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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Gout diagnostic study of choice

Introduction

Monsodium urate crystals under polarising light microscopy_PEIR_Digital_Library-1|[1]
Overview

Overview

Diagnostic Study of Choice

Diagnostic Study of Choice

  • The diagnostic standard is synovial fluid or tophus aspiration with identification of monosodium urate crystals.
  • Synovial fluid is aspirated from the inflamed joint by careful arthrocentesis.
  • The sample is then analyzed for characteristic negatively birefringent monosodium urate crystals which appear needle-like structures of 1–20 Ξm in length under polarized microscopy. This is central to confirm the diagnosis of gout. 22303530 18299687
  • It also helps in differentiating gout from acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis (pseudogout) and septic arthritis.16707533
References

References

  1. _PEIR_Digital_Library_1-0|↑ “00214108 | PEIR Digital Library”.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: