Monosodium Urate Crystals in Tophaceous Gout
Squash prep of pasty white material that exuded from foot wound. Compensated polarized light microscopy.
In this case, the podiatrist first sent a biopsy of the wound in formalin, with no history. Of course, the urates dissolved in processing, and the biopsy was nondiagnostic. So, I suggested she just pick up some of the goo, and we could smear it on the slide. Voila! Gout!
Note that the color of the needle-like crystals depends on how they are oriented in respect to the axis of polarization.
Monosodium Urate Crystals in Tophaceous Gout
Squash prep of pasty white material that exuded from foot wound. Compensated polarized light microscopy.
In this case, the podiatrist first sent a biopsy of the wound in formalin, with no history. Of course, the urates dissolved in processing, and the biopsy was nondiagnostic. So, I suggested she just pick up some of the goo, and we could smear it on the slide. Voila! Gout!
Note that the color of the needle-like crystals depends on how they are oriented in respect to the axis of polarization.