Recent progress of imaging in gout

Imaging is a helpful tool for clinicians to evaluate gout. Plain radiographs show typical changes only in advanced chronic gout. Computed tomography may best evaluate bone changes and tophi. Dual energy CT can measure the total urate burden in general periphery joints. Magnetic resonance imaging is suitable to evaluate soft tissues,synovial membrane thickness,and inflammatory changes,which is also sensitive to early change of gout,and even well show the tophi. Ultrasonography may be used in evaluation of cartilage, soft tissues, urate crystal deposition, and synovial membrane inflammation. Nuclear medicine may be helpful to investigate the pathogenesis of gouty arthritis in the field of cell and molecule. Key words: Gout ;  X-Ray ;  CT ;  MRI ;  Ultrasonography ;  Nuclear medicine ;