Gouty arthropathy of the lumbar spine: a case report and review of the literature

Treatment of gouty lumbar spinal stenosis: a case report and bioinformatics analysis

The case of Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) combined with tophi due to gout is rarely reported. In the course of our clinic work, we encountered a young male patient who was diagnosed with a history of gout for 5 years and was targeted as LSS combined with gouty tophi, and we would like to share this case. In addition, in order to further investigate the deep mechanism of LSS associated with gout, we obtained the intersecting genes of the two diseases based on a machine learning approach by obtaining the dataset GSE113212 related to LSS from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the genes related to gout from the human gene database. We found that TGFB1, PPARG, and SAMRCC1 may be important biomarkers for treating of both diseases. From a clinical perspective, clinicians should be vigilant about the possibility of gouty lumbar spinal stenosis with tophi in young patients presenting with back pain, hyperuricemia, and elevated inflammatory markers. A combined surgical and pharmacological treatment plan has a favorable prognosis. Investigating the mechanisms of action of core genes may provide new insights for treatment, ultimately leading to the development of comprehensive and personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Facet joint involvement in the inflammatory rheumatic disease

BACKGROUND

The involvement of facet joints (FJ) in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disorders remains underexplored. This review aims to look at FJ disease from a rheumatologist's perspective, with the emphasis given to the clinical presentations and patterns of FJ engagement in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and crystal-related arthropathies, and discussion of challenges in studying FJ in rheumatic disease.

METHODS

A systematic PubMed search using the pertinent keywords was performed, relevant articles extracted, and the acquired data critically assessed, interpreted, and organized according to the authors' experience and judgment.

RESULTS

FJ involvement is common in patients with radiographic axSpA, occurs throughout the spine, but is more frequently seen in the thoracic segment. The existing data suggests that the FJ are primarily affected by the disease process, while altered spine biomechanics due to the presence of syndesmophytes at the same vertebral level contributes to the FJ fusion. Predominant involvement of FJ of the cervical spinal segment has been suggested in PsA; however, prevalence and clinical significance of FJ involvement in PsA is still markedly underexplored. RA-related FJ disease of the cervical spine in patients with poorly controlled RA is not uncommon and can be related to significant morbidity, while the burden of FJ involvement in the thoracic and lumbar spinal segments in RA is also underexplored. FJ disease is possible in the course of crystal-related arthropathies, but the high level of suspicion is a prerequisite for the timely diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The involvement of FJ in the course of inflammatory rheumatic disease is not uncommon. Prospective studies are needed to understand the epidemiology and significance of FJ disease in inflammatory rheumatic conditions.

Case of lumbar spinal stenosis and chronic tophaceous gout

Background

Rarely, chronic tophaceous gout can result in lumbar spinal stenosis and neural compression.

Case Description

A 67-year-old male presented with the radiographic and magnetic resonance findings of gout involving and causing compression of the lumbar spine that responded to surgical decompression.

Conclusion

It is difficult to diagnose lumbar spinal stenosis secondary to tophaceous gout. Notably, the treatment, based on the clinical presentation, may include both medication and surgical decompression.

Chronic tophaceous gout mimicking widespread metastasis

Gout is a common crystal-induced arthropathy affecting mainly the joints of the appendicular skeleton; however, rarely this condition affects the axial skeleton as well. Spinal gout can cause radiculopathy, cord compression, canal stenosis and discitis. We describe a case of a 71-year-old woman where the initial presentation of destructive arthropathy and spinal masses secondary to axial gout was mistaken for a metastatic malignancy. Despite chronic polyarthropathy and bilateral subcutaneous gouty tophi, spinal gout was not considered a differential diagnosis during initial assessment.The patient was managed conservatively with pharmacological treatment resulting in improvement of her upper limb radiculopathy and systemic joint pain, although little improvement in mobility. Such extensive involvement is rare and the masses can mimic an underlying metastatic disease. Careful history and clinical examination recognising polyarthropathy and subcutaneous tophi can aid the clinician to make the right diagnosis and institute correct treatment. Delay in recognising gout as a differential diagnosis can lead to marked morbidity as illustrated in our case.

Cervical Myelopathy Secondary to Gout: Case Report

Gout is a crystalline arthropathy frequent in the population, but gouty spondyloarthropathy, also called axial gout, is uncommon. The current case report presents a rare case of cervical myelopathy secondary to axial gout. A 50-year-old female patient, without previous pathologies, presented with loss of strength, altered sensitivity, and pyramidal release for 2 years. The computed tomography showed a lytic image in the spinous process of C7, and signs of myelopathy with myelomalacia on magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine. After the surgical procedure and biopsy of the material, the diagnosis was gout, and treatment for the pathology was started, with complete improvement of the condition. The diagnosis of axial gout should be included in the spectrum of the differential diagnosis of diseases that affect the spine. Although gouty spondyloarthritis (or spondylitis) is uncommon, there is an underestimated occurrence due to the lack of investigation of the cases. The early diagnosis and treatment of the pathology can prevent patients from presenting complications of the disease, as reported in the present study.

Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression for the treatment of intraspinal tophaceous gout: A case report

RATIONALE

Intraspinal tophaceous gout is relatively rare condition presenting with major clinical manifestations, such as spinal cord or nerve roots compressions (radiculopathy). It is usually difficult to differentiate intraspinal tophaceous gout, lumbar disc herniation, stenosis of spinal canal, ossification of ligamentum flavum, and other degenerative spinal disorders from each other.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 64-year-old man was admitted with a history of progressive low back pain for 11 months. He also presented with radiculopathy and numbness of his left lower extremity.

DIAGNOSES

Preoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed L4/5 disc herniation and lateral recess stenosis on the left side. During the operation of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression, intraspinal chalky white material was seen. Post-operative pathologic results confirmed the diagnosis of gouty tophi.

INTERVENTIONS

Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression was performed as treatment. Intraspinal chalky white material was seen. We removed most of the chalky white material and extruded nucleus.

OUTCOMES

His symptom subsided rapidly and no deterioration was noted 1 year post-operatively.

LESSONS

Although intraspinal tophaceous gout is not commonly seen, clinicians should take it into consideration as a possible differential diagnosis when the patient exhibits axial pain or neurological deficits with risk factors of gout. We identified and treated this case with percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression for the first time and got an excellent outcome. Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic surgery proved to be an effective and minimally invasive alternative for identifying and treating intraspinal tophaceous gout.

Diagnostic challenges of spinal gout: A case series

INTRODUCTION

Spinal gout is rarely encountered in clinical practice, is easily misdiagnosed, and often remains undiagnosed. This paper aims to provide some clues that are the salient diagnostic features of spinal gout, particularly axial pain, radiculopathy, and myelopathy, as determined on the basis of our experience with a few cases as well as a literature review.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 5 patients that were treated for axial pain and neurological symptoms associated with spinal gout between 2014 and 2017 in our hospital. Herein, we systematically describe the clinical characteristics of 5 patients with spinal gout. The 5 patients included 4 men and 1 woman, aged between 24 and 75 years. The most common clinical presentation included spinal pain, radiculopathy, and myelopathy. Four of the 5 patients had a history of gout and elevated serum uric acid levels.

RESULTS

Four patients underwent surgery, while the remaining patient underwent conservative treatment and biopsy due to poor general condition. Pathological examination of the surgical samples in the 4 surgical cases and the biopsy sample in the remaining case confirmed the presence of spinal gout tophi. The neurological symptoms of all 5 patients were relieved after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Due to its rarity and lack of typical defining criteria, the diagnosis of spinal gout is quite difficult. We recommend that patients presenting with axial pain; radicular pain or myelopathy; and especially high uric acid levels, with or without a history of gout, should be evaluated for spinal gout. Timely pathological examination of surgical or biopsy samples would help confirm the diagnosis and enable practitioners to provide the appropriate treatment to prevent disease progression.

The anatomical pathology of gout: a systematic literature review

Background

The aim of this systematic literature review was to comprehensively describe the anatomical pathology of tissues affected by gout.

Methods

We searched PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), and Web of Science Core Collection for all English language articles published before March 2018. Articles were included if they described the microscopic or macroscopic appearances of gout in human tissue.

Results

Four hundred and seventeen articles met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Articles describing the anatomical pathology of gout in musculoskeletal structures, including bone, tendon and ligaments, synovium and cartilage, were most common. Articles describing skin and kidney pathology in gout were also common, with pathology in other sites such as visceral organs less common. At all sites, monosodium urate crystal deposition was reported, and the tophus was also described within many different tissues. During a gout flare, diffuse acute neutrophilic synovial inflammation was evident. The tophus was described as an organised chronic giant cell granulomatous structure consisting of monosodium urate crystals, innate and adaptive immune cells, and fibrovascular tissue.

Conclusions

Consistent with the clinical presentation of gout, most studies describing the anatomical pathology of gout report involvement of musculoskeletal structures, with monosodium urate crystal deposition and tophus the most common lesions described. This review details the anatomical pathology features of gout at affected sites.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12891-019-2519-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Gouty spondylodiscitis with lumbar vertebral body retrolisthesis: A case report

RATIONALE

Gout occurs mainly in joints, but rarely in the spine. In the spine, urate crystals can cause intervertebral space instability but rarely lead to retrolisthesis. Here, we present an extremely rare disease with gout invaded the intervertebral disc with lumbar retrolisthesis.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 61-years male patient with gout history has suffered from severe low back pain and intermittent claudication. Physical examination showed the level of muscle strength of his left first toe was 3/5. Images illustrated a destruction of the intervertebral space, and a retrolisthesis at L4/5 interspace and the dural sac obviously compressed.

DIAGNOSES

Combining with lab examinations, imaging examinations, and histopathological results, the patient was diagnosed with gouty arthritis associated with lumbar spinal stenosis, L4-5 spondylodiscitis and L4 vertebral body retrolisthesis.

