%) were negative. The findings of barium enema and colonoscopy investigative studies were similar for female preponderance, diffuse pattern of distribution of DD and the mean age of patients. Conclusion: The two studies corroborate each other and have produced the highest number of diagnostic yield for DD in one year, in Africa