Cerebral angiography in Central Africa

Based on the findings from angiograms done over a 4-year period in Zambia, the most common indications were cerebrovascular disorders, head injuries, infective lesions, epilepsy and intracranial tumours. A few patients were also investigated for headache and vomiting, visual symptoms and papilloedoma. The overall positive yield at 23% was high. 10% of the abnormalities were cerebrovascular lesions. (Occlusive disease and subdural haematoma were common; aneurysms, arteriosclerosis, epidural haematoma, arteriovenous malformations were rare.) Compared with western countries, tumours were not as common but brain abscess was encountered more frequently. Carotid angiography is a valuable tool in tropical neurological practice and the pattern of disease differs from the western countries.