INTERVENTION

The patient underwent posterior decompression, reduction, and interbody fusion, and then received an aggressive postoperative rehabilitation program.

OUTCOMES

The patient's low back pain was significantly alleviated after the operation. Postoperative X-ray shows the internal fixation was well placed and the sequence of spine was reconstructed. 12 weeks later, the lower limb symptoms of the patients were obviously improved, his muscle strength of the left first toe was 4/5, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was 19 and the improvement rate was 61.5%.

LESSONS

Gouty spondylodiscitis can cause intervertebral space instability. Sagittal imbalance and degeneration of disc with decreasing of segmental disc height are considered as the main factors of retrolisthesis. The appearance may lead to misdiagnose a patient with gout history with a destruction of the intervertebral space. Surgery is a compromise method for gouty spondylodiscitis patients with urgent neurological symptoms.

Tophaceous gout of the cervical and thoracic spine with concomitant epidural infection

Tophaceous gout of the spine is an underappreciated source of back pain in patients with or without neurological decline. It has been reported to occur in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Rarely, does it occur at more than one region of the spine. Advanced imaging with magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are usually not helpful in differentiating between infection, malignancy and gout. Clinician should have a high suspicion of spinal gout in patients with history of gout who presents with renal insufficiency, presence of peripheral tophi on exam, with elevated serum uric acid and creatinine levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Here we present a case of a 23-year-old male with history of gout and chronic renal disease with progressive weakness in his lower extremities with new urinary incontinence who was found to have spinal gout with epidural infection of both the cervical and thoracic spine. Our patient was successfully managed with surgical decompression followed by medical treatment with antibiotics and steroids.

Tophaceous gout causing thoracic spinal cord compression: Case report and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To improve neurologists' awareness of spine gout by showing a rare case of tophaceous gout in thoracic spine and a summary of vertebral gout in order.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We reported a case of a 36-year-old male with a 2-year-history of hyperuricemia. Neurological examination suggested that the strength of his lower limbs decreased. Bilateral Babinski's sign and ankle clonus were positive. He had no bladder or bowel dysfunction. Computed tomography of the thoracic spine showed occupied lesions at the T9, T10 levels which led to the spinal stenosis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine revealed epidural disease at T9, T10 levels. A resection of the occupying lesion in the thoracic spinal canal was performed, tophaceous gout was diagnosed by the pathological examination. We also provide a brief review of literature on 30 cases of spine tophaceous gout.

RESULT

Spinal tophaceous gout is rare, gout can involved in any spine level, but the probability of occurrence of thoracic spine is the least. Most patients had a history of hyperuricemia or peripheral tophus, the most common symptoms are back pain, when the pain stone compression spinal cord or nerve root, there will be the corresponding neurological symptoms or signs.

CONCLUSIONS

The spinal gout should be considered when a patient has chronic or acute back pain and/or neurological symptoms, with mass on sides of the vertebras on MRI, especially when the patient has a history of hyperuricemia, the pathology examination can confirm the diagnosis.

Minimally Invasive Excision of Lumbar Tophaceous Gout: Case Report

Background

Symptomatic spinal gout is relatively rare. Open laminectomy, with or without fusion, has been so far the standard treatment for symptomatic spinal gout. We describe here the first case of spinal tophaceus gout treated with minimally invasive surgery.

Methods

A 60-year-old patient, morbidly obese, with no previous history of gout, presented with neurogenic claudication due to severe lumbar canal stenosis at L3/4. Surgery was performed through a minimally invasive approach, using tubular retractors. During surgery, an extradural mass with a thin capsule and containing white "chalky" partially calcified material, slightly adherent to and compressing the theca, was removed.

Results

There were no intra- or perioperative complications. Surgery successfully improved the functional status, with a significant increase in walking distance and no residual leg pain or neurogenic claudication. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of spinal tophaceous gout.

Conclusions/Level of evidence

Although spinal gout is usually responsive to medical treatment, surgery is often the first line treatment, particularly in patients with neurological deficits. Would surgery be indicated, we believe that minimally invasive surgery can be effective in treating symptomatic spinal tophaceous gout. Level of Evidence: Class IV.

Tophaceous Gout in the Lumbar Spinal Canal Mimicking Epidural Spinal Tumor

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis characterized by deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints. Though gout frequently involves the big toe or other extremities, it rarely occurs in the spinal canal. A 35-year-old man presented with left L5 radiculopathy. He had leg pain for 8 months and received several epidural steroid injections. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 1.7×1.1-cm ovoid contrast-enhancing mass, causing pressure erosion of the left L5 pedicle. Microscopic laminotomy was performed at the left L5 lamina. White chalky materials, identified at the left lateral recess of the spinal canal, were removed in a piecemeal manner. The histopathologic diagnosis was tophaceous gout. Although the patient’s radiating pain did not resolve postoperatively, it was dramatically relieved with uric acid-lowering medications. If a mass effect is suspected, surgical removal of gouty tophi might aid in symptom release and definite diagnosis. Medical treatment after rheumatology consultation is crucial.

