PATHOLOGIC QUIZ CASE
Robert M. Komorn, MD, Houston
A 66-year-old woman was seen because of persistent wheezing after adequate treatment for cardiac failure. Her trouble had begun 18 months previously when she noted the onset of progressive hearing loss, recurrent nasal infections, bilateral recurrent external otitis, and inflammation of the left pinna.
Physical examination revealed a chronically ill patient with an obvious saddle deformity of the nose (Fig 1), crusting and inflammation of the nasal and septal mucosa, and erythema and swelling of the left pinna (Fig 2). Narrowing of the subglottic larynx was seen with indirect laryngoscopy and documented by tomograms (Fig 3). A biopsy of the left auricular cartilage (Fig 4 and 5) confirmed the clinical impression. Cardiac failure was never documented.
PATHOLOGIC QUIZ CASE
Clinical and Pathological Diagnosis
PATHOLOGIC QUIZ CASE
Pathological Diagnosis.—Degenerating cartilage compatible with relapsing polychondritis.
The clinical diagnosis for this patient was relapsing
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