Hydrocolonic sonography - preliminary experience in Uganda

HCS was first used in Uganda with the aim of studying structural changes in the colon of patients having S Mansoni. Two studies have been carried out in this respect. The initial study included 416 patients and was a multicentre study with patients drawn from Kigungu and Panyimur in Uganda. Sonographic results consisted of bowel wall thickening (62%) Failure of visualization of normal bowel layers (18%) Irregularity of intestinal mucosal (28) polyps (13%) and increased echogenicity of intestinal wall mucosa (8%) Intestinal ascaris was also demonstrated. The second study was done in Kigungu and involved 80 patients. In this group colonic wall thickening was seen in 12.5 of patients bowels alteration in echotexture 25% and polyps (5%). We are as yet to see the applicability of this study in a clinical setting.