Conventional Radiology in Crystal Arthritis: Gout, Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition, and Basic Calcium Phosphate Crystals

This article reviews the main radiographic features of crystal deposition diseases. Gout is linked to monosodium urate crystals. Classic radiographic features include subcutaneous tophi, large and well-circumscribed paraarticular bone erosions, and exuberant bone hyperostosis. Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) can involve numerous structures, such as hyaline cartilages, fibrocartilages, or tendons. CPPD arthropathy involves joints usually spared by osteoarthritis. Basic calcium phosphate deposits are periarticular or intraarticular. Periarticular calcifications are amorphous, dense, and round or oval with well-limited borders, and most are asymptomatic. When resorbing, they become cloudy and less dense with an ill-defined shape and can migrate into adjacent structures.

Tophaceous gout of the lumbar spine mimicking a spinal meningioma

PURPOSE

Although gout is a common metabolic disorder, it usually affects distal joints of the appendicular skeleton. Axial spine involvement is rare, with only 131 cases reported in the literature. The authors report a rare case of lumbar spinal gout mimicking a spinal meningioma.

METHODS

A 77-year-old man with a history of gout presented with chronic low back pain and progressive paraparesis. Imaging revealed a lumbar spine compressive mass lesion with a dural tail signal. The differential diagnosis was thought to be straightforward favoring a spinal meningioma. Tophaceous gout was never considered. The presence of a dural tail associated with the lesion is an interesting detail of this case, that strongly misguided it and to the best of our knowledge it is the first one reported in the literature.

RESULTS

The patient underwent surgery and intra-operative findings were surprisingly different from those expected, revealing a chalky white mass lesion firmly adherent and compressing the dural sac. It was completely excised, leaving the dura intact. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of tophaceous gout. The patient was sent to physical therapy and had a complete remission of pain and neurological deficit, regaining his walking capacity.

CONCLUSION

Although spinal gout is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with symptoms of spinal stenosis, a suspicion of neoplastic lesion of the spine, and a previous history of gout. Early diagnosis can ensure proper and timely medical management, perhaps avoiding neurological compromise and the need for surgery.

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.

Gout tophus on an intradural fascicle: a case description

STUDY DESIGN

Case report and review of literature.

OBJECTIVE

Detailed description of case and review of literature to determine its uniqueness with special regard to intradural gout tophus formation without any boney attachment or underlying systemic gout. Gout tophi commonly involve the peripheral joints of the upper and lower extremities. Rarely, gout tophi are located within the spinal cord, especially without any underlying hyperuricemia.

METHODS

We report the case of a 64-year-old patient presenting with radiculopathy along the right L2-dermatome and bladder dysfunction and review literature for further discussion.

RESULTS

Imaging studies showed a partly calcified round intradural lesion at the level L2 without contrast enhancement. The lesion was removed via a hemilaminectomy L2. It was adherent to a dorsal sensory fascicle exiting with the L2 nerve root. The neuropathological examination showed a gout tophus. Serologic testing revealed no signs of hyperuricemia.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a gout tophus originating from an intradural fascicle and without any boney attachment or underlying systemic gout. The literature is reviewed and possible pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed.

Thoracic cord compression due to ligamentum flavum gouty tophus: a case report and literature review

Study design:

Here we describe a patient who developed myelopathy due to gouty tophi of the ligamentum flavum in the thoracic spine. We also review similar cases previously reported in the literature.

Objective:

Our aim was to present a case of myelopathy due to thoracic spinal gouty tophus.

Methods:

We report the case of a 56-year-old male with history of peripheral gout and renal insufficiency. The patient complained of back pain and paraparesis of the left lower limb. Multiple tophi were noted over several interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints. Neurological examination showed decreased left lower limb strength and a positive Babinski sign. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine revealed hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum at the level of T3/T4, T5/T6, T9/T10, T10/T11 and T11/T12.

Results:

A thoracic laminectomy at T1-T5 was performed. Chalky white granular material was found in the ligamentum flavum during surgery. Histological analysis of the specimen demonstrated a gouty tophus. The patient's back pain and paraparesis of the lower left limb improved.

Conclusion:

The clinician should include spinal gout in the differential diagnosis when dealing with patients with gout and axial pain with or without neurologic deficits. If this diagnosis is seriously entertained, then a CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging as well as tissue biopsy may be needed to establish the diagnosis.

Tophaceous gouty arthropathy of the lumbar spine

Gout, classically affecting the first metatarsal joints, knees, fingers and ears, is seldom thrown out as a differential when a patient complains of lower back pain. Symptoms presented by patients with spinal gout may be non-specific and varied; at times, the only clue being that the patient has a previous history of gout. Prompt treatment with anti-inflammatory medication once diagnosis is reached helps to alleviate pain and improves the prognosis of the disease. Therefore, it is vital for the treating physician to keep an open mind and consider spinal gout as a diagnosis once other sinister causes such as osteomyelitis have been ruled out. This greatly reduces the morbidity associated with late treatment of spinal gout.

