ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Goiter is a major source of morbidity in the world, especially in the developing world, where dietary iodine deficiency, a known cause of this condition, is endemic. The diagnosis is mostly by ultrasonography (USG) scan, which can give anatomical, pathological, and functional information for the management of goiter. This study aimed to determine the commonest ultrasound findings of goiter in Ghana. Method: The records of all 213 patients with goiter diagnosed by USG scan over a 5-year period were retrieved. Data collected were sociodemographics, ultrasound features, thyroid nodules diameter, and Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) scores, which were analyzed using GNU PSPP, version 1.2.0-3. χ 2 and two-tailed independent samples t-test were also employed, with p ≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 213 patients with goiter diagnosed by USG scan were obtained over the study period. The mean age of the participants was 50.01 ± 17.27 years, with an age range of 16-92 years and females constituting the majority (82.16%). The commonest ultrasound features were well-defined solid nodules. The lesion sites for most patients were the whole thyroid (28.17%), both lobes (24.41%), and the right lobe (20.19%). The mean difference in sizes of cysts and solid nodules among genders was 0.26 (CI: -0.14 to 0.67, p = 0.20) and 0.12 (CI: -0.43 to 0.66, p = 0.67), respectively. The TI-RADS score featured TI-RADS 4 (36.62%), TI-RADS 1 (28.17%), TI-RADS 3 (25.82%), TI-RADS 5 (5.16%), and TI-RADS 2 (4.23%). Solid nodules (49.32%, p = 0.001) and cysts (35.71%, p = 0.003) were more common within 41-60 years and less frequent in those <21 years. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant in this study. Conclusion: The predominant ultrasound features were well-defined solid nodules, simple cysts, and solid nodules with cystic changes, mostly located in the entire thyroid gland and least located in the isthmus only. Cysts and solid nodules were mostly seen in the 41-60 years age group.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Facet joint arthrosis is a common radiologic finding but remains controversial as a source of low back pain. We conducted a study to evaluate some of the potential risk factors contributing to the development of facet joint arthrosis, such as age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). The study aimed at establishing an association between these factors and facet joint arthrosis in the Ghanaian population, as a foundation for further research on low back pain. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study done at the Department of Radiology, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. The study population included all cases referred to our department with complaints of low back pain. Patients below 18 years and those with a history of congenital lesions, trauma, infection, and malignancies were excluded. A total of 1017 cases were identified with facet joint arthrosis. The mean difference in age and BMI between males and females was compared using an independent sample t-test. Statistical association was done using Pearson's Chi-square test. P ≤ 0.05 was used as statistical significance. Results: Majority of the study subjects were overweight with a mean BMI of 27.31 ± 5.37 kg/m2. The mean age was 53.61 ± 16.22 years, and majority were within the age of 51-60 years. Age was significantly associated with the prevalence of facet joint arthrosis. Conclusion: The prevalence of facet joint arthrosis is significantly associated with increasing age but not with the BMI. Lumbar facet joint arthrosis is more prevalent in women than in men, which may be due to the sensitivity of cartilage to female sex hormones.
