Gout as a cause of isolated circumscribed cyst of the patella; report of a case.

Abstract

Isolated, circumscribed cysts of the patellae are of great interest to the radiologist and orthopedic surgeon because of their differential diagnostic and therapeutic significance. A cystic lesion in the patella may indicate such generalized or systemic conditions as leukemia, multiple myeloma, fibrous dysplasia, cystic tuberculosis of bone, reticulosis, metastases, or metabolic disorders. Such a lesion may, on the other hand, be primary in the patella, as a solitary “benign” cyst or hemangioma or tumor of bone. A search of the literature revealed no record of a solitary cystlike area in the patella related to gout. The present case is reported, therefore, as an example of a solitary patellar lesion indicating a major systemic condition, i.e., a metabolic disease. It serves to re–emphasize the fact that in such instances final therapy can be instituted only after a diagnosis has been established and that the determination of the nature of cystic lesions of bone must be made by biopsy. Case Report W. E. M....