Gout: It looks as painful as it is!

The usual diagnosis method for gout is invasive; doctors are required to draw fluid from the gout area and check for the presence of uric acid crystals.

Now computer assisted tomography can actually 'see' the crystals, as in this pic. Unfortunately so far, unless you live in Canada, the new technique is not much good to you.

Also, one wonders the real use of such a wonderful technique when gout is pretty darn self-evident, and easily diagnosable. So is the therapy; alkalize!
More about the technique here