Tophi as first manifestation of gout.

Chronic tophaceous gout classically occurs after 10 years or more of recurrent polyarticular gout. However, tophi can also occur as first sign of the disorder. Here we report a 20-year-old male presenting with multiple subcutaneous nodules on bilateral feet and toes, left palm, right elbow, helix of left ear since last one and half year prior to any other manifestation of gout. He was having mild intermittent arthritis since last six months. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of one tophus showed monosodium urate crystals, which are pathognomonic for gout. His serum uric acid was normal and ultrasound revealed bilateral nephrocalcinosis. So far as we know, this is the first case report from India, demonstrating tophi as the initial clinical presentation of gout.

Disseminated cutaneous rhinosporidiomas in an immunocompetent male.

Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic recurrent infective granulomatous disease of man and animals. It is endemic in India and Sri Lanka. Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic disease commonly involving the nose and nasopharynx. Cutaneous lesions, although rare, can occur due to autoinoculation or due to hematogenous spread. However, disseminated cutaneous lesions presenting as tumor-like swellings are rare. We report here a 48-year-old immunocompetent patient who had disseminated painless cutaneous tumor-like swellings over both the upper limbs, abdomen, left buttock and calf since 10 months, gradually increasing in size. On inquiring, the patient gave history of excisions and electrocauterization of subglottic and nasal polyps. Histopathological examination of these lesions was suggestive of rhinosporidiosis. The general and systemic examinations of the patient did not reveal any abnormality.