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.
Tophus
Introduction
Overview
A tophus (Latin: “stone”, plural tophi) is a deposit of crystallised monosodium urate in people with longstanding hyperuricemia. At this stage, most have already developed symptoms of the associated crystal arthopathy known as gout.
Tophi form in the joints, cartilage, bones, and other places throughout the body. Sometimes, tophi break through the skin and appear as white or yellowish-white, chalky nodules. Without treatment, tophi may develop on average about ten years after the onset of the disease, although their first appearance can range from three to forty-two years. They are more apt to appear early in the course of the disease in people who are older in age. In the elderly population, women appear to be at higher risk for tophi than men.