Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Role of dual-energy CT in the diagnosis and follow-up of gout: systematic analysis of the literature

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Clinical Rheumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to determine the potential role of dual-energy CT in the diagnosis and follow-up of gout with regard to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) filter. A systematic analysis of the literature was conducted using the MEDLINE and Cochrane databases and published abstracts of international congresses, according to the criteria of the OMERACT filter: feasibility, reproducibility, validity versus laboratory (serum urate, MSU synovial fluid aspirate) and other imaging modalities for gout, and its sensitivity to change in patients on urate lowering therapy (ULT). Thirty-two articles were found representing a total of 1502 patients. The data on feasibility showed that the examination took little time and involved low levels of radiation but had current limited availability. Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was excellent, with intra-class correlation coefficients > 0.9. Validity in comparison with polarized-light microscopy showed good sensitivity and specificity (> 80%). The diagnostic performance was better than that of radiography and conventional CT-scan and at least equivalent to that of ultrasonography. The sensitivity to change varied with effect sizes from 0.05 (low) to 1.24 (high) for decrease in the tophus volume following different ULT in gout patients. Dual-energy CT-scan is a reproducible and accurate imaging modality for the diagnosis of gout, particularly for tophaceous gout (intra- or extra-articular). It can become a second-line imaging modality of choice in cases of diagnostic doubt, such as ultrasonography. Its role remains uncertain in the follow-up of gout patients treated with ULT and needs further clarification.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bardin T, Bouée S, Clerson P, Chalès G, Flipo RM, Lioté F, Perez V, Poiraud T, Schaeverbeke T, Richette P (2016) Prevalence of gout in the adult population of France. Arthritis Care Res 68(2):261–266. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.22660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Mccarty DJ, Hollander JL (1961) Identification of urate crystals in gouty synovial fluid. Ann Intern Med 54:452–460

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Richette P, Doherty M, Pascual E, Barskova V, Becce F, Castañeda-Sanabria J, Coyfish M, Guillo S, Jansen TL, Janssens H, Lioté F, Mallen C, Nuki G, Perez-Ruiz F, Pimentao J, Punzi L, Pywell T, So A, Tausche AK, Uhlig T, Zavada J, Zhang W, Tubach F, Bardin T (2017) 2016 updated EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the management of gout. Ann Rheum Dis 76(1):29–42. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209707

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Owens D, Whelan B, McCarthy G (2008) A survey of the management of gout in primary care. Ir Med J 101(5):147–149

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Dalbeth N, Kalluru R, Aati O, Horne A, Doyle AJ, McQueen FM (2013) Tendon involvement in the feet of patients with gout: a dual-energy CT study. Ann Rheum Dis 72(9):1545–1548. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-202786

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Segal JB, Albert D (1999) Diagnosis of crystal-induced arthritis by synovial fluid examination for crystals: lessons from an imperfect test. Arthritis Care Res 12(6):376–380. https://doi.org/10.1002/1529-0131(199912)12:6<376::AID-ART5>3.0.CO;2-5

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Terslev L, Gutierrez M, Schmidt WA, Keen HI, Filippucci E, Kane D, Thiele R, Kaeley G, Balint P, Mandl P, Delle Sedie A, Hammer HB, Christensen R, Möller I, Pineda C, Kissin E, Bruyn GA, Iagnocco A, Naredo E, D'Agostino MA, OMERACT Ultrasound Working Group (2015) Ultrasound as an outcome measure in gout. A validation process by the OMERACT ultrasound working group. J Rheumatol 42(11):2177–2181. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.141294

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Neogi T, Jansen TL, Dalbeth N, Fransen J, Schumacher HR, Berendsen D, Brown M, Choi H, Edwards NL, Janssens HJ, Lioté F, Naden RP, Nuki G, Ogdie A, Perez-Ruiz F, Saag K, Singh JA, Sundy JS, Tausche AK, Vazquez-Mellado J, Yarows SA, Taylor WJ (2015) 2015 gout classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European league against rheumatism collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheumatol 67(10):2557–2568. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.39254

