Relapsing polychondritis

a disorder marked by recurring episodes of inflammation of cartilaginous tissue and special sense organs, which affects persons of all age groups. Frequent sites of involvement are the external ear, nose, trachea, larynx, sclera, ribs, and articular cartilage. Auricular chondritis and arthritis are the usual initial findings, but in some patients abnormalities of the respiratory tract and eyes as well as nasal chondritis may be evident. The arthritis is commonly nonerosive, but it may produce considerable deformity and mutilation in some persons. Respiratory tract involvement is a potentially serious manifestation of the disease that may require tracheostomy. Back pain due to spinal alterations, chest pain related to costochondritis, hearing loss from obstruction of the external auditory meatus, fever, anorexia and weight loss, and cardiovascular abnormalities are also present in some patients. Saddle nose deformity may develop in some patients.

The radiographic features tend to be nonspecific and unremarkable. However, extra-articular findings such as tracheal narrowing or stenosis, calcification of the auricular cartilage, and aortic alterations are sometimes observed after repeated attacks. Typically a nonerosive, nondeforming arthropathy occurs. Sacroiliac joint abnormalities, including joint space loss, erosion and eburnation, may be found in some patients, with absence of spinal alterations.