New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Dual-energy CT accurately diagnoses gout in acute, emergency settings

Date:
March 30, 2010
Source:
American College of Radiology / American Roentgen Ray Society
Summary:
A medical imaging technique called dual-energy computed tomography is an effective and reliable way to diagnose gout in the acute, emergency setting, according to a new study.
Share:
FULL STORY

A medical imaging technique called dual-energy computed tomography (CT) is an effective and reliable way to diagnose gout in the acute, emergency setting, according to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

Dual-energy CT is an advanced medical imaging technique that can detect vessels and bones and display them in clear contrast to one another. It enables physicians to diagnose many patients’ conditions faster and more accurately as it can better characterize tissue composition better than conventional CT.

Gout is an extremely painful kind of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in and around the joints. “Doctors often use clinical features to diagnose gout, however many other diseases can mimic or coexist with it and conventional imaging techniques like X-rays, ultrasound, and conventional CT are not specific enough to facilitate a diagnosis,” said Savvakis Nicolaou, MD, lead author of the study.

The study, performed at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, BC, included five cases in which the diagnosis for gout was made or excluded on the basis of dual-energy CT. “In every case, conventional imaging techniques were used before applying advanced dual-energy CT technology, however we were not able to make a diagnosis based solely upon those findings,” said Nicolaou.

“To our knowledge, dual-energy CT is the only imaging method described to date that can confirm the diagnosis of topheceaous (or chronic) gout with high accuracy,” he said.

“Dual-energy CT is an exciting problem-solving tool that can reliably diagnose the presence of topheceaous gout, therereby expediting patient treatment, potentially reducing the burden of chronic complications associated with gout,” said Nicolaou.


Story Source:

Materials provided by American College of Radiology / American Roentgen Ray Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Savvakis Nicolaou, Charlotte Jane Yong-Hing, Sandro Galea-Soler, Daniel J. Hou, Luck Louis, Peter Munk. Dual-Energy CT as a Potential New Diagnostic Tool in the Management of Gout in the Acute Setting. American Journal of Roentgenology, 2010; 194 (4): 1072 DOI: 10.2214/AJR.09.2428

Cite This Page:

American College of Radiology / American Roentgen Ray Society. "Dual-energy CT accurately diagnoses gout in acute, emergency settings." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 March 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322111931.htm>.
American College of Radiology / American Roentgen Ray Society. (2010, March 30). Dual-energy CT accurately diagnoses gout in acute, emergency settings. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322111931.htm
American College of Radiology / American Roentgen Ray Society. "Dual-energy CT accurately diagnoses gout in acute, emergency settings." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322111931.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES