Background of Study: Radiation protection is of core importance in radiodiagnostic centres, to keep both patients care givers and staff of the centres from stochastic and non- stochastic effects of radiation. The effectiveness and protectiveness of aprons are of valuable importance, it is therefore necessary to assess these aprons to ensure efficacy. Such quality checks have not been reported in the South – South region of Nigeria. Aim: To assess in terms of their quality and therefore protective features, the lead aprons in used radiology clinics in the South-South region of Nigeria. Method: Twenty two protective lead aprons from 18 radiological clinics in South-South Nigeria were directly exposed to X-rays with average factors of 70 ± 5kVp, 16 mAs and 100 cm Source to apron distance, with 43 x 35 cm cassettes places underneath to cover the upper (thoracic half) and the lower (abdominal half) respectively. Exposed films were processed in each centre following regular processing protocols to obtain radiographs with images of the state of the aprons. The images were analyzed on the basis of each apron’s lead equivalence (content), age, brand and the type of defects observed. Defects were characterized into cracks, tears, splits and rips. Physical examination for cleanliness, wear and tear was also carried out. Results: Results showed that 68% of all the aprons under study were defective, having cracks (44%), tears (33%), splits (15%) and/or rips (8%). About 73 % of the defective aprons had more than one (1) type of defect. Up to 87% of the defective aprons had no inherent lead equivalence and manufacturer identification indicated on them. It was observed that about 73% of these defects occurred in aprons of aged between 1-10 years with the area affected in the range of 1.00 – 1000.00 mm2 . Conclusion: Over two-thirds (⅔) of lead aprons found in diagnostic radiology centres in South – South Nigeria, have shown sufficient evidence of defects to suggest that they may not be useful for radiation protection of the users.

Introduction:First trimester pregnancy is defined as twelve weeks after the last menstrual period.Ultrasonography has revolutionized validation and management of first trimester pregnancies.The aim was to analyze ultrasonographic findings of first trimester pregnancies in University of Uyo teaching hospital (UUTH), Uyo, Nigeria.Methods: The departmental ultrasonographic records of pregnant women who were referred to Radiology department of UUTH, Uyo, Nigeria.For ultrasound scans were retrospectively reviewed.The period under consideration was from 8 th January 2013 to 8 th February, 2016.Demographic data and ultrasonographic parameters of first trimester pregnancies like gestational sacs were recorded.Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS Chicago 13.Exclusion criterion included incomplete data and acyesis despite positive βhCG test.Results: 26.4% (n-645) of the 2438 pregnant women who underwent obstetric ultrasonography had first trimester ultrasonography during the studied period.The peak frequency was seen in the 20-29 age range with 52.2% (n-337) and followed by 30-39 age range with 41.7% (n-269).The commonest first trimester ultrasound findings was viable pregnancy with 42.5% (n-274), followed by incomplete miscarriage with 34.3% (n-221).The least finding was trophoblastic pregnancies 0.3% (n-2).The earliest age at which normal viable pregnancy was diagnosed in this study was 5weeks 5days from the last menstrual period.Only 2.19% (n-6) of the normal viable pregnancies were multiple pregnancies and they were all twins.The highest number of referrals to Radiology Department for first trimester ultrasonography was from accident and emergency unit with 34.42% (n-222) while antenatal clinic referral was only 16.12% (n-104).Conclusion: The commonest first trimester's obstetric ultrasonographic findings in Uyo, Nigeria are viable pregnancies and are predominantly single gestation.The earliest age of ultasonographic pregnancy detection in Uyo is 5week 5days and peak maternal age is second and third decades.

