Ultrasound-guided Breast Biopsy in the Resource-limited Setting: An Initial Experience in Rural Uganda
- Christopher R Stark (University of Vermont)
- Kristen K DeStigter (Department of Radiology, University of Vermont Medical Center)
- Alphonsus Matovu (Mubende Regional Referral Hospital)
- Picho Alli Shadrack (Imaging the World Africa, Kampala, Uganda)
Abstract
Purpose: To describe the methodology and initial experience behind creation of an ultrasoundguided percutaneous breast core biopsy program in rural Uganda.
Methods and Materials: Imaging the World Africa (ITWA) is the registered non-governmental organization division of Imaging the World (ITW), a not-for-profit organization whose primary aim is the integration of affordable high-quality ultrasound into rural health centers. In 2013, ITWA began the pilot phase of an IRB-approved breast care protocol at a rural health center in Uganda. As part of the protocol’s diagnostic arm, an ultrasound-guided percutaneous breast core biopsy training curriculum was implemented in tandem with creation of regionally supplied biopsy kits.
Results: A surgeon at a rural regional referral hospital was successfully trained and certified to perform ultrasound-guided percutaneous breast core biopsies. Affordable and safe biopsy kits were created using locally available medical supplies with the cost of each kit totaling $10.62 USD.
Conclusion: Successful implementation of an ultrasound-guided percutaneous breast core biopsy program in the resource-limited setting is possible and can be made sustainable through incorporation of local health care personnel and regionally supplied biopsy materials. Our hope is that ITWA’s initial experience in rural Uganda can serve as a model for similar programs in the future.
Keywords: Ultrasound-guided biopsy, resource-limited setting, breast cancer, Uganda
How to Cite:
Stark, C. R., DeStigter, K. K., Matovu, A. & Shadrack, P., (2017) “Ultrasound-guided Breast Biopsy in the Resource-limited Setting: An Initial Experience in Rural Uganda”, Journal of Global Radiology 3(1): 4. doi: https://doi.org/10.7191/jgr.2017.1023
Rights: © 2017 the Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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