Tophaceous gout of the spine causing neural compression.
Gout is a common metabolic disease in which monosodium urate crystals called tophi develop. Spinal involvement in gout resulting in neural compression is unusual. We describe a case of a 64-year-old man with a history of gouty arthritis of the knee. The patient presented with thoracic myelopathy and radiculopathy. Imaging of the spine revealed an extradural mass lesion with bony erosion of the thoracic spine. A decompressive operation was performed, and a chalky white material was found. Histopathological examination confirmed a gouty tophus. The symptoms of spinal gout vary and its radiological features are not sufficiently specific to provide a definite diagnosis. Therefore, in patients with a history of gouty arthritis who present with neural compressive symptoms of the spine, spinal gout should be strongly suspected.
Department of Neurosurgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Jong-Won
JW
Yoon
Department of Neurosurgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Kyung-Bum
KB
Park
Department of Neurosurgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Hyun
H
Park
Department of Neurosurgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Dong-Ho
DH
Kang
Department of Neurosurgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Chul-Hee
CH
Lee
Department of Neurosurgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Soo-Hyun
SH
Hwang
Department of Neurosurgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Jin-Myung
JM
Jung
Department of Neurosurgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Jong-Woo
JW
Han
Department of Neurosurgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. ; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Science, Jinju, Korea.
In Sung
IS
Park
Gout; Myelopathy; Radiculopathy; Spine