tophus

The term "tophus" refers to a deposit of urates in tissues, most commonly cartilage, which is a characteristic sign of gout. These deposits are known as tophi, with the plural form being tophi. The word originates from Latin and was first used in 1607.1

It is important to distinguish "tophus" from "typhus." Typhus is a group of acute infectious diseases caused by rickettsia bacteria and transmitted by insects like lice, fleas, or mites. Typhus presents with sudden onset of headache, chills, fever, and rash, and can lead to serious complications if untreated.2