A case of relapsing polychondritis with respiratory symptom manifestation alone

Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis, a comparatively rare condition systemically affecting organs containing collagen, such as cartilage tissue, is diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and pathological findings. Our case report involves a respiratory symptom alone. A 65-year-old man seen for fever and dyspnea was found in computed tomography and endoscopy to have subglottic and tracheal stenosis, necessitating tracheostomy and tracheal cartilage biopsy. Pathologicalily bony cartilage change was seen but no definite auricular inflammation findings. Additional auricular cartilage biopsy, showed no inflammation. Residual auricular cartilage scarring, however, indicated cartilage destruction by previous inflammation or trauma, yielding a final diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis. Steroid therapy quickly relieved symptoms. Auricular cartilage biopsy thus proved useful in definitively diagnosing this condition.