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Nicolaou S, Liang T, Murphy DT, Korzan JR, Ouellette H, Munk P (2012) Dual-energy CT: a promising new technique for assessment of the musculoskeletal system. AJR Am J Roentgenol 199(5 Suppl):S78–S86. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.12.9117

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. TRC J (2012) Dual-energy CT: general principles. AJR Am J Roentgenol 199(5 Suppl):S3–S8. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.12.9116

    Google Scholar 

  11. Boers M, Brooks P, Strand CV, Tugwell P (1998) The OMERACT filter for outcome measures in rheumatology. J Rheumatol 25(2):198–199

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Janssens HJ, Fransen J, van de Lisdonk EH, van Riel PL, van Weel C, Janssen M (2010) A diagnostic rule for acute gouty arthritis in primary care without joint fluid analysis. Arch Intern Med 170(13):1120–1126. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2010.196

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kienhorst LB, Janssens HJ, Fransen J, Janssen M (2015) The validation of a diagnostic rule for gout without joint fluid analysis: a prospective study. Rheumatol Oxf Engl 54(4):609–614. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keu378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wallace SL, Robinson H, Masi AT, Decker JL, McCarty DJ, Yü TF (1977) Preliminary criteria for the classification of the acute arthritis of primary gout. Arthritis Rheum 20(3):895–900. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.1780200320

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Dalbeth N, Schauer C, Macdonald P, Perez-Ruiz F, Schumacher HR, Hamburger S, Choi HK, McQueen FM, Doyle A, Taylor WJ (2011) Methods of tophus assessment in clinical trials of chronic gout: a systematic literature review and pictorial reference guide. Ann Rheum Dis 70(4):597–604. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2010.139899

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Choi HK, Al-Arfaj AM, Eftekhari A, Munk PL, Shojania K, Reid G, Nicolaou S (2009) Dual energy computed tomography in tophaceous gout. Ann Rheum Dis 68(10):1609–1612. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2008.099713

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Choi HK, Burns LC, Shojania K, Koenig N, Reid G, Abufayyah M, Law G, Kydd AS, Ouellette H, Nicolaou S (2012) Dual energy CT in gout: a prospective validation study. Ann Rheum Dis 71(9):1466–1471. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200976

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Rajan A, Aati O, Kalluru R, Gamble GD, Horne A, Doyle AJ, McQueen FM, Dalbeth N (2013) Lack of change in urate deposition by dual-energy computed tomography among clinically stable patients with long-standing tophaceous gout: a prospective longitudinal study. Arthritis Res Ther 15(5):R160. https://doi.org/10.1186/ar4343

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Bongartz T, Glazebrook KN, Kavros SJ, Murthy NS, Merry SP, Franz WB 3rd, Michet CJ, Veetil BM, Davis JM 3rd, Mason TG 2nd, Warrington KJ, Ytterberg SR, Matteson EL, Crowson CS, Leng S, McCollough CH (2015) Dual-energy CT for the diagnosis of gout: an accuracy and diagnostic yield study. Ann Rheum Dis 74(6):1072–1077. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-205095

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Huppertz A, Hermann KG, Diekhoff T, Wagner M, Hamm B, Schmidt WA (2014) Systemic staging for urate crystal deposits with dual-energy CT and ultrasound in patients with suspected gout. Rheumatol Int 34(6):763–771. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-014-2979-1

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Sun Y, Chen H, Zhang Z, Ma L, Zhou J, Zhou Y, Ding Y, Jin X, Jiang L (2015) Dual-energy computed tomography for monitoring the effect of urate-lowering therapy in gouty arthritis. Int J Rheum Dis 18(8):880–885. https://doi.org/10.1111/1756-185X.12634

