BackgroundPrune belly syndrome is a rare congenital malformation of unknown etiology, with the following triad of findings: abdominal muscle wall weakness, undescended testes, and urinary tract abnormalities. In most cases, detection of prune belly syndrome occurs during neonatal or infancy period. In this case report, we describe a 12-year-old boy from Ethiopia with the triad of findings of prune belly syndrome along with skeletal malformations. We are unaware of any previous report of prune belly syndrome in Ethiopia.Case presentationA 12-year-old Amhara boy from the Northwest Gondar Amhara regional state presented to our referral hospital with a complaint of swelling over his left flank for the past 3 months. Maternal pregnancy course and medical history were noncontributory, and he had an attended birth at a health center. He has seven siblings, none of whom had similar symptoms. On examination he had a distended abdomen, asymmetric with bulging left flank, visible horizontal line, upward umbilical slit, and absent rectus abdominis muscles. His abdomen was soft with a tender cystic, bimanually palpable mass on the left flank measuring 13 × 11 cm. Both testes were undescended and he also has developmental dysplasia of the hips. An abdominal ultrasound revealed a large cystic mass in his left kidney area with echo debris and a hip X-ray showed bilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip.Intraoperative findings were cystic left kidney, both testes were intraperitoneal, tortuous left renal vein, enlarged bladder reaching above umbilicus, and left megaureter.Interventions: bilateral orchidectomy and left nephrectomy were done. He was given intravenously administered antibiotics for treatment of pyelonephritis and discharged home with an appointment for follow up and possible abdominoplasty.ConclusionsIn the current report delayed presentation contributed to testicular atrophy and decision for orchidectomy. Furthermore, he will be at potential risk for sex hormone abnormality. Therefore, diagnosis of prune belly syndrome in resource-limited settings requires a high index of suspicion. We recommend further research to determine the optimal management and early diagnosis of prune belly syndrome in resource-limited settings.

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Background: Neonatal respiratory distress accounts for most admissions to intensive care units in the immediate newborn period. Chest radiograph is the primary and most important imaging modality in the evaluation of causes of respiratory distress (RD) and its complications. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2011 to August 2012 in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH). A convenient sampling method was used and 150 neonates who had chest radiographs with different causes of RD from the neonatal ICU admissions were included in the study period. Result: Of the 150 neonates with RD, chest radiographs showed 66(44%) neonates had abnormal chest radiographic findings. Pneumonia 24(36.4%) and HMD 23(34.8%) accounting the majority of causes of RD. Neonates with congenital pneumonia presented with lobar or multi lobar asymmetric consolidation in 18(75%) neonates followed by fine diffuse, bilateral, symmetrical reticulogranular and reticulonodular infiltrates with normal lung volume in 6(25%) neonates. All 23 neonates with HMD presented with fine, diffuse, bilateral reticular or reticulogranular infiltrates with decreased lung volume. There is no significant association between independent variables like maturity of neonates, premature rupture of membrane (PROM), prolonged labor or route of delivery with either clinical or radiological diagnosis of causes of RD in neonates. all 23 neonates with HMD presented with fine diffuse bilateral reticular or reticulogranular infiltrates with decreased lung volumes. There is no significant association between independent variables like maturity of neonates, premature rupture of membrane (PROM), prolonged labor or route of delivery with either clinical or radiological diagnosis of causes of RD in neonates. Conclusion: The study showed HMD and infections (EONS, pneumonia) were the most common causes of RD in neonates and most other researches also show comparable results of causes and radiographic findings of RD in neonates.

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BACKGROUND: Incidentally discovered thyroid lesions have become highly common in the development and more frequent utilization of highly sensitive imaging modalities, like ultrasound. However, little is known about its prevalence and associated factors in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid incidentalomas and associated factors through ultrasound (US) among adults attending Gondar University Hospital.METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 290 adults aged 15 years and above. Out of the adults who visited the hospital during the study, those who neither had history of thyroid disease, thyroid surgery, nor clinically palpable thyroid nodules were involved in the investigation. The participants were examined using a high frequency linear-array transducer (7MHz). For comparing men and women, the unpaired t-test wasused. Binary logistic analysis was used to identify the associated factors, and a P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULT: The frequency of thyroid incidentaloma was found to be 33.4% (95% CI: 27.9, 38.9). Thyroid incidentaloma was detected in 42.4% of the females and 22.7% of the males (P<0.001). About 63% had single and 37% multiple thyroid nodules. About 25.8% had thyroid nodules greater than 1cm. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, increasing age (AOR=5.96; 2.34, 15.15) and female sex (AOR=3.01; 1.73, 5.26) were significantly associated with thyroid incidentalomas.CONCLUSION: The frequency of thyroid incidentaloma (TI) was found to be high in this study and much higher among older women. Solitary and small sized thyroid nodules were commonly seen in the study.