Tophaceous gout of the lumbar spine mimicking an epidural abscess: MR features.

We present the MR findings in a case of tophaceous gout of the lumbar spine with cauda equina compression, mimicking an epidural abscess. The diagnosis was clinically unsuspected and confirmed at laminectomy. Tophus material in the paraspinal soft tissues appeared intermediate in signal intensity and showed heterogeneous contrast enhancement.