Relapsing polychondritis

Patient came in with a hoarse voice. Few times prior to this, she had been treated for ear pain. She had a chronically deformed/swollen pinna (note that the areas devoid of cartilage are spared). It affects the bridge of the nose and the laryngeal cartilages too(wherever there is cartilage). Treatment is with steroids. One should differentiate this from malignant otitis externa.

Notice the diffuse thickening of the cartilaginous regions of the ear. Patient responded to steroids.