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Objectives: Shoulder pain secondary to various aetiologies is a common musculoskeletal complaint worldwide, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the most accurate imaging method for evaluating shoulder pain in all age groups. While the patterns of shoulder MRI abnormalities in various demographics have been reported, data on sub-Sahara African populations are still sparse. This study aims to describe the imaging features and spectrum of shoulder joint pathologies on MRI in adult Nigerians. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective review of the shoulder MRI of 100 adult Nigerians (with and without trauma) from September 2020 to December 2021. Their clinical data and shoulder MRI findings were extracted and analysed. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: There were 64 males and 36 females aged 18-82 years. Right shoulder MRI was done in 53 subjects (53%), while the left shoulder was studied in 47 (47%). Supraspinatus tendinopathy (73%), acromioclavicular joint arthropathy (68%), and subacromial-subdeltoid (SASD) bursitis (64%) were the most frequently detected pathologies. Other demonstrated derangements include glenohumeral joint effusion (24%), long head of biceps tendon sheath effusion (18%), labral abnormalities (16%), subcoracoid bursitis (4%), Hill Sach's deformity (3%), anterior glenohumeral dislocation (2%), fatty degeneration of the supraspinatus/infraspinatus muscles (2%), adhesive capsulitis (1%), and other bony abnormalities (contusion, erosion, subchondral cysts). There was no significant difference in the frequency of shoulder abnormalities between the male and female subjects. Conclusion: Acromioclavicular joint arthropathy, SASD bursitis, and rotator cuff disorders were the dominant pathologies in the participants' shoulders.
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Objective: To determine the correlation between cerebral infarct volume, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and plaque echotexture in patients with ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 70 patients with ischemic stroke who were imaged using the head coil of a 1.5T Toshiba magnetic resonance machine. The volumes of infarcts were documented and calculated using the manual tracing of the infarct perimeter method. The common carotid CIMT was measured on ultrasound using a linear high-frequency 7.5 MHz transducer. Results: Seventy subjects were evaluated. The mean magnetic resonance imaging cerebral infarct volume was 8.07% volume. Hyperechoic plaques were the most prevalent (36.7%) compared to the hypoechoic (33.3%) and isoechoic (30%) plaques. There was a moderate positive correlation between CIMT and infarct volume (r = 0.70; P = 0.001) in the entire study population. Similarly, positive correlations between CIMT and infarct volume were recorded in both the male (r = 0.73; P = 0.001) and female (r = 0.67; P = 0.001) subjects. Furthermore, subjects who presented in the acute phase (1-3 days) of ictus showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.621; P = 0.0001) between CIMT and infarct volume, while there was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.74; P = 0.0001) in subjects that presented in the subacute phase (4-7 days). Conclusion: Common carotid artery CIMT correlated positively with cerebral infarct volume in patients with ischemic stroke. Furthermore, hyperechoic plaques were associated with significantly larger infarct volumes compared to hypoechoic and isoechoic plaques.
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Objective: This study was done to evaluate the relationship between cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical features in adults with chronic neck pain (NP) at our tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of the cervical spine MRI of 90 adult patients with chronic NP. The clinical history, biodata, and cervical spine MRI findings were analysed. Statistical tests were considered significant at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean age of the participants was 54.72 (13.51) years (range = 28-79 years). There were 52 (58%) males and 38 (42%) females. Cervical disc desiccation and disc herniation were the most prevalent MRI findings. C4/C5 and C5/C6 disc levels were most commonly affected. Disc height reduction correlated with shoulder pain (r = 0.23, P = 0.030), unsteady gait (r = 0.27, P = 0.010), and lower limb weakness (r = 0.23, P = 0.029). Vertebral collapse correlated with shoulder pain (r = 0.22, P = 0.036), upper limbs burning sensation (r = 0.33, P = 0.001), and loss of dexterity (r = 0.22, P = 0.037). Spondylolisthesis correlated significantly with unsteady gait (r = 0.34, P = 0.001), dizziness/vertigo (r = 0.29, P = 0.005), painful neck movement (r = 0.32, P = 0.002), loss of dexterity (r = 0.37, P < 0.001) and sphincteric dysfunction (r = 0.23, P = 0.031). Modic changes correlated with loss of dexterity (r = 0.39, P < 0.001) and upper limbs burning sensation (r = 0.21, P = 0.048). Cervical canal stenosis did not correlate significantly with any symptom. Conclusion: Cervical disc disease (C4/C5 and C5/C6 levels) was the most prevalent finding on MRI. Disc height reduction, vertebral collapse, spondylolisthesis, and Modic changes correlated with various clinical symptoms.