Axial gout is frequently associated with the presence of current tophi, although not with spinal symptoms

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association of tomographically identified axial gouty lesions with clinical and laboratory characteristics.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Axial gout might be more common than previously thought. The true relationship of these lesions to symptoms or other gout-associated features is poorly understood.

METHODS

Forty-two patients with gout underwent thoracic and lumbar spine computed tomographic (CT) scans. CT scans were read by an experienced radiologist blinded to the features of the patients. Axial gout was defined as the presence of bony erosions, facet joints, or disc calcification and tophi in the axial skeleton. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected from medical records. At study entry, patients were evaluated for axial symptoms (back pain or neurological complaints) and subcutaneous tophi. The Fisher exact test and the Student t test were performed for statistical analyses of data.

RESULTS

Twelve (29%) of the 42 patients had CT evidence of axial gout. Axial tophi were identified in 5 patients (12%), interapophyseal joints erosions or calcifications in 7 patients (17%), and discal abnormalities in 9 patients (21%). Lumbar spine involvement was a universal finding. Five patients (42%) had thoracic spine involvement and 2 patients (18%) had sacroiliac lesions. No association was found between symptoms and axial gout (P = 0.62). Duration of gout, mechanism of disease (overproduction vs. underexcretion), and metabolic comorbidities were not related to axial involvement. A higher prevalence of axial gout was found between patients with current peripheral tophi (67% vs. 30%; P = 0.03); however, no association was found in patients with a past history of tophi (P = 0.72).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated a high prevalence of axial gout not associated with spine symptoms. This finding introduces a differential diagnosis in axial lesions in patients with gout. In addition, the unique association with a current but not previous history of peripheral tophi suggests that gout treatment might be effective in preventing or solving gout axial lesions.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Gout in the spine

Axial gout can affect all segments of the spine. It is manifested as back pain, as pain associated with neurological symptoms, and as neurological impairment without pain in 17.9%, 75.8% and 4.2% of cases, respectively. These manifestations were the first presentation of gout in many patients. Although x-rays as well as computed tomography and especially magnetic resonance scans can be very suggestive, histopathological, cytological and crystal analyses are the diagnostic gold standard. In most cases involving neurological manifestations, the patient underwent surgery, leading to satisfactory results. There are, however, some reports of full recovery following the usual clinical treatment for gout, suggesting that such treatment may be the initial option for those subjects with a history of gout and radiological findings of axial involvement.

A case of tophaceous gout in the lumbar spine: a review of the literature and treatment recommendations

Study Design Case report.

Objective The objective of this study is to report the occurrence of tophaceous gout in the lumbar spine.

Methods Using a case report to illustrate the key points of gout in the spine, we provide a brief review of gout in the literature as it relates to its orthopedic and spinal manifestations as well as guidelines for management.

Results This case report details the occurrence of a large and clinically significant finding of tophaceous gout in the lumbar spine in a 24-year-old man with a known history of gout and a 3-year history of progressive back pain.

Conclusion A high index of suspicion can assist in diagnosis of patients presenting with back pain or neurologic findings with a history of gout. A previous history of gout (especially the presence of tophi), hyperuricemia, and the radiological characteristics presented here should aid the clinician in making the diagnosis of spinal gout. Early diagnosis has the potential to prevent the need for surgical intervention.

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.

Lumbar spinal stenosis induced by rare chronic tophaceous gout in a 29-year-old man

Spinal gout is rare in patients younger than 45 years, occurring most commonly between ages 45 and 80 years. This article describes a 29-year-old man with a history of gout initially observed more than 20 years previously who presented with lower back pain and left lower limb weakness. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed severely damaged facet joints and laminae surrounding L4-S1, and materials with a granular, yellow, cheese-like appearance were observed under direct vision. Postoperative histological examination confirmed spinal gout. Complete posterior decompression was performed concurrently with interbody fusion at L4-L5 and L5-S1. Seventeen-month follow-up revealed good recovery.The mechanism by which urate crystals form preferentially in the spine as opposed to more common soft tissue sites is not well understood. Most reported spinal gout cases were located at L4-S1, which were believed to be the segments with high stresses. These cases occurred in older patients with degenerative spinal diseases and had trauma as indicators. The current authors presume that gout is more likely to exist in the mobile regions with high pressure, such as L4-S1, even in individuals with an initially healthy spine, especially with a long period of abnormal renal dysfunction. Although it is often overlooked in young patients, this condition may be more common than the literature suggests due to the high potential for misdiagnosis in relatively young patients.

MRI of spinal bone marrow: part 2, T1-weighted imaging-based differential diagnosis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to review the structure of bone marrow and the differential diagnosis of bone marrow pathology on the basis of T1-weighted MRI patterns.