Uterine fibroid, also referred to as leiomyoma is the most common benign tumour of the uterus occurring in women but reported as rare in the adolescent. Lately, there has been an increase in reported cases among teenagers. This study aims at documenting the prevalence of uterine fibroid among adolescent schoolgirls in Calabar and recommending timely specialist advice and care where the need arises. Adolescent secondary schoolgirls aged 10 to 19years whose parents or guardians gave consent had pelvic ultrasound scan done. A prevalence of 0.05% was calculated. It is concluded that the prevalence of uterine fibroid is low among adolescent schoolgirls in Calabar. Keyword-Adolescent,Prevalence, Schoolgirls,Uterine Fibroid

BACKGROUND: Observation has shown a preponderance of irrelevant, unjustified and perhaps unnecessary radiological requests in the study area. The consequences of this on the patients' doses and population collective dose may be dire. OBJECTIVE: To assess Clinicians/Referrers' knowledge of radiation doses of patients undergoing radiological examinations. METHODOLOGY: A prospective, non-experimental, cross-sectional survey of clinicians (except radiologists) in various hospitals in Calabar metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria, was conducted. A pretested and validated questionnaire was designed to extract responses on rating of effective doses for commonly requested imaging examinations, using the value for the posterior-anterior (PA) chest x-ray as reference. Questions on radiosensitivity of different organs, imaging modalities that use ionizing radiation and considerations for the choice of ionizing radiation (IR) based examinations were included. Participants were also asked for their preferred methods of filling any knowledge gap on IR issues. Responses were presented in simple percentages. RESULTS: A total of 104 respondents, made up of 63.5% males and 36.5% females participated in the study. At least 70% and 42% of the respondents, respectively, were aware that Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging were not IR based modalities. About 67.3% of the respondents did not know the doses of commonly requested radiological examinations. This result was not dependent on clinicians' demography. A total of 61.5% of the respondents referred patients for IR examinations even when the result was unlikely to alter their diagnosis or treatment; but to reassure the patient (98.8%), meet expectations of patients (35%) or to give the patient the feeling of being taken seriously (75%). CONCLUSION: Participating Clinicians in this study have showed poor knowledge of radiation doses of commonly requested radiological examinations. Most participants suggested improvement of their knowledge of radiation doses through continuous medical education and by the provision of referral guidelines.

BACKGROUND: One of the organs readily assessed during abdominal scanning is the liver and this is due to the wide range of diseases associated with changes in liver size. Ultrasound scan remains a very important modality for liver evaluation because it is simple, not expensive, non-invasive and readily available but yet there is no record of ultrasound measurement of liver sizes among school - age children in Calabar. METHOD: Four hundred and seventy apparently healthy school-age children (3-14 years) were studied. 244(52%) were females, mean age 8.2±1.6 years and 226(48%) were males, mean age 8.0±1.4 years. Liver size of the subjects was measured sonographically in the right midclavicular line to determine anteroposterior (AP) and longitudinal diameters of the liver. Biodata of the subjects (sex, age, height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated prospectively. The subjects were divided into four groups according to age, sex, height and weight. RESULTS: The mean AP and longitudinal diameter of the liver for males was 102.5±7.3mm and 130.9±7.4mm respectively and that of females was 98.3±6.6mm and 121.0±5.1mm respectively. Age, height and BMI significantly correlated with the longitudinal and AP diameter of the liver (r > 0.5, P < 0.002). CONCLUSION: School age children in Calabar have a mean AP diameter of liver as 100.3±7.3mm with a range of 75.2-129mm and a mean longitudinal diameter of liver as 125.0±10.4mm with a range of 100 - 158mm.

Background: Infertility is a major clinico-social problem not only in Nigeria; but the whole of the sub-saharan Africa and other parts of the world. In Nigeria it accounts for over 50% of attendance in Gynaecological clinics. Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is still a very valuable imaging modality in the work-up of women with infertility; especially in some communities in Nigeria where modern non-invasive diagnostic modalities are not readily available in most of the health institutions.Aims and Objectives: The study aims at evaluating the HSG findings among women with infertility to further highlight the relevance of this imaging modality in the management of infertility.Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 205 consecutive Hysterosalpingograms from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital between October 2013 and September 2015 was done. The Radiological findings and demographic data of the patients were documented and analyzed.Results: Pathologies were reported on 176 (85.8%) Hysterosalpingograms while 29 (14.14%) were normal. The age range of the patients was between 21 and 55 years and the commonest age group was 31 – 35 years. The commonest pathological findings were in the uterus; namely uterine fibroids, 86 (41.95%), uterine synaechiae, 19 (9.26%), Asherman syndrome and congenital abnormalities, 5 each (2.43%). The next commonest pathologies were those associated with tubal occlusionsConclusion: Hysterosalpingography still plays a major investigative role in the evaluation and management of women with infertility. The commonest abnormalities seen in this study were in the uterus.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.7(5) 2016 70-74

