Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32917279›Full record

ArticleArthritis research & therapy2020

Dual-energy CT in gout patients: Do all colour-coded lesions actually represent monosodium urate crystals?

Sara Nysom Christiansen, Felix Christoph Müller, Mikkel Østergaard, Ole Slot, Jakob M Møller, Henrik F Børgesen, Kasper Kjærulf Gosvig, Lene Terslev

Abstract read
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Article in Arthritis research & therapy, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Endoscopic management of lumbar spinal tophaceous gout: six cases treated with percutaneous transforaminal (PTED) and interlaminar (PIED) discectomy and a literature review.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025
    Review
  4. Imaging of gout: an atlas.Rheumatology advances in practice · 2025
    Review
  5. Advanced imaging techniques in crystal arthritis.Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease · 2025
    Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Imaging Features of Soft Tissue Tumor Mimickers: A Pictorial Essay.The Indian journal of radiology & imaging · 2022
    Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Review
  15. Article
  16. What Has Dual Energy CT Taught Us About Gout?Current rheumatology reports · 2021
    Review
  17. Properties of colour-coded DECT lesions vary.Nature reviews. Rheumatology · 2020
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Sara Nysom ChristiansenCopenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, 2600, Glostrup, Denmark. sara.nysom.christiansen@regionh.dk.ORCID 0000-0002-5063-9932
Felix Christoph MüllerDepartment of Radiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
Mikkel ØstergaardCopenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, 2600, Glostrup, Denmark.
Ole SlotCopenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, 2600, Glostrup, Denmark.
Jakob M MøllerDepartment of Radiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
Henrik F BørgesenDepartment of Radiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
Kasper Kjærulf GosvigDepartment of Radiology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
Lene TerslevCopenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, 2600, Glostrup, Denmark.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDual-energy CT (DECT) can acknowledge differences in tissue compositions and can colour-code tissues with specific features including monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. However, when evaluating gout patients, DECT frequently colour-codes material not truly representing MSU crystals and this might lead to misinterpretations. The characteristics of and variations in properties of colour-coded DECT lesions in gout patients have not yet been systematically investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the properties and locations of colour-coded DECT lesions in gout patients.

methodsDECT of the hands, knees and feet were performed in patients with suspected gout using factory default gout settings, and colour-coded DECT lesions were registered. For each lesion, properties [mean density (mean of Hounsfield Units (HU) at 80 kV and Sn150kV), mean DECT ratio and size] and location were determined. Subgroup analysis was performed post hoc evaluating differences in locations of lesions when divided into definite MSU depositions and possibly other lesions.

resultsIn total, 4033 lesions were registered in 27 patients (23 gout patients, 3918 lesions; 4 non-gout patients, 115 lesions). In gout patients, lesions had a median density of 160.6 HU and median size of 6 voxels, and DECT ratios showed an approximated normal distribution (mean 1.06, SD 0.10), but with a right heavy tail consistent with the presence of smaller amounts of high effective atomic number lesions (e.g. calcium-containing lesions). The most common locations of lesions were 1st metatarsophalangeal (MTP1), knee and midtarsal joints along with quadriceps and patella tendons. Subgroup analyses showed that definite MSU depositions (large volume, low DECT ratio, high density) had a similar distribution pattern, whereas possible calcium-containing material (high DECT ratio) and non-gout MSU-imitating lesions (properties as definite MSU depositions in non-gout patients) were primarily found in some larger joints (knee, midtarsal and talocrural) and tendons (Achilles and quadriceps). MTP1 joints and patella tendons showed only definite MSU depositions.

conclusionColour-coded DECT lesions in gout patients showed heterogeneity in properties and distribution. MTP1 joints and patella tendons exclusively showed definite MSU depositions. Hence, a sole focus on these regions in the evaluation of gout patients may improve the specificity of DECT scans.

Indexed as

GoutUric AcidColorHumansTendonsTomography, X-Ray ComputedUric AcidArtefactsDual-energy CTGoutMSU crystalsProperty analysisSpecificity

Identifiers

PMID32917279
PMCPMC7488422

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