Gout nodulosis: widespread subcutaneous deposits without gout.

Subcutaneous tophaceous deposits of monosodium urate, in the absence of arthritis, may occasionally occur as the initial manifestation of gout. In this report, we describe a 35-year-old man who presented with a 6-year history of multiple subcutaneous nodules and no history of previous articular complaints. Needle aspirations of the nodules proved them to be deposits of monosodium urate. A literature search revealed 28 other cases with a similar presentation. We propose the term "gout nodulosis" as a clinical entity at one end of the spectrum of gout to describe this group of patients.