CONCLUSION

Bone marrow is an organ that is evaluated routinely during MRI of the spine, particularly lumbar spine evaluation. Thus, it is one of the most commonly performed MRI examinations. T1-weighted MRI is a fundamental sequence in evaluating spinal marrow, and an understanding of T1-weighted MR signal abnormalities is important for the practicing radiologist.

A re-look at an old disease: a multimodality review on gout

Gout, the most common form of microcrystalline arthropathy has always interested radiologists. The diagnosis of gout is primarily based on clinical and laboratory findings; however, it has well known and characteristic radiographic manifestations. Radiographs remain the examination of choice in the diagnosis of joint involvement. Plain radiographs are less sensitive to early changes in gout than other imaging techniques. Recently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), and computed tomography (CT) have demonstrated an increasing role in early diagnosis of gouty arthritis, for assessing the extent of soft-tissue involvement and as problem-solving tools for diagnostically difficult cases. Cross-sectional imaging can also be used for guiding needle aspirations in patients with an acute attack of gout, which may simulate an infective process clinically. This pictorial review illustrates the main imaging features of gout on radiographs, MRI, CT, and ultrasound with the aim of helping the radiologist to make a confident diagnosis in radiographically typical cases and to serve as a problem-solving tool in cases that present a diagnostic dilemma.

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

Tophaceous gout of the spine is rare. We report here the case of a 68-year-old man with long-standing peripheral gouty arthritis who developed a progressive and painful weakness of the lower extremities. Radiological and histopathological findings confirmed the presence of tophaceous gout of the spine. Also presented is the case history, including the radiological and histopathological findings, and a discussion of the literature.

Spinal gout tophus: a very rare cause of radiculopathy

Gout is a common metabolic disease characterized by the development of arthritis and nephropathy related to the deposition of monosodium urate crystals within the joints, periarticular tissues, skin and kidneys. Tophus formation seen around the spinal column is very rare, while occurrences of spinal gout tophus without systemic gout disease are much more unique. In our study, we report a spinal gout case that presented with right sciatica without previous history of systemic gout disease.

Spinal gout: case report and review of the literature

Spinal involvement is considered to be a rare complication of gout. We report a case of a 48-year-old woman with chronic tophaceous gout, recently desensitized to allopurinol, who presented with an L4 radiculopathy. A magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the lumbosacral spine revealed an extradural process at L4 level. Three months before this episode, for unrelated reasons, the patient had an MRI of her entire spine, which was normal. Laminectomy was performed revealing a large gouty tophus. The fact that a large gouty tophus formed over this short a period of time causing neurologic symptoms highlights the importance of aggressive medical management of patients with longstanding tophaceous gout with urate-lowering agents. Spinal extradural gout could lead to neurologic deficits necessitating emergent surgery for decompression, exposing the patient to further risk. Every effort should be made to lower the serum uric acid level by maximizing the pharmacologic regimen and, if necessary, desensitizing the patient, like in our case, if there is a history of allergy to allopurinol.

Gout in the Axial Skeleton

Objective.

Gout typically affects the peripheral joints of the appendicular skeleton and rarely involves the axial joints. The literature on axial gout is limited to case reports and case series. This preliminary study was conducted to identify the frequency and characteristics of axial gout.

Methods.

Six hundred thirty medical records with ICD codes 274.0, 274.82, and 274.9 for peripheral gout were reviewed. Ninety-two patients had clinical or crystal-proven gout, of which 64 had prior computed tomography (CT) images of the spine performed for various medical reasons. These CT images were reviewed for features of axial gout, which include vertebral erosions mainly at the discovertebral junction and the facet joints, deposits of tophi, and erosions in the vertebral body, epidural space, ligamentum flavum and pars interarticularis.

Results.

Nine of the 64 patients had radiographic changes suggestive of axial gout. Lumbar vertebrae were most commonly involved, with facet joint erosions being the most common finding. Isolated involvement of the sacroiliac joints was seen in 2 patients. Axial gout had been diagnosed clinically in only one patient.

Conclusion.

Radiologic changes of axial gout were more common than recognized clinically, with a frequency of 14%. Since not all patients had CT images, it is possible that the frequency of axial involvement was even greater. A prospective study is needed to further define this process.

Bacteremia coexisting with tophaceous gout of the spine mimicking spondylodiscitis: a case report

STUDY DESIGN

A case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE

To report a rare case of bacteremia coexisting with spinal gout initially suspected as pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Gouty spine is a rare disease. It is even rare when coexisting with bacteremia. The presentation as pain, fever, and positive blood culture will make it more difficult to distinguish from spinal infection.

METHODS

A 64-year-old woman with type II diabetes mellitus and chronic renal insufficiency was admitted to the emergency department with a fever of 39 degrees C, chills, and back pain. Laboratory studies revealed an elevated white count and neutrophils; her serum glucose level was 279 mg/dL. The C-reactive protein level was 25.55 mg/dL and serum uric acid was in the upper range of normal. Blood cultures revealed Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis. Urine culture revealed 3 separate gram-negative bacilli. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed contrast enhancement in the L4-L5 and T5-T9 vertebral bodies. Infective spondylodiscitis of the lumbar and thoracic spine was suspected.

