By Dr Satish Shambarkar on Friday, 10 February 2023
Category: Teleradiology

X-ray intervention in Africa

African is mother of all civilization. Big geography with more than 50 Nations, shaped by its beutiful forests, rivers, mountains, different cultures and people. The health of Africa is health of its people. Healthy people contribute to economy and remain growth engines for nation. For health to be good, the detection of health anomalies needs to be detected early helping reduce healthcare budgets. Due to equatorial region, skin problems are perineal problems in the African environment. There are other reasons too. Dermatology is front runner of the medical and radiological action needs to be taken seriously. This is possible with simple Xray Intervention and with bunch of enthusiastic teleradiologists. With less number of dermatologist and higher rates of dermatological problems, people find the diagnostics in the form of Xray, CT or MRI can be panacea.

Disease Prevelnce of  in Africa

Dr P. E. S. Palmer has written a wonderful paper in in Journal of Dermatology. He suggests the case of Haemangiosarcoma as seen in Central Africa and detailed in the paper. According to him, Kaposi's Haemangiosarcoma is largely found in Africa. It means children can be affected at glands, with virtual absence of oedema and presence of only a few skin nodules, and as a cute, severe and often rapidly fatal. The symptoms and signs seen in both adults and children are discussed in detail. The histology of the disease, including its three stages, the inflammatory, the granulomatous and the neoplastic, is described. There are two or three diseases which share the similar symptoms. Doctors need to be certain about the root of the problem. For example, it is very impotent to diagnose Kaposi's haemangiosarcoma from other forms of maduramycosis or leprosy. All look the same.

Challenges for General Practitioners and help of Radiologist. 

Now in case of such silent differentiations, several diseases manifest within widespread population like Africa where medical skills are still not adequate. The role of clinician or general pratcioners is to identify and to assess the cause and effect. Who can come to help of the clinician? It is important to state the role of radiology in such cases and in general too- in both phases of patient care: the diagnostic work-up of the patient and patient treatment itself.

Preferably, scans and teleradiologist can offer friendly hand to clinicians. MRI, CT or Xray are jointly used to detect the tissue biology. In case of Kaposi's haemangiosarcoma (which is widely prevent disease) ,X-ray (modality) films can highlight subcutaneous or deep lesions in cases with solitary skin nodules as well as the use of arteriography, chest plates, and x-rays to demonstrate skeletal changes as evidence of widespread disease. He emphasizes the need for improving the radiographic technique to visualize the alimentary tract and considers pyelography of no value.

Dr Palmar states that properly applied conventional deep x-ray therapy, Cobalt 60 or other super voltage therapy will yield highly satisfactory results; Cobalt 60 teletherapy is recommended for bone cysts. In the author's experience, the various cytotoxic drugs have proved disappointing; surgery should be limited to the treatment of isolated lesions and certain sites, such as the conjunctivae.

 TeleradiologyHub Intervention in Africa

"Therefore, at Teleradiologyhub, we share the basic art of radiology to impact lives. Imaging Xray, CT scan and MRI scans has power to look into invisibles, they offer insights into general popular trends in diseases and its correction. Every day, ther radiologist (more than 500+) on Teleradiologyhub reach out to the hospital and diagnostic set-ups with Xray unit in African countries like Uganda, Egypt, Tanzania, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Kenya" opines Dr Satish, resident radiologist at TeleradiologyHub. Mission is healthy Mother, Healthy Africa, and healthy WorldGlobe !!

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