Unmet Needs in Oncology Clinical Research and Treatment in Africa: Focus on Ghana.

Cancer incidence is increasing worldwide and is a major cause of mortality. The relative magnitude of the increase is remarkably high in low human development index (HDI; 95%) and medium HDI (64%) countries. On the African continent, a corresponding increase in cancer burden is predicted, particularly for sub-Saharan Africa. Current epidemiologic data indicate that mortality rates of certain cancers, such as breast and cervical cancers, in sub-Saharan Africa are the highest in the world, and the cancer risks are broadly comparable to the risks in high-income countries, such as the United States and Europe. Although emerging data alludes to the unique genetic profile of cancer in African populations, most cancer therapies are introduced to Africa without confirmatory clinical trials. Therefore, there is an increasing need for clinical trials directed toward prevention, screening, diagnosis, and identification of innovative treatments in the African context. This review will discuss the increasing cancer burden in Africa, with a particular focus on Ghana, unmet clinical needs in cancer, current medical systems, clinical trial regulatory systems, and challenges to clinical trial recruitment.

Intracranial aneurysms in Ghanaian adults.

Objective: To document the location, size, and multiplicity of intracranial aneurysms in Ghanaians who have undergone digital subtraction angiography (DSA) at a single centre in Accra, Ghana. Design: We conducted a retrospective observational review of the medical records of all patients diagnosed with intracranial aneurysms on DSA. Setting: Patients' medical records at Euracare Advanced Diagnostic and Heart Centre were reviewed between March 2018 and March 2020. Participants: Thirty-one patients were identified with various intracranial aneurysms (IAs) within the study period. Patients' ages, sex, and types of IAs were extracted using a checklist and analysed using Microsoft Excel for Windows 2016. Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: The prevalence of types and distribution of intracranial aneurysms. Results: The age range of the patients was 26-76 years, with a mean age of 45.5±14.3 years. The mean age of men and women with IA was 45.5 ±15.9 years and 46.7 51.3±12.9 years, respectively. The most common IAs were located in the posterior communicating artery (PCOM) at 54.8% (95%CI: 36.0, 72.7), followed by the anterior communicating (ACOM), which constituted 32.3% (95%CI: 16.7, 51.4). The majority, 89.2% (33/37) of these aneurysms were less than 7mm in diameter. Single aneurysms were present in 25 (80.6%). Conclusion: The most common IAs were found in the PCOM and ACOM, and IAs tend to rupture at a younger age and smaller size among the Ghanaian adults examined. Early detection and treatment of IAs less than 7mm in diameter is recommended. Funding: None declared.

Comparing radiological presentations of first and second strains of COVID-19 infections in a low-resource country.

INTRODUCTION: The novel corona virus popularly referred to as COVID-19 disease and SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. In Ghana, the first two cases of COVID-19 infection were recorded on March 13, 2020 with a strain imported from Europe. In December 2020, a new strain from South Africa was detected in Ghana which was associated with higher transmission rates, severity of the disease, and higher number of recorded deaths. Our study aimed to record notable differences and similarities between infections due to the initial, and second strains of COVID-19 infections detected in Ghana during the last 12-months. METHOD: This was a retrospective study involving 50 patients infected with the first strain, and another 50 patients infected with the second strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Microsoft Excel-2013 was the analytical tool. RESULTS: The data analysis supported publications suggesting that the new strain of the virus caused more severe infections, which were manifested on high resolution CT (HRCT) scans as more widespread alveolar disease, most commonly presenting as large areas of consolidation. CONCLUSION: Despite numerous similarities in terms of the manifestation of COVID-19 infection on HRCT scans, notable difference supporting the notion of increased virulence and severity of disease were also recorded. The study findings demonstrate the need for heightened and sustained preventive measures needed to reduce, and eventually curb COVID-19 infection and mortality rates associated with the introduction of new virulent strains.

CT scan chest findings in symptomatic COVID-19 patients: a reliable alternative for diagnosis.

Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the chest plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 pneumonia shows typical CT Scan features which can aid diagnoses and therefore help in the early detection and isolation of infected patients. CT scanners are readily available in many parts of Ghana. It is able to show findings typical for COVID-19 infection of the chest, even in instances where Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) misses the diagnosis. Little is known about the diagnostic potential of chest CT scan and COVID-19 among physicians even though CT scan offers a high diagnostic accuracy.

