Addis Ababa University College of Health Science School of Medicine Department of Radiology Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultra Sound Reports of Intussusception and Factorsaffecting Treatment out Come among Pediatricpatients in Tikur Anbassa Hospital, Tah, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Intussusception is one of the main abdominal emergencies in children. Ultrasonography, is widely available, easily performed, does not produce radiation and can be used to screen suspected cases and diagnosis of intussusceptions. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound investigation reports in the diagnosis of intussusceptions and factors which affect treatment outcome of intussusceptions among pediatric patients in TikurAnbassaHospital, TAH, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2002 and Aug 2004 EC, 47 children were managed for intussusception at TAH and 42 patients underwent screening US for suspected intussusception. The mean age of the patients was 8 months. RESULT: Out of forty seven patients, Forty two underwent screening US and surgery. Thirty eight patients had a positive US result; 34 (89.5%) were true positive and 4(10.5%) were false positive. Four patients had a negative US result; all were false negative. The sensitivity of the ultrasound examination was 89.5%. CONCLUSIONS: It is a concern in our environment causing considerable morbidity and mortality due to late presentation. We conclude that ultrasonography can be used as a rapid, sensitive screening procedure in the diagnosis or exclusion of childhood intussusceptions. The sensitivity of ultrasound examination is shown to decrease in our situation when compared to others, For this to be effective, effort may have to be intensified toward training more specialized personnel.