Relapsing polychondritis and otologic findings

Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis is a cartilage tissue disease characterized by inflammatory and destructive episodes. Elastic cartilage of the ear and nose, hyaline cartilage of the joints, hyaline cartilage of vertebra and trachea are the main involvement areas. Also organs having proteoglycan structure such as eyes, heart, blood vessels, and the inner ear can be affected. In this article otologic findings of a 54-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis were presented and discussed in the light of the literature.