Background: The main indication for hysterosalpingography (HSG) is infertility, primarily to assess the fallopian tubes. Its major drawback is tubal spasm, which is preventable by administering intravenous (IV) Buscopan prior to the procedure. This is not routinely done by all practitioners, rather they administer it after the tubes are not demonstrated, which leads to repeats. HSG involves a relatively high radiation dose to the pelvic organs compared to none contrast examinations, so multiple attempts of the procedure and unnecessary radiation exposure should be discouraged. Objectives:Administer intravenous Buscopan prior to the procedure and assess the fallopian tubes, adverse drug reaction and the number of attempts of the procedure. Subjects and Methods: A prospective study of 130 women, aged between 19 and 42 years over two years, at 2 radiodiagnostic units. We administered IV Buscopan before the procedure. Results: We observed HSG abnormalities in 94(72.3%) women and 32(24.6%) showed multiple site involvement. Sixty-one (46.9%) women had abnormalities in the tubes(commonest sites), mainly due to occlusion. Conclusion: We did our procedures once, thus avoiding additional radiation exposure and discomfort due to repeated examinations in suspected tubal spasm when Buscopan is administered later to relieve it. No serious adverse reaction to Buscopan.

Honey is used in most places as food sweetener and antibacterial agent for wounds. The antibacterial property of honey depends mainly on its peroxide value and acidity. This study investigated the possible effect that may be observed on the peroxide value and acidity if honey is exposed to x-ray at varying tube current values (mAs) in order to infer the possible implications of referring patients undergoing honey therapy for diagnostic x-ray examination. The acid and peroxide values were found to vary with changes in the exposure (mAs) value. It is therefore recommended that patients undergoing honey therapy should be referred for diagnostic x-ray examination with caution while radiotherapy should be avoided.

Objective: To report a rare occurrence of giant, solitary, cystic, intramuscular plexiform neurofibroma in the thigh.Case Report: A 45-year-old architect presented with a 5-year history of painless, progressively enlarging soft tissue mass in the right thigh, which was diagnosed on histology as cystic plexiform neurofibroma after excision biopsy. Conclusion:A plexiform neurofibroma should be considered in the differentials of a solitary cystic mass in the thigh even in the absence of usual manifestations of Neurofibromatosis.

Purpose: To determine the luminance and ambient lighting levels of x-ray film viewing boxes and viewing environments in X-ray facilities in the Cross River State of Nigeria in order to compare the results with existing international guidelines. Materials and methods: Eighteen (n=18) viewing boxes in nine hospitals were studied. Luminance and ambient lighting levels were measured using a factory calibrated Model 615 BK precision light meter. Measurements were made from small openings made at the centre and four corners of a thick black sheet of cotton fibre overlying the respective boxes. Measurements were made of the 17 points on each box, and the box mean, highest and lowest luminance, as well as average uniformity values determined. Respective viewing room ambient light levels were determined 30 centimeters (cms) from the viewing boxes surfaces with the boxes turned off. Values obtained were compared with those published in the literature, following the European Commission (EU), American College of Radiology (ACR), British Institute of Radiology (BIR), National Institute of Radiation Hygiene (NIRH), South African Directorate of Radiation (SADR), and World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. Results: Nine (50%) of the viewing boxes surveyed met the EU and WHO guidelines for uniformity and ambient light levels. All nine study centres met the ACR ambient light conditions, while 6% satisfied the SADR guidelines. Average brightness values of viewing boxes in the nine hospitals surveyed showed poor compliance with the published guidelines. Only one viewing box met the published minimum brightness value of 1500 cd m -2 . Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the need for quick intervention and adoption of quality control standards to improve radiographic viewing conditions in the state. This should facilitate optimal viewing conditions thereby enhancing accurate interpretation of conventional radiographic images.

