Radiology in Gout Diagnosis: Understanding the Connection

Gout is a painful condition in the arthritis family. This condition causes pain and swelling in the joints, due to an excess of uric acid -- a byproduct of the metabolism of protein in the human body. The use of radiology such as X-rays can be beneficial in the diagnosis of gout.

Identification

• According to the Mayo Clinic, gout occurs when excessive uric acid is produced, which the body cannot successfully excrete. Renal disease is one possible cause; however, most cases of gout are idiopathic -- for no known cause -- in nature.

Significance

• Radiology is a diagnostic procedure used to identify disease and injury. It is most commonly used in the form of X-rays when the goal is to definitively diagnose gout. Images on the X-ray films will typically verify if the disease is present, and how far it has progressed.

Benefits

• According to Medscape.com, in the beginning stages of the condition, radiological findings typically shows the presence of swelling, and as the disease progresses, small changes will appear on the X-rays in the bony structures of the affected joints. In the late stages of gout, X-rays will typically show interosseous tophi -- modular masses of uric acid crystals embedded in the bone.