Microscopic Description of Tophi in Gout

The microscopic image shows a typical tophi in gout.

Key components:

• Tophi: Marked by the yellow arrows, are areas containing urate crystals.

• Urate crystal deposits: Marked by the yellow arrows, are pale pink-purple crystal deposits resembling cotton candy.

• Inflammatory cells: Marked by the green arrows, are cells with dark purple nuclei surrounding urate crystal deposits.

• Fibroblastic proliferation: Marked by the blue arrows and circle, is dense connective tissue with thick collagen bundles in deep pink and blood vessels.

Specific cells:

• Macrophages: Marked by the dark green arrows, have an eccentrically located oval nucleus, abundant cytoplasm, and a spiny irregular cell border.

• Foreign body giant cells: Marked by the light green arrows, are much larger than macrophages, have multiple nuclei on a cytoplasmic background.

• Fibroblasts: Marked by the blue arrows, have a spindle shape, one nucleus, two elongated ends, and are located within collagen bundles.

• Fibrocytes: Marked by the blue arrows, have an elongated shape and a dark purple color.

• Lymphocytes: Marked by the blue arrows, are small white blood cells.

Other structures:

• Collagen fibers: Marked by the blue arrows, are produced by fibroblasts, arranged in bundles, and appear deep pink.

• Blood vessels: Marked by the orange arrows, include small venules (small VM).

Conclusion:

This microscopic image shows the presence of urate crystals, inflammatory reaction, and fibroblastic proliferation within tophi. This is characteristic of gout, a disease caused by the deposition of urate crystals in the tissues.