To encourage local participation in patient dose data acquisition, a mathematical method of entrance skin doses determination, developed by Harpen, has been used to determine patient doses and radiographic/technical image quality for 169 adult patients undergoing non-grid chest radiography in three Nigerian hospitals. Calculated doses were found to be about 12.5% (range 8.9–13.3%) higher than doses obtained with thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLD). This level of discrepancy was about 4% higher than the value reported in the literature. Radiographic/technical quality was rated at 53.7% while image quality obtained against a standard image according to the European guidelines was rated with an above average score (58%). Notable variation between the hospitals was observed and the need for optimization highlighted in technical areas like collimation, film processing and in patient dose reduction using better exposure techniques. This study presents patient entrance doses and image quality in hospitals where such data was not existing and could therefore be used as a basis for future studies in dose and image quality, towards the development of local and national reference parameters. The mathematical method, though highly susceptible to errors, can be employed until dose monitoring equipment become more accessible.

Honey samples collected from Obudu, Nigeria were irradiated at X-ray tube potentials between 50kVp and 90kVp (typical diagnostic potentials) and analysed for possible changes in pH and sugar concentration. It was observed that X-ray irradiation of Honey actually causes changes in its pH and sugar concentration, which did not follow any defined pattern, but had values that were significant in some cases when compared with those of the control. Being major contributors to the inhibitory property of honey, the observed changes in the values of these parameters may alter the potency of honey in wound treatment and healing. Therefore x-ray examinations during honey therapy should be avoided. Keywords: honey, sugar, pH, Concentration, X-ray, irradiation Nigerian Journal of Physics Vol. 17, 2005: 113-116

A retrospective study of 1000 chest radiographs randomly selected from various government and private owned hospitals in the southern part of Nigeria covering a period of twenty years was carried out. Accuracy in patient positioning, beam collimation and identification of radiographs were assessed as indicators for quality assurance and radiation protection. The result showed that for male 59% were rotated and 41% were not. For the female, 60% were rotated while 39% were not. 95.30% radiographs were inadequately collimated, and 69.30% were properly identified. This suggests poor quality and exposure of patients to unnecessary radiation though more attention was paid to identification of radiographs. KEY WORDS: Positioning; Collimation; Identification; Quality; Radiation. West African Journal of Radiology Vol.7(1) 2000: 18-25

BACKGROUND:The need for the development of criteria for the referral of patients for radiographic examinations, especially in the face of the results of separate studies on temperature and radiation effects, formed the background to this study. The aim of this study is to determine the possible consequences of low dose radiation to living tissue in the presence of elevated temperatures, with a view to developing referral criteria for patients scheduled for radiodiagnostic examinations.METHOD:A two part procedure in the form of x-irradiation of water phantom at temperatures ranging from 25 and 45 degrees Celsius, to assess absorbed dose with temperature variation, as well as histological study of living tissue extracted from the skin and lungs of experimental animals, exposed to x-radiation at kilovoltage range between 50 and 90 and temperature values between 25 and 45 degrees Celsius.RESULTS:Results showed increased radiation absorption with rising temperature in the studied samples suggesting that radiation absorption and therefore effects, may be functions of the temperature of the absorbing medium, being more pronounced at higher temperatures, even at constant exposure.CONCLUSION:A combination of elevated temperatures and x-radiation, even at diagnostic exposures doses, may not be safe for patients, especially in paediatric radiography patients presenting with body temperatures in the neighborhood of 40 degrees Celsius. The application of this as a radiation protection measure in the use of ionizing radiation is recommended, especially where highly dividing tissue is involved.

Amoebic liver abscess still poses a serious clinical problem in tropical countries. Here we describe three complicated cases to illustrate the magnitude this disease condition could assume in the tropics. Limited access to health facilities as well as poverty and ignorance result in patients presenting late, often with complications, which compounds the problem of differential diagnoses. The need for improved sanitary conditions, and qualitative health care delivery in the tropics to positively alter the epidemiology of this disease becomes more imperative. KEY WORDS: Amoebic liver abscess, complications, tropics. (Global J Med Sci: 2003 2(1): 65-70)