In conjunction with the RAD-AID Ghana team and president of the Ghana Association of Radiologists (Dr. Augustina Badu-Peprah), we have created a breast imaging fellowship curriculum that was approved by the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in April 2023. Our role is to support the Ghana breast imaging fellowship by providing educational material, didactic and case-based lectures, in-person procedural workshops, and equipment to the Korle Bu Hospital and 37 Military Hospital in Accra and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.
Our goal in this trip is to reassess the radiology readiness of the hospitals with evaluation of the current breast imaging equipment, to assist in the installation of 2 new ultrasound machines at the Accra hospitals, and to continue to augment the breast imaging fellowship with in-person lectures and procedural workshops. With this equipment support and specialized training in breast imaging, the Ghanaian radiologists will be better equipped to help their community.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women globally. In low and middle-income countries such as Ghana, where health system resources are limited, women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage and are more likely to die of the disease. Specifically in Ghana, the 5-year survival rate is only 39% (compared to >80% in high resource areas). Importantly, triple negative breast cancers are the most common subtype of breast cancer seen in Ghana - these are cancers that are negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2-neu marker, which means directed treatment options are limited.
The mission of RAD-AID Ghana Breast Imaging is to help improve the breast cancer outcomes and survival of the Ghanaian community by promoting screening and early diagnosis of breast cancer.
By optimizing stereotactic-guided and ultrasound-guided biopsy capability with equipment support and in-person procedural workshops, this will strengthen our breast imaging fellowship education for the Ghanaian radiologists. These breast-trained radiologists will then use these skills to service their community and educate other radiologists through promotion of screening and early diagnosis of breast cancer. In addition, by incorporating medical professionals from other fields such as surgery, gynecology, oncology, radiation oncology, and pathology, a multi-disciplinary approach to our education will strengthen the pathway from diagnosis to treatment and subsequently improve patient outcomes.
Due to this funded trip, I was able to provide in-person didactic and case-based lectures on breast imaging, ultrasound-guided biopsy workshops for trainees and faculty, and assist in diagnostic breast imaging and ultrasound-guided breast biopsies in the patients of Accra, Ghana.
We were able to assess the needs and barriers to performing breast imaging and image-guided breast biopsies at the hospitals in Accra.
We were also able to evaluate and improve the quality of the breast imaging education at the respective hospitals.
