Gout in Images: Tophi
This series of photo posts will now become a regular feature here at Got Gout? Today, we follow suit from our previous what-are-tophi article. Gouty tophi, plural of tophus, are very deforming. Most of the pictures here are not for those with a weak stomach—don’t say we did not warn you, it will get really gory.
However, we shall start mildly.
Above is a micrograph—a photo taken from a microscope—of a tophus.
This next photo was taken from an arthroscope while performing removal surgery on a knee joint.
Tophi can occur almost anywhere on the body. Above, the uric acid crystals chose to accumulate on the outer ear.
Another tophus; this time on the helix of the ear.
Tophus on the elbow.
We move over to the hands. This is where it starts to get gory. Tophi at the joints of the finger.
An almost unusable hand with gouty tophi.
Extreme deformation at the index finger.
Just when you thought it couldn't get worse.
Jesus. You can clearly see the removed solidified uric acid crystals.
Picture above shows tophus and not just gout. Swelling from regular gout is more uniform.
Remember this photo? From our uric acid crystals post—surgery to remove crystals on toe.