Mulago Hospital

About: Mulago Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Kampala, Uganda. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 542 authors who have published 545 publications receiving 34804 citations.

Mammography: a review of records in the Department of Radiology at a National Referral Hospital in Uganda.

Abstract: INTRODUCTON: Breast cancer is one of the leading cancers amongst women world-wide. Although mortality has been reduced and survival rates increased in developed countries, mortality rates from breast cancer are still a major health challenge for many developing countries. In Uganda, there are no screening programmes and in many cases mammography is used for diagnostic purposes. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical presentations and mammographic breast density patterns amongst women that presented to the radiology department for mammography at a national referral hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective study carried out at Mulago Hospital in Uganda between January 2011 and January 2012. Records for patients who had mammography during this period were reviewed. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 382 with a mean age of 46 years. Majority presented with breast pain and masses. Mammograms done were normal in majority of the women with fatty breast density dominating. In Uganda, mammography was mainly performed for diagnostic purposes. CONCLUSION: There is no mammography screening programme in Uganda and many women cannot access the service due to its limited availability and costs despite its significance in breast cancer management. There is therefore need for governments in Uganda, but in other areas as well to support regular mammography screening as a way of reducing mortality from breast cancer.

Tumoral calcinosis: report of nine cases.

Abstract: Radiological observations of nine cases of tumoral calcinosis are reported. CT appearances of intracranial lesions in one patient are described. All patients were confirmed by histopathology. After complete excision no recurrence was seen in eight of the patients after a mean follow up of 24 months. Incomplete excision led to recurrence in one case.

Prevalence and associated factors of alcohol use patterns among university students in Uganda.

Abstract: Introduction majority of alcohol use pattern studies among university students are from developed countries. Information about the different alcohol use patterns and their correlates among university students in sub-Saharan Africa is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and cardinal demographic and psychosocial factors associated with specific alcohol use patterns among Ugandan university students. Methods a cross section study conducted over 5-months among university students using a standardized socio-demographic questionnaire screened for alcohol use problems, depression symptoms and academic stress using the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT), self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) and the higher education stress inventory (HESI) respectively. Multivariate multinomial regression models were used to determine factors independently associated with a specific alcohol use pattern with low-risk drinkers as the reference group. Results a thousand out of 1200 students completed all study requirements for which 60% were males; median age was 22.3 (SD=2.36). The prevalence estimates of any alcohol use, low-risk drinking, heavy episodic drinking and alcohol misuse were 31%, 17.3%, 4.5% and 8.9% respectively. In comparison to low-risk drinkers, students reporting heavy episodic drinking were more likely to report high levels of academic stress (P-value <0.10). Those with alcohol misuse were more likely to be males and with significant depression symptoms (P-value ≤0.05). Non-alcohol users were more likely to report high levels of academic stress (P-value ≤0.05). Conclusion the prevalence of maladaptive alcohol use patterns is high among Ugandan university students. Integrating peer led psychological interventions into student health services is desperately needed.

Sonography and risk factors for lower limb deep venous thrombosis at Mulago Hospital, Uganda.

Abstract: Background : Lower limb deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and its sequelae (lower limb chronic venous insufficiency and pulmonary embolism) are now well acknowledged as major haematological problems in the world, for which appropriate and accurate means of diagnosis is necessary. Developments in ultrasound have made it the imaging modality of choice in the diagnosis of lower limb DVT. Objectives : To determine the sonographic pattern, and identify the risk factors of lower limb DVT. Design : Cross sectional, descriptive study carried out between April 2002 and March 2003. Setting: Mulago Hospital, Uganda. Subjects : Eighty six consecutive patients (92 limbs), with clinically suspected DVT, were studied by duplex sonography after a thorough risk factor evaluation. Results: Out of a total of 86 patients clinically suspected to have lower limb DVT, 38(44.2%) were found to have DVT after sonography. The gender incidence was similar. The left limb was affected in 60% of cases and the right in 40%. Bilateral DVT was noted in two patients. Most of the patients had acute and extensive DVT. Conclusion : Duplex ultrasonography is a very useful modality for assessing lower limb DVT, even in a low resource country like Uganda. It demonstrates the wealth of information obtained from sonography. The East African Medical Journal Vol. 83(8) 2006: 443-449