X-ray can be used to diagnose gout.
Gout is a painful condition in the arthritis family. This condition causes pain and swelling in the joints, due to an excess of uric acid -- a byproduct of the metabolism of protein in the human body. The use of radiology such as X-rays can be beneficial in the diagnosis of gout.
Identification
According to the Mayo Clinic, gout occurs when excessive uric acid is produced, which the body cannot successfully excrete. Renal disease is one possible cause; however, most cases of gout are idiopathic -- for no known cause -- in nature.
Significance
Radiology is a diagnostic procedure used to identify disease and injury. It is most commonly used in the form of X-rays when the goal is to definitively diagnose gout. Images on the X-ray films will typically verify if the disease is present, and how far it has progressed.
Benefits
According to Medscape.com, in the beginning stages of the condition, radiological findings typically shows the presence of swelling, and as the disease progresses, small changes will appear on the X-rays in the bony structures of the affected joints. In the late stages of gout, X-rays will typically show interosseous tophi -- modular masses of uric acid crystals embedded in the bone.
Tags: uric acid, diagnose gout, will typically
