Enthesopathy and tendinopathy in gout: computed tomographic assessment.

Objective: To establish if computed tomography (CT) imaging, which has proved helpful in detecting intra-articular tophi in gout, can also be used to document gouty enthesopathy and tendinopathy.

Methods: Three patients with tophaceous gout and clinical involvement of the Achilles tendon (two cases) or patellar tendon (one case) were assessed with CT examination and plain radiographs.

Results: In the first two cases, CT images revealed linear or nodular high attenuation opacities within the substance of the Achilles tendons and their calcaneal insertion.