The popliteal groove region: A new target for the detection of monosodium urate crystal deposits in patients with gout. An ultrasound study

• Published in: Joint, bone, spine : revue du rhumatisme bone, spine : revue du rhumatisme, 2019-01, Vol.86 (1), p.89-94
• Main Authors: Di Matteo, Andrea, Filippucci, Emilio, Cipolletta, Edoardo, Ausili, Matteo, Martire, Victoria, Di Carlo, Marco, Salaffi, Fausto, Grassi, Walter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Arthritis, Gouty - diagnostic imaging; Cartilage, Articular - diagnostic imaging; Diagnostic performance; Female; Femur - diagnostic imaging; Gout; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Knee Joint - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Monosodium urate crystals; Patellar Ligament - diagnostic imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tophus; Ultrasonography - methods; Ultrasound; Uric Acid; “Double contour” sign
• ISSN: 1297-319X; 1778-7254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2018.06.008

To determine the prevalence of the ultrasound findings indicating monosodium urate crystal deposits at the popliteal groove region in patients with gout; to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in detecting monosodium urate crystal deposits at the popliteal groove region, patellar tendon and the knee hyaline cartilage; to investigate the correlation between the ultrasound findings at the popliteal groove region and the clinical features. Bilateral ultrasound assessment of the popliteal groove region, patellar tendon and femoral condyles’ hyaline cartilage was performed on 47 consecutive patients with gout and 37 controls. The ultrasound findings indicating monosodium urate crystals (aggregates, tophi and “double-contour” sign) were identified according to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology definitions. One or more ultrasound abnormalities (aggregates and/or tophi) were found in at least one popliteal groove region in 23 out of 47 patients with gout (48.9%) and in 4 out of 37 controls (10.8%) (P