RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT-TEMEKE REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL

The Radiology department of Temeke Regional referral Hospital (TRRH) strives to offer Quality Radiology services by ensuring the best diagnostic outcome that meets the expectation of our Patients and referring Clinicians. Our Radiologists and Imaging technicians/Radiographers are registered by the Medical Radiology and Imaging Professionals Council (MRIPC).

At Temeke Regional referral hospital, we provide a full range of inpatient and outpatient Radiology Imaging Services including Emergencies to meet the needs of our clients.

     Dr. Ikupa Mwasumbi, heads of the department. 

Three (3) Radiologists, one (1) AMO Radiologist, nine (9) Radiographers and 2 assistant nurses support her. 

The department provides a 24 hours (24/7) Radiology service which include:

•    Ultrasound

•    X-Ray

•    Fluoroscopy

•    CT Scan (This is expected to start in January 2023)

X-Ray Services

The department is equipped with two digital X-Ray machines. Our X-ray service is accredited by Tanzania Atomic Energy council (TAEC).  

Quality Imaging and experienced interpretation are assurances of our radiology team in supporting the hospital in providing quality care for our patients.

On average we perform 35 X rays on clients a day and 900 X-rays in a month. 

Our patients’ safety is paramount in our service delivery, ensuring that Radiation safety Measures are adhered to at all service points.

 

     

X-ray technology is used to examine several parts of the body to help diagnose a wide variety of conditions. These include:

•    Fractures and infections of the bones: In most cases, fractures and infections in bones show up clearly on X-ray imaging.

•    Arthritis: X-rays of the joints can reveal radiological signs of arthritis. X-rays taken over time can help a doctor determine if there is worsening of arthritis.

•    Bone Cancer: X-rays can reveal Bone Tumors.

•    Lung infections: Evidence of Pneumonia, Tuberculosis or Lung cancer can show up on chest X-rays.

•    Heart: Chest X-ray can reveal heart enlargement with or without signs of heart failure.

•    Abdominal X-ray: can help to evaluate and diagnose the source of acute and chronic pain in the abdomen as well as other pathologies in the liver, gallbladder, kidney, and urinary bladder (stones), intestinal obstruction, perforation of hollow viscus (stomach or intestine), and ingestion of foreign objects. 

Ultrasound

An Ultrasound scan is a safe and painless test that creates images of organs, glands, abnormal lumps and other structures like muscles, tendons and joints. It is also used to check unborn babies during pregnancy to monitor their growth and check for abnormalities. On average we perform Ultrasound on 30 clients a day and 850 clients in a month.

 

    The Ultrasound Scan is used to diagnose problems of; 

•    Abdominal organs such as the: Liver, Gallbladder, Pancreas, Lymph nodes, Ovaries, Testes, Kidneys, Bladder and Appendix 

•    Neonatal brain

•    Breast 

•    Eyes 

•    Joints 

•    Tendons

•    Thyroid glands 

•    Scrotum 

•    Blood vessels

Fluoroscopy Service

 

Picture showing Fluoroscopy machine at Temeke Regional Referral Hospital

Fluoroscopy is a specialized medical imaging which shows a continuous X-ray image on a monitor, simply we can say it’s a real time X-ray. The difference between an X-Ray investigation and Fluoroscopy procedure is that an X-Ray is a still picture and Fluoroscopy is a video. Fluoroscopy procedures are performed to help diagnose diseases, or to guide physicians during certain treatment procedures. These procedures are performed as outpatient procedures with no need of sedation.

Some fluoroscopy studies may require preparation prior to the procedure. Preparation will depend on the type of fluoroscopy study. The client will be informed the type of preparation once the investigation has been booked at the radiology department. 

If you have allergy to contrast media or are pregnant or there is any chance you could be pregnant kindly inform your health care provider. Contrast media is a safe dye which makes parts of the body to show up clearly on fluoroscopy procedures. 

Fluoroscopy is used to diagnose problems of:

Urinary tract (IVP): This includes the kidneys, urinary bladder and ureters to show function and their pathologies

Urethra (Urethrography): This is used to evaluate the cause of poor urinary flow not caused by the usual prostate enlargement, in case of urethral injury and narrowing of urethra.

Barium Swallow/Meal: This helps to check problems of the upper gastrointestinal tract which includes the mouth, back of the throat, esophagus, stomach and the first part of the small intestine. It can help diagnose esophageal pathologies, hiatal hernia, ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, tumors as well as other structural problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

Barium enema: This is used to evaluate the lower gastrointestinal tract to diagnose structural or functional abnormalities. These include, but not limited to; Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, polyps, colon tumors, and diverticulosis.

Cystography: This can show how well the urinary bladder is emptying during urination and see if there is any urine back flow to the kidneys.

Hysterosalpingography: This helps to evaluate the female reproductive organs (uterus and fallopian tubes). It can help to diagnose some causes of infertility.

CT Scan services

CT (Computerized Tomography) scan uses X-rays and a computer to acquire detailed images, analyze data and display them in sections which helps radiologists to appreciate well the inner structures of the inside of the body and interpret images which are viewed in any anatomical plain or reconstructed into three dimensional images. CT Scan has excellent capability to differentiate various soft tissue structures and can give excellent bones detail. Some CT examinations may need the use of contrast media to help visualize well some parts inside the body, in such cases the kidney function will have to be known through laboratory test prior to the examination. Kindly inform your health care provider incase you have allergy to contrast media or are pregnant. 

It is used to diagnose different pathologies of various body parts such as;

•    Brain: tumors, traumatic or spontaneous hematomas, stroke, edema, skull fracture, calcifications, arteriovenous malformations, hydrocephalus, sinusitis, and empyema

•    Neck: Malignant tumors, benign masses, thyroid nodules, lymphadenopathy

•    Chest: malignant tumor, pneumonia, metastasis, benign masses, pulmonary edema, tuberculosis, pulmonary embolism, traumatic injury to the lungs, esophageal rupture, ingested foreign body, fibrosis.

•    Abdomen: primary tumors, metastases, abscess, ascites, cholecystitis, appendicitis, renal calculi, pancreatitis, obstruction, lymphadenopathy, foreign body.

•    Spine: fractures, degenerative changes, stability, osteomyelitis, disc pathology

•    Bone: complex bone fractures, eroded joints, tumors, osteomyelitis

•    Gynecology: cyst, tumors.

•    CT Angiography: brain, heart, lung, kidney, extremities

It can as well be used for cancer screening, staging, and follow-up. It also helps to perform biopsies adequate through CT guidance.