ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the value of dual energy computed tomography (DECT) for the diagnosis of gout.Methods Twenty-fivc consccutive patients with gout were selected as the experimental group and 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were selected as the control group.DECT scans were performed for every patient (all peripheral joints for the experimental group and affected joints for the control group).And every patient with gout had X-ray examination of the involved joints.x2 test and t-test were used for statistical analysis.Results All 25 patients with gout showed urate deposits on their DECT scans,whereas none of 20 controls showed urate deposits (P＜0.01).DECT scans revealed a total of 184 areas of urate deposition in 25 patients,in which 107 (58.2％) were at feet and ankle,72 (39.1％) were at knees,4 (2.2％) were at hands and wrists,1 (0.5％) was at elbows,whereas physical examination only showed 64 areas of urate deposition,in which 38(59.4％) were at feet and ankle,24(37.5％) were at knees,2(3.1％) at hands and wrists,0 was at elbows(P＜0.01 ).Only 6 patients with gout showed nonspecific manifestations on X-ray.Conclusion DECT scans may have potential value for the diagnosis of gout since it could produce evident colour displays for urate deposits and help to identify subclinical tophus deposits.