tophus
/ˈtəʊfəs
/noun (plural tophi /ˈtəʊfʌɪ/) Medicine
A deposit of crystalline uric acid and other substances at the surface of joints or in skin or cartilage, typically as a feature of gout.Joint damage in hyperuricemia causes classical attacks of gout but tophi may also develop in cartilage, tendons and other tissues....
- Patients with long-standing gout may have tophi over the olecranon prominence, first metatarsal joints, or pinnae.
- If histopathology of a tophus or synovial biopsy suggests gout, fine-needle aspiration may be an alternative for crystal identification and subsequent definitive diagnosis.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Latin, denoting loose porous stones of various kinds.