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When is a biopsy justified in a case of relapsing polychondritis?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Carlos O'Connor Reina ,
Maria Teresa Garcia Iriarte ,
Francisco Javier Barron Reyes ,
Ernesto Garcia Monge ,
Rafael Luque Barona  and
Diego Gomez Angel
Carlos O'Connor Reina*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Sevilla, Spain
Maria Teresa Garcia Iriarte
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Sevilla, Spain
Francisco Javier Barron Reyes
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Sevilla, Spain
Ernesto Garcia Monge
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Sevilla, Spain
Rafael Luque Barona
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Sevilla, Spain
Diego Gomez Angel
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Medicine of Sevilla, Spain
*
Address for correspondence: Carlos O'Connor Reina, C/Doña Maria Coronel 35–37 3CSevilla 41003, Spain
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Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a relatively rare rheumatic condition of unknown aetiology. It is characterized by recurrent episodic inflammation of cartilaginous structures (nose, ear and trachea). The clinical diagnosis of polychondritis can frequently be made with confidence in the absence of histological confirmation. A 61-year-old diabetic man, with bilateral relapsing aural inflammation, left ear deafness with tinnitus and pain at the sternocostal junctions is reported. After clinical diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis steroid therapy was started. An ear cartilage biopsy was performed confirming the clinical diagnosis. Subsequently soft tissue infection occurred at the operation site. The abscess was drained and oral ciprofloxacin was given with complete resolution of the infection over 30 days. As the infection is the main cause of death in these patients, we analyse whether biopsy is absolutely necessary for the diagnosis of RP in some patients.

Keywords

Polychondritis, relapsingBiopsy
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 113 , Issue 7 , July 1999 , pp. 663 - 665
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

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