Multiple extensor tendon ruptures caused by tophaceous gout.

A 54-year-old woman presented with painless subcutaneous masses on her right hand and spontaneous loss of extension of her ring finger. Surgical exploration of the wrist showed hypertrophic white-colored crystal deposits that both surrounded and invaded into the extensor tendons (intratendinous invasion). Histopathologic examination of the specimen demonstrated findings consistent with gouty tophi. We conclude that tophaceous gout needs to be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic extensor tenosynovitis of the hand.