Relapsing Polychondritis

Inflammatory destruction of cartilages, presumably on an autoimmune basis, characterizes relapsing polychondritis, a disease of varying severity and outcome. The otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon is often the first physician contact, because the preponderance of signs and symptoms are in the head and neck, ie, auricular and nasal chondritis, ocular and auditory manifestations, and laryngotracheobronchial involvement.