Utility and Effectiveness of Orbito-ocular B-scan Ultrasonography in an African Developing Country

Background. Diagnostic orbito-ocular ultrasonography is a safe, affordable, and cost-effective procedure that is especially suited for resource-poor developing countries. Periodic evaluation of its utility and effectiveness is important in the light of phenomenal advances in medical imaging. Objectives. To assess the utility and effectiveness of B-scan orbito-ocular ultrasonography in a Nigerian ophthalmic patient population. Methods. The Hansa Clinic’s database was retrospectively reviewed, between January 2006 and December 2010, to obtain patients’ relevant demographic and clinical data. Results. The subjects comprised 119 males and 81 females. The leading sonographic diagnoses were ocular (90.4%): retinal detachment—23.3%, cataract—14.0%, and vitreous haemorrhage—10.5%; orbital (8.3%): ‘mass lesion’—4.8% and myopathies—0.8%. The agreement between clinical and sonographic diagnoses was complete in 35.5% eyes. Conclusion. At Hansa Clinics, intraocular lesions are the main findings of diagnostic orbito-ocular sonography. There is poor agreement between clinical and sonographic diagnoses. Improved correlation of patients’ clinic-pathologic data is suggested.