Head and Neck Manifestations of Relapsing Polychondritis: Review of 29 Cases

This review of 29 patients with relapsing polychondritis seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1962 and 1976 emphasizes the head and neck manifestations of the disease and the role of the otolaryngologist in its diagnosis and treatment. The major clinical features included inflammation of the pinna, eye involvement, nasal cartilage involvement, laryngotracheal involvement, arthropathy, hearing loss, costal chondritis, and fever. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was often elevated, and mild anemia was not uncommon.