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%)