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Aim of the study: Portal vein congestion index has shown promise in detecting early portal venous hemodynamic changes in chronic liver disease. The aim of this study was to compare the portal vein congestion index of adult patients with chronic liver disease to that of healthy controls, and to evaluate the differences in portal vein congestion index, if any, between the common etiologies of chronic liver disease (chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). Method and materials: Eighty participants with chronic liver disease and 80 healthy controls had their sociodemographic variables, anthropometric indices, liver size/echotexture, spleen size, presence of ascites, and portal vein parameters (diameter, cross-sectional area, velocity, and congestion index) evaluated. P ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 48 (60%) males and 32 (40%) females in the control group, while 56 (70%) males and 24 (30%) females were included in the chronic liver disease group (p = 0.185). Of the eighty people with chronic liver disease, 57 (71.2%) were diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease, while 23 (28.8%) were diagnosed with chronic viral hepatitis. There were no cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease during the study period. The mean liver spans of the control and chronic liver disease groups were 13.45 ± 0.85 cm and 16.50 ± 4.96 cm, respectively. All the controls had normal hepatic parenchymal echogenicity, while 45 (56.3%) subjects with chronic liver disease (36 alcoholic liver disease and 9 chronic viral hepatitis) had increased hepatic echogenicity. The mean values of the portal vein congestion index for the control and chronic liver disease groups were 0.0775 ± 0.02 cm/sec and 0.1037 ± 0.03 cm/sec, respectively (p <0.0001). Conclusion: The chronic liver disease group showed a significantly higher mean portal vein congestion index than the control group.
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Background: Knee joint pathologies/injuries are one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints in adults worldwide. The aetiologies of knee joint disorders are diverse. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sophisticated method of detecting and characterizing knee pathologies. This study was conducted to document the clinical presentation and MRI patterns of knee joint abnormalities in a group of adults in Lagos, Nigeria, and to juxtapose it with reports from other climes. Methodology: A retrospective hospital-based analysis of the knee MRI of 158 adult Nigerians was conducted in a single health facility. The clinical history and knee MRI findings were extracted, analyzed, and documented. Statistical significance was established at P≤0.05. Results: There were 158 participants comprising 92 males (58.2%) and 66 females (41.8%) between the ages of 18 and 79. The mean age of the males was 44.75 ± 14.41 years, while that of the females was 47.76 ± 13.72 years (P = 0.19). A history of previous trauma was elicited in 135 (85.4%) participants. Eighty-two right knees (51.9%) and 76 left knees (48.1%) were examined. The dominant joint pathologies detected include effusion (77.2%), medial meniscopathy (48.1%), tibial abnormalities (46.2%), femoral abnormalities (46.2%), patella abnormalities (46.2%), anterior cruciate ligament disorders (37.3%), lateral meniscopathy (27.2%), medial collateral ligament disorders (22.2%), and popliteal (Baker's) cysts (15.8%). ACL abnormalities were significantly more prevalent in male subjects. Knees with ruptured sACL had significantly more joint effusion and injuries to the medial meniscus, lateral meniscus, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial retinacular ligament (MRL), femur, tibia, and fibula. There was no significant difference in the frequency of abnormalities between the right and left knees. Conclusion: Joint effusion, medial meniscopathy, osseous abnormalities (tibia, femur, patella), ACL abnormalities, lateral meniscopathy, and MCL abnormalities, in decreasing order, were the most frequent pathologies in the knee joints evaluated.
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Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish the frequency, distribution, and spectrum of abnormalities on ankle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adult Nigerians. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of ankle MRI of 50 adult patients was conducted at a single health facility. All adult Nigerians with complete clinical data, MRI images, and radiologists' reports were included. The clinical history and ankle MRI findings were recorded and analysed. The threshold for statistical significance was established at P≤0.05. Results: There were 50 subjects comprising 27 males (54%) and 23 females (46%) aged 25-66 years (mean age = 42.84 ± 9.63 years). The right ankle was evaluated in 27 subjects (54%), while the left ankle was studied in 23 (46%). There was a history of trauma in 40 subjects (80%; 27 right ankles and 13 left ankles). Ankle joint effusion was the most common abnormality-seen in 50% of all subjects and in 62.5% of those with antecedent trauma. Achilles tendinosis and Kager (pre-Achilles) fat pad oedema (8-12%), deltoid ligament tear (8%), and medial malleolar fracture (4%) were the other frequently detected pathologies. The other pathologies detected were posterior tibial tendinosis (2%), plantar fasciopathy (2%), and talar contusion (2%). Joint effusion was significantly more prevalent in post-traumatic ankles than in the non-traumatic ankles and in the right ankles than the left ankles. There was no significant difference in the frequency of ankle abnormalities between the male and female subjects and between subjects younger than and older than the mean age. Conclusion: Joint effusion, deltoid ligament tear, and Achilles tendinopathy were the prevalent derangements in evaluated ankle joints. Trauma was the main indication for ankle MRI in this study.
