Growth in the Canthus of the Eye Due to Gout
Title: Medical canthal tophus associated with
gout
Authors: Chu YC, Hsieh YY, Ma L
Publication: Am J Ophthalmol. 2005 Sep;140(3):542-4.
The authors described a 27-year old man with 3-year history of
gout and excessively high levels of uric acid in the blood or
hyperuricemia. The man developed a canthal mass or growth at the
middle canthus of the eye (where the upper and lower eyelids meet).
The authors conducted a biopsy and took a sample of the canthal
mass, and found that it has multiple lobules or round projections,
filled with amorphous materials that stain readily with eosin.
When viewed under the microscope, the authors detected presence
of uric acid crystals, a hallmark of gout. Thus, they conclude
that gouty deposits (called gouty tophus) can develop in the eye,
where the eyelids meet.
Editor’s note: eosin is a type of dye or stain used
for studying cell structures.
