Diagnosis of gout includes physical, laboratory and instrumental research methods. The diagnosis of gout is made when several signs characteristic of this disease coincide
Physical diagnosis
Physical diagnosis involves visual examination of the patient and palpation. The examination results are compared with the patient’s complaints and medical history.
X-rays can reveal pathological changes in the joints. They occur in late stages, so the onset of the disease cannot be determined using x-ray methods. To identify tophi (they do not always protrude above the surface of the skin), computed tomography or MRI are used.