A Commentary on the Negative Impacts on Patient Diagnoses and Management from the Lack of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Services at the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) in Ghana

Abstract

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a useful medical imaging tool in the diagnoses and management of several disease conditions including multiple sclerosis, prostate and breast cancer, epilepsy and seizure disorders, soft tissue joint disorders and vertebral spine disorders. MRI is also very useful in diagnosing breast disorders especially in younger women and following inconclusive breast ultrasound scans and mammograms. Pancreaticobiliary duct disorders like choledocholithiasis, acute and chronic pancreatitis are also well investigated with MRI. MRI services are unavailable at the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH), a major referral hospital, and one of the five teaching hospitals in Ghana. The clinical implication of this is that patients who need MRI services have to travel long distances to other hospitals to access MRI services. The lack of MRI services at the HTH makes the diagnoses of critical medical conditions difficult, and in some cases, impossible. This commentary draws attention to the importance of MRI in the diagnoses and management of common medical conditions seen at the HTH and the lapses in diagnosing and managing patients with such conditions at the hospital.