title: Imaging of gout: findings and utility.
abstract: Imaging is a helpful tool for clinicians to evaluate diseases that induce chronic joint inflammation. Chronic gout is associated with changes in joint structures that may be evaluated with diverse imaging techniques. Plain radiographs show typical changes only in advanced chronic gout. Computed tomography may best evaluate bone changes, whereas magnetic resonance imaging is suitable to evaluate soft tissues, synovial membrane thickness, and inflammatory changes. Ultrasonography is a tool that may be used in the clinical setting, allowing evaluation of cartilage, soft tissues, urate crystal deposition, and synovial membrane inflammation. Also ultrasound-guided puncture may be useful for obtaining samples for crystal observation. Any of these techniques deserve some consideration for feasibility and implementation both in clinical practice and as outcome measures for clinical trials. In clinical practice they may be considered mainly for evaluating the presence and extent of crystal deposition, and structural changes that may impair function or functional outcomes, and also to monitor the response to urate-lowering therapy.
authors: Rheumatology Division, Hospital de Cruces, Baracaldo, Vizcaya, Spain. fernando.perezruiz@osakidetza.net
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Perez-Ruiz
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Dalbeth
authors: Aranzazu
authors: A
authors: Urresola
authors: Eugenio
authors: E
authors: de Miguel
authors: Naomi
authors: N
authors: Schlesinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D006073:Gout / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends