An Intratendinous Tophaceous Gout Mistaken for Cellulitis in the Patellar Tendon

Abstract

Gout is characterized by recurrent attacks of arthralgia, and deposition of monosodium urate crystals in and around the joints of the extremities and soft tissues. Monosodium urate crystals are observed most frequently at the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint and usually presented in the ankle and wrist joint. However, no case of an intratendinous tophus in the patellar tendon has been reported in Korean literature. In this report, we found monosodium urate crystals in the patellar tendon on magnetic resonance imaging images and intratendinous tophus were visible to the naked eye by excision. We reported on the case of a patient who experienced an unusual intratendinous tophus in the patellar tendon.