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Rat bite erosions (gout)

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 6 Jan 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Gaillard F, Bell D, Khan I, et al. Rat bite erosions (gout). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 20 May 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-51515

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-51515

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/51515

rID:

51515

Article created:

21 Feb 2017, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Last revised:

6 Jan 2022, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

9 times, by 7 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Signs

Synonyms:

Rat bite erosion (gout)
Martel sign (gout)
G sign (gout)

Rat (or mouse) bite erosions, also known as Martel sign or G sign, are seen in gout and refer to punched out erosions with sclerotic and overhanging margins.

History and etymology

This characteristic presence of the overhanging margin associated with the erosion in gout was first described by William Martel (1927–2014), an American radiologist, in 1968 ^3-5.

Differential diagnosis

Punched out erosions are seen in several chronic erosive joint diseases, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis. However it is the presence of the overhanging margin displaced away from the cortex of the originating bone which is distinctive for gout and is only occasionally seen in other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis ⁶.