Aetiology of Obstructive Jaundice in Ghana: A Retrospective Analysis in a Tertiary Hospital.

Background: Obstructive jaundice is a term that describes the clinical entity of yellowness of the skin and mucous membranes due to the inability of bile to flow freely into the duodenum. This is commonly due to mechanical or physiological blockage of either the intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts. Malignancies are responsible for the most cases of obstructive jaundice in our locality. Aim: The study sought to analyse all cases of obstructive jaundice that presented to a tertiary referral centre over a 36-month period, to determine the age at presentation, sex distribution, and aetiological spectrum. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Study Setting: Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based study of all cases of obstructive jaundice that were seen over a 36-month period from May 2017 to April 2020, at the Hepatobiliary Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The unit serves as a referral centre for all liver, pancreas, and biliary tract cases, including cases presenting with obstructive jaundice. The demographic data and diagnosis of all cases of obstructive jaundice seen over the study period were retrieved from both out-patient and in-patient records. Results: Three hundred and sixty cases of obstructive jaundice were studied; 141 (39.2%) were males and 219 (60.8%) were females, giving a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.6. The mean age of the patients was 56.8 (SD, 15.9) years. Malignant conditions accounted for 314 (87.2%) cases, whilst 46 (12.8%) were due to benign conditions. The mean age of the patients with benign conditions (40.4 [SD, 15.7] years) was significantly lower than that of those with malignant conditions (59.4 [SD, 14.9] years) (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in sex ratios between patients with malignant and benign causes (P = 0.996). Pancreatic head cancer was the commonest malignant cause of obstructive jaundice accounting for 139 (38.61%), followed by gallbladder tumour, 81 (22.5%), whilst choledocholithiasis (23 [6.39%]) was the commonest benign cause of obstructive jaundice. Conclusion: Obstructive jaundice in our setting was more prevalent in females. Malignant aetiologies were more common than benign ones: pancreatic head and gallbladder cancers were the commonest malignancies, whilst choledocholithiasis was the commonest benign cause. Malignant causes occurred in older patients than benign conditions, but there was no difference in sex ratios between the two categories.

Prostatic volume determination by transabdominal ultrasonography: Does accuracy vary significantly with urinary bladder volumes between 50 to 400 mL?

INTRODUCTION: In Ghana, trans-abdominal ultrasonography is the main sonographic method of prostatic volume evaluation. The examinations are done when the patient's bladder is full. However, the delay and the discomforting experiences associated with a full bladder have been well documented. In an attempt to investigate other less discomforting options, this study was undertaken to determine if sonographic transabdominal prostatic evaluations performed at urinary bladder volumes of 50-99 mL differ significantly to evaluations done at volumes of 100-199, 200-299 and 300-399 mL. METHODS: A prostatic study of adult patients was undertaken in Accra, from 2014 to 2015. Using an ultrasound machine, 79 sets of prostatic measurements were recorded at a urinary bladder volume of 50-99 mL (V1 as our reference volume), and at least one of three other urinary bladder volumes (V2 = 100-199 mL, V3 = 200-299 mL and V4 = 300-399 mL), in 66 males. Twelve of the participants had multiple sets of prostate volume measurements. SPSS was used to analyse the data. T-test, Bland-Altman plots and linear regression were used to compare and test for the existence of proportional biases in measurements. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in prostatic volumes recorded at V1 and V2 (P = 0.017). However, the prostatic volume differences recorded for V1/V3, and V1/V4 groups of data were all not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The limits of agreement for the set of measurements spread from approximately -29 to +18 mL for V1/V2, -48 to +36 mL for V1/V3 and -12 to +12 mL for V1/V4 variables. There was no proportional bias in the V1/V2 (P = 0.55) and V1/V4 (P = 0.463) measurements. CONCLUSION: Urinary bladder volume of 50-99 mL produces prostatic volume measurements comparable to volumes measured in patients with a full (300-399 mL), or nearly full urinary bladder (200-299 mL). A urinary bladder volume of 50-99 mL may therefore be adequate for scanning the prostate gland, and is likely to be tolerated much better by patients.