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kiefer T, Diekhoff T, Hermann S, Stroux A, Mews J, Blobel J, Hamm B, Hermann KG (2016) Single source dual-energy computed tomography in the diagnosis of gout: diagnostic reliability in comparison to digital radiography and conventional computed tomography of the feet. Eur J Radiol 85(10):1829–1834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2016.08.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Shi D, Xu JX, Wu HX, Wang Y, Zhou QJ, Yu RS (2015) Methods of assessment of tophus and bone erosions in gout using dual-energy CT: reproducibility analysis. Clin Rheumatol 34(4):755–765. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-014-2725-9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Dalbeth N, Aati O, Gao A, House M, Liu Q, Horne A, Doyle A, McQueen FM (2012) Assessment of tophus size: a comparison between physical measurement methods and dual-energy computed tomography scanning. J Clin Rheumatol 18(1):23–27. https://doi.org/10.1097/RHU.0b013e31823e5cda

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Bayat S, Aati O, Rech J, Sapsford M, Cavallaro A, Lell M, Araujo E, Petsch C, Stamp LK, Schett G, Manger B, Dalbeth N (2016) Development of a dual-energy computed tomography scoring system for measurement of urate deposition in gout. Arthritis Care Res 68(6):769–775. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.22754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Dalbeth N, House ME, Aati O, Tan P, Franklin C, Horne A, Gamble GD, Stamp LK, Doyle AJ, McQueen FM (2015) Urate crystal deposition in asymptomatic hyperuricaemia and symptomatic gout: a dual energy CT study. Ann Rheum Dis 74(5):908–911. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-206397

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ogdie A, Taylor WJ, Weatherall M, Fransen J, Jansen TL, Neogi T, Schumacher HR, Dalbeth N (2015) Imaging modalities for the classification of gout: systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Ann Rheum Dis 74(10):1868–1874. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-205431

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Glazebrook KN, Guimarães LS, Murthy NS, Black DF, Bongartz T, Manek NJ, Leng S, Fletcher JG, McCollough CH (2011) Identification of intraarticular and periarticular uric acid crystals with dual-energy CT: initial evaluation. Radiology 261(2):516–524. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.11102485

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Zhu L, Wu H, Wu X, Sun W, Zhang T, Ye L, Wang W, Wang J (2015) Comparison between dual-energy computed tomography and ultrasound in the diagnosis of gout of various joints. Acad Radiol 22(12):1497–1502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2015.08.010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Diekhoff T, Ziegeler K, Feist E, Kiefer T, Mews J, Hamm B, Hermann KG (2015) First experience with single-source dual-energy computed tomography in six patients with acute arthralgia: a feasibility experiment using joint aspiration as a reference. Skelet Radiol 44(12):1573–1577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2015.08.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Ahmad Z, Gupta AK, Sharma R, Bhalla AS, Kumar U, Sreenivas V (2016) Dual energy computed tomography: a novel technique for diagnosis of gout. Int J Rheum Dis 19(9):887–896. https://doi.org/10.1111/1756-185X.12874

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Gruber M, Bodner G, Rath E, Supp G, Weber M, Schueller-Weidekamm C (2014) Dual-energy computed tomography compared with ultrasound in the diagnosis of gout. Rheumatol Oxf Engl 53(1):173–179. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/ket341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Hu H-J, Liao M-Y, Xu L-Y (2015) Clinical utility of dual-energy CT for gout diagnosis. Clin Imaging 39(5):880–885. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinimag.2014.12.015

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Wu H, Xue J, Ye L, Zhou Q, Shi D, Xu R (2014) The application of dual-energy computed tomography in the diagnosis of acute gouty arthritis. Clin Rheumatol 33(7):975–979. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-014-2606-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Breuer GS, Bogot N, Nesher G (2016) Dual-energy computed tomography as a diagnostic tool for gout during intercritical periods. Int J Rheum Dis 19(12):1337–1341. https://doi.org/10.1111/1756-185X.12938

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Baer AN, Kurano T, Thakur UJ, Thawait GK, Fuld MK, Maynard JW, McAdams-DeMarco M, Fishman EK, Carrino JA (2016) Dual-energy computed tomography has limited sensitivity for non-tophaceous gout: a comparison study with tophaceous gout. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 17(1):91. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-016-0943-9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Araujo EG, Bayat S, Petsch C, Englbrecht M, Faustini F, Kleyer A, Hueber AJ, Cavallaro A, Lell M, Dalbeth N, Manger B, Schett G, Rech J (2015) Tophus resolution with pegloticase: a prospective dual-energy CT study. RMD Open 1(1):e000075. https://doi.org/10.1136/rmdopen-2015-000075

