Schedule of Events | Symposia

Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Findings Among Patients Presenting with Neurological Symptoms at a Nigerian Tertiary Health Care Facility

Poster Session D - Monday, March 31, 2025, 8:00 – 10:00 am EDT, Back Bay Ballroom/Republic Ballroom

Kenneth Chiedozie Oparaji¹ (chiedozieoparaji@gmail.com), Darlington-Peter C. Ugoji², Victor U. Chukwu², Miracle N. Okoche¹, Chibuike G. Okereke¹, Henry C. Ibere¹, Victory E. Onyenagbagha¹, Yadirichukwu J. Nwani¹; ¹Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), ²David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH)

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: In Nigeria, the burden of neurological disorders is growing, and this poses significant challenges for our frail health-care systems. This informed the need for the investigation of local (African) brain MRI data to better understand these abnormalities and their pattern of presentation. METHODOLOGY: As a retrospective study, it was designed to review clinical data and MRI reports of 51 patients who presented at a tertiary health facility (DUFUTH) in Uburu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria between January 2023 and June 2024. Demography, image findings, and the relationship between the MRI findings, age, and sex were data obtained and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the degree of significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: This study involved 25 females and 26 males, aged 0 to 95 years.  About 19 (37.25%) patients had normal brain MRI findings, while 32 (62.75%) were abnormal. The most common pathologies noted were brain tumour (25.49%), followed by hydrocephalus (17.65%), and white matter diseases (13.73%). Age group 0-23 years had the highest number of pathological findings (37%); this was followed by age group 24-63 years (21%). No significant association (P>0.05) was found to exist between gender and the MRI findings. CONCLUSION: The most common brain MRI findings were brain tumours, hydrocephalus, and white matter diseases respectively. The study adds to existing data-sets, and also highlights common brain pathologies in a local African tertiary hospital setting which will not only offer research-based insights but also, clinical and medical perspectives.

Topic Area: METHODS: Neuroimaging