The role of CT scan in the evaluation of retroperitoneal diseases prospective and retrospective study done at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

A two year retrospective and prospective study was carried out at the Kenyatta National Hospital to establish the pattern and type of retroperitoneal diseases as shownby CT. 140 patients were studied. The study group included 82 (58.6%) males and 58 (41.4%) females. The age distribution was from 0-85 years and this followed a normal distribution curve. The most frequent signs and symptoms was abdominal mass 72 (43.4%), followed by pelvic mass 26 (15.6%) then abdominal pain 21 (12.7%). Most patients had a combination of abdominal mass with other symptoms like abdominal pain, jaundice, hypertension, haematuria and hypoglycaemia. The commonest disease involved in the retroperitoneum were primary non specific retroperitoneal diseases 39 (26.5%), followed by renal diseases 34 (23.2%), then pancreatic diseases 29 (19.7%). Normal abdominal CT scans was found in 20 (13.6%)of patients.