RESULTS

Because antibiotic treatment had failed, surgical debridement with diskectomy, partial corpectomy, and allogenous strut graft reconstruction (T8-T9) was performed. During the operation, 600 cc of pleural effusion was drained. Chalky white material was noted at the T8-T9 disc and the adjacent vertebral bodies. Cultures for bacteria, tuberculosis, and fungus were all negative. Histologic examination revealed deposition of eosinophilic crystal-like material, and a diagnosis of tophaceous gout of the spine was established.

CONCLUSION

This is, to our knowledge, the first case of bacteremia coexisting with multiple areas of tophaceous gout of the spine. Although uncommon, gouty spine should be added into the differential diagnosis of patients with back pain and bacteremia.

Crystal arthropathy of the lumbar spine: a report of 4 cases

Gout or pseudogout, caused by deposition of crystals, rarely affects the spine. We report 4 cases with gout or pseudogout in the lumbar spine. Two had cauda equina syndrome and another 2 had spinal stenosis. To avoid unnecessary surgery, this should be considered in the differential diagnosis when treating patients with histories of gout or pseudogout for spinal problems.

Spinal gout in a renal transplant patient: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Gout in the axial spine is rare. We present a case report on a renal transplant patient who developed fever and acute back pain at the L5 through S1 level secondary to sodium urate deposits. We review the literature on this rare disease and propose a management algorithm based on a resulting analysis.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 37-year-old man with a history of gout and a renal transplant for IgA nephropathy presented with acute back pain and fever without evidence of neurological deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a uniformly contrast-enhancing infiltrative process involving the right pedicle, lamina, and inferior facet of the L5 vertebra. Computed tomography-guided needle biopsy revealed a friable white tissue consistent with sodium urate crystals. Conservative treatment with steroids and narcotics was used with good symptomatic relief.

CONCLUSION

Although few cases of gout involving the spine have been reported, its prevalence is likely grossly underestimated. Most patients have a history of gout and have elevated levels of serum urate level on presentation. The disease most commonly involves the lumbar spine. Patients usually have neurological deficits on presentation, and surgical decompression produces favorable outcomes. However, conservative medical management is appropriate for those with back pain only. Aggressive control of hyperuricemia is essential regardless of the method of treatment.

The advanced imaging of gouty tophi

Gout is a metabolic disorder in which there is hyperuricemia caused by an increase in production or a decrease in excretion of uric acid. Long-lasting hyperuricemia causes the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in the joints and soft tissues, triggering gouty arthritis and, if not properly treated, the formation of gouty tophi. The diagnosis of gout is usually based on clinical presentation and laboratory examinations, long before any abnormality can be demonstrated with imaging. Radiography is the primary imaging modality used in the initial evaluation of gouty arthritis. Ultrasonography, CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine are seldom necessary. Occasionally a tophus has an unusual presentation and simulates neoplasm or infection prompting the utilization of cross-sectional imaging for further evaluation and surgical planning. Cross-sectional imaging is also used in areas that are difficult to visualize on radiographs such as spine, sacroiliac joints, and soft tissues.

A large, erosive intraspinal and paravertebral gout tophus. Case report

Symptomatic gout tophi of the spine are a rare but well-characterized complication of tophaceous gout. The authors report the case of a 29-year-old previously healthy man who presented with L-5 radiculopathy. Lumbar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a 4.5 x 4.5 x 2.8-cm large gout tophus mimicking a malignant spinal tumor or abscess. The tophus completely destroyed both L-4 and L-5 facet joints and the left L-4 lamina and spread epidurally from L-3 to L-5, compressing the left L-5 nerve root. There has been no similar case reported so far with respect to the extent of bone destruction. The authors describe the case history and present intraoperative, MR imaging, and histological findings.

Surgical versus pharmacologic treatment of intraspinal gout

A controversy between pharmacologic and surgical treatment of intraspinal gout exists in the literature. If gout is diagnosed timely, pharmacologic therapy may avert the need of surgery. The lack of readily available synovial fluid makes the diagnosis particularly difficult. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical pictures and magnetic resonance imaging features in rapid differentiations of intraspinal gout. I retrospectively evaluated lumbar intraspinal tophaceous gout without the classic radiographic punched-out lesions. Four patients (average age, 65 years) had a history of hyperuricemia with multiple tophaceous deposits in the joints or visceral organs or both. The common presentations were low back pain with or without inflammatory reaction (fever, elevated C-reactive protein level, and mild leukocytosis). The patients also presented with intermittent claudication or radiculopathy of variable duration or both. The gouty tophi yielded homogeneous and hypointense masses on T1- and T2-weighted images, with multiple hypointense speckles. The masses were located in bilateral lumbar facet joints in all patients, with additional midline extension along the ligamentum flavum in three. All patients had uneventful outcomes after surgical decompression and pharmacologic treatment. Rapid deposition of tophi may aggravate nerve compression. If neurologic deficits are found, surgical decompression can provide a satisfactory outcome.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, Level IV. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Topacheous gout as a rare cause of spinal stenosis in the lumbar region. Case report

Despite the fact that gout is a common metabolic disorder, because its involvement of the axial skeleton is rare the diagnosis is often delayed, even in patients with long-standing gout who present with neurological deficits. The authors report the case of a woman with a history of extensive gout, emphasizing the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of a lumbar spinal stenosis.

