What can mimic gout?

Pseudogout : Cellulitis, abcess to name a couple....

Because gout is severe inflammation that usually occurs in one joint at a time, the big mimic is joint infection. Therefore, it is important to rule out infection. There is also a disease called pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease or CPPD) that mimics gout. Many other arthritides are possible but they are usually readily distinguishable from gout.