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Gervaise A, Teixeira P, Villani N, Lecocq S, Louis M, Blum A (2013) CT dose optimisation and reduction in osteoarticular disease. Diagn Interv Imaging 94(4):371–388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diii.2012.05.017

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Glazebrook KN, Kakar S, Ida CM, Laurini JA, Moder KG, Leng S (2012) False-negative dual-energy computed tomography in a patient with acute gout. J Clin Rheumatol 18(3):138–141. https://doi.org/10.1097/RHU.0b013e318253aa5e

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Mallinson PI, Coupal T, Reisinger C, Chou H, Munk PL, Nicolaou S, Ouellette H (2014) Artifacts in dual-energy CT gout protocol: a review of 50 suspected cases with an artifact identification guide. Am J Roentgenol 203(1):W103–W109. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.13.11396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Terslev L, Gutierrez M, Christensen R, Balint PV, Bruyn GA, Delle Sedie A, Filippucci E, Garrido J, Hammer HB, Iagnocco A, Kane D, Kaeley GS, Keen H, Mandl P, Naredo E, Pineda C, Schicke B, Thiele R, D'Agostino MA, Schmidt WA, OMERACT US Gout Task Force (2015) Assessing elementary lesions in gout by ultrasound: results of an OMERACT patient-based agreement and reliability exercise. J Rheumatol 42(11):2149–2154. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.150366

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Dalbeth N, Doyle AJ (2012) Imaging of gout: an overview. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 26(6):823–838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.berh.2012.09.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Sun Y, Ma L, Zhou Y, Chen H, Ding Y, Zhou J, Wei L, Zou H, Jiang L (2013) Features of urate deposition in patients with gouty arthritis of the foot using dual-energy computed tomography. Int J Rheum Dis 18(5):560–567. https://doi.org/10.1111/1756-185X.12194

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Mallinson PI, Reagan AC, Coupal T, Munk PL, Ouellette H, Nicolaou S (2014) The distribution of urate deposition within the extremities in gout: a review of 148 dual-energy CT cases. Skeletal Radiol 43:277–281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1771-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Carr A, Doyle AJ, Dalbeth N, Aati O, McQueen FM (2016) Dual-energy CT of urate deposits in costal cartilage and intervertebral disks of patients with tophaceous gout and age-matched controls. Am J Roentgenol 206(5):1063–1067. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.15.15356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Komlosi P, Wintermark M (2017) Dual energy computed tomography applications for the evaluation of the spine. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 27(3):483–487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nic.2017.04.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Dijon University Hospital, 14 rue Gaffarel, 21000, Dijon, France

    André Ramon, Amélie Bohm-Sigrand, Jean-Francis Maillefert & Paul Ornetti

  2. Department of Radiology, Section of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France

    Pierre Pottecher

  3. LE2I UMR CNRS 6306, Arts et Métiers, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France

    Pierre Pottecher

  4. INSERM U1132 and University Paris-Diderot, Paris, France

    Pascal Richette

  5. Department of Rheumatology, Hopital Lariboisiere, Paris, France

    Pascal Richette

  6. INSERM UMR1093-CAPS, Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, Dijon, France

    Jean-Francis Maillefert & Paul Ornetti

  7. Department of Internal Medicine, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France

    Herve Devilliers

  8. CIC INSERM 1432, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, F-21000, Dijon, France

    Herve Devilliers

Authors
  1. André Ramon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amélie Bohm-Sigrand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Pierre Pottecher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pascal Richette
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jean-Francis Maillefert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Herve Devilliers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Paul Ornetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul Ornetti.

Ethics declarations

Disclosures

None.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ramon, A., Bohm-Sigrand, A., Pottecher, P. et al. Role of dual-energy CT in the diagnosis and follow-up of gout: systematic analysis of the literature. Clin Rheumatol 37, 587–595 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-017-3976-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-017-3976-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation