Tophaceous gout of the spine: case report and review of the literature

Multilevel Lumbar Stenosis Caused by Large Tophi Involving Both Spinal Canal and Posterior Spinal Elements: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review

Tophus is a characteristic manifestation of gout entering the chronic phase, which usually deposits in the joints of the extremities, skin mucosa, etc. A gout tophus that involves the spine causing spinal stenosis is rare and it can be misdiagnosed as a spinal tumor preoperatively. We report the case of a 35-year-old man who presented with lumbar stenosis symptoms, and suffered multiple-site gout tophi involvement throughout his body. Radiographic examinations showed that the large tophi infiltrated the posterior elements of the spine and encroached the lumbar spinal canal, resulting in neurologic compression from the second to the fifth lumbar level. Urate could be observed on a dual-energy computed tomography. A posterior-based procedure was performed to eradicate the tophi and stabilize the spine. Finally, urate crystal was confirmed by postoperative pathological examination. Here, the clinical manifestations, radiological, pathological and surgical features for this case are reported.

Spinal gout causing reversible quadriparesis: a case report and literature review

Gout commonly affects peripheral joints and is rarely found in axial joints, such as the spine and sacroiliac joints. We report a case of a patient that presented with quadriparesis who was empirically treated for spinal gout and a review of relevant literature. A 77-year-old male presented with new-onset quadriparesis that developed over 3 days. MRI imaging was suggestive of tophaceous gout of the cervical spine, but our patient refused a spinal biopsy. He was empirically treated with high-dose steroids and his upper and lower extremities weakness started improving within 3 days and resolved completely. Although spinal gout is uncommon, this case indirectly suggests that gout should be kept as a differential diagnosis when faced with back pain or quadriparesis. This case implies that empiric treatment should be considered when radiographic evidence is suggestive of tophaceous gout of the spine.

Spinal tophaceous gout presenting in a young adult without pain

A 26-year-old man with a medical history of gout and morbid obesity presented with a 7-day history of decreased sensation to light touch and temperature from the feet to the level of the nipples. He also noted incomplete voiding. Laboratory investigations showed an elevated serum uric acid level (10.4 mg/dL, reference range: 3.8-8.7 mg/dL) as well as negative rapid plasma reagin and rheumatoid factor. MRI showed inflammatory changes on multiple spinal levels. Laminectomy was performed, with follow-up biopsy revealing multiple multinucleated giant cells and monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. He was ultimately diagnosed with spinal gout. Patient's symptoms did not resolve immediately after surgery. Yet with the administration of intravenous glucocorticoids and a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, he slowly regained sensation, leaving the hospital with complete resolution of symptoms.

Gout in the Spine: Imaging, Diagnosis, and Outcomes

Gout is characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals and by acute and chronic inflammation in response to crystals so deposited. Multiple case reports and series describe the deposition of monosodium urate in the spine as a rare manifestation of gout, but the actual prevalence of spinal involvement is unknown and likely to be higher than generally anticipated. Here we review the characteristics of 131 previously reported cases of spinal involvement in gout. We focus in particular on the use of imaging modalities and the extent to which they correlate with presenting symptoms and tissue diagnoses. The recent innovation of using dual-energy computerized tomography to identify urate crystal deposition holds promise for reducing the need for surgical intervention and for establishing a true prevalence rate for spinal gout.