Tophaceous gout of the lumbar spine mimicking infectious spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess: MR imaging findings

We report a case of surgically proven tophaceous gout of the lumbar spine at the L5-S1 level that mimicked infectious spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess on magnetic resonance (MR) images in a 65-year-old woman. The spinal tophi were hypointense on T1-weighted images; focally and strongly hyperintense on T2-weighted images; and heterogeneously, marginally enhancing on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. The aim of this report is to emphasize the importance of considering this disease entity in the differential diagnosis of an epidural mass in a patient with chronic back pain.

Gout: a clinical and radiologic review

Gout is a group of diseases characterized by arthritis and results from a disturbance of urate metabolism with the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in the joints and soft tissues. Often, but not invariably, the serum urate levels are elevated as a result of overproduction or underexcretion of uric acid. Clinical manifestations include acute and chronic arthritis, tophaceous deposits, interstitial renal disease, and uric acid nephrolithiasis. The diagnosis is based on the identification of uric acid crystals in joints, tissues, or body fluids. Acute episodes are treated with colchicine, NSAIDs, or steroids. Long-term management includes treatment with uricosuric agents or xanthine oxidase inhibitors.

Tophaceous gout of the spine: MR imaging features

AIM

To define the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of tophaceous gout of the spine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We present the MR imaging examinations of 4 patients with spinal tophaceous gout. Spin-echo T1-weighted and fast spin-echo T2-weighted images were obtained for all patients, and 2 patients had gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging studies. Corresponding computed tomography (CT) was performed in one patient. All images were evaluated for the characteristics of the gouty tophi.

RESULTS

The gouty tophi were located at the lower thoracic (n=1) and lumbar (n=3) levels. All tophi yielded homogeneous intermediate to low signal on T1-weighted images and variable signal intensity on T2-weighted images, comprising small foci of very low signal intensity on all sequences. Gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging studies revealed homogeneous enhancement or heterogeneous peripheral enhancement. Diffuse stippled calcifications were found in the tophi on CT images. Periarticular tophi with juxtaarticular bony erosions around facet joints occurred in 3 patients.

CONCLUSION

Spinal tophaceous gout should be considered in the differential diagnosis when periarticular deposits contain very low signal foci on all MR imaging sequences.

Rarer causes of radiculopathy: spinal tumors, infections, and other unusual causes

For the physiatrist practicing musculoskeletal medicine, patients with radiculopathy are a challenging and rewarding population for whom to provide care. Despite the rarity of diseases discussed in this article, at some time in his or her career every musculoskeletal physiatrist will see patients with these diagnoses as the cause of radiculopathy or back pain. A high index of suspicion is necessary to identify these rare disease processes accurately and promptly. The patient's history, examination, and plain-film radiographic evaluations remain the best tools with which to establish a differential and working diagnosis. The most important services that the physiatrist can provide to these patients are an astute application of the differential diagnosis to identify the specific etiology and the leadership required to organize a multi-disciplinary team of specialists to address all of the patient's needs.

Magnetic resonance imaging in rheumatic disorders of the spine and sacroiliac joints

OBJECTIVE

To review the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis and evaluation of rheumatic diseases of the spine and sacroiliac joints.

METHODS

A review of the literature on MRI of the spine and sacroiliac joints in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), infectious spondylodiscitis, infection of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ), gout, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, nontraumatic vertebral compression fractures, insufficiency fracture of the sacrum, avascular necrosis of the vertebral body, sarcoidosis, and Paget's disease was performed. The reports were obtained from a Medline search.

RESULTS

In RA, AS, and crystal deposition disease, synovial tissue, atlantoaxial and subaxial subluxations, crystal deposition, and neurologic compromise can be adequately diagnosed with MRI of the cervical spine. Studies on MRI of SIJs in AS indicate that MRI enables early diagnosis of sacroiliitis. In most cases of infectious spondylodiscitis, avascular necrosis of the vertebral body, nontraumatic vertebral compression fractures, and insufficiency fractures of the sacrum characteristic findings on MRI suggest the correct diagnosis. Moreover, soft tissue abnormalities and neurologic compromise can be visualized. In infection of the SIJ, MRI shows findings suggesting an inflammatory process. In Paget's disease, MRI does not provide additional information as compared with plain radiography (PR) or computed tomography (CT).

CONCLUSION

In evaluation of spinal and SIJ abnormalities in many rheumatic diseases, MRI, in addition to PR, can replace conventional tomography, CT, and myelography. Moreover, MRI can visualize soft tissue abnormalities and neurologic compromise without use of intrathecal contrast.