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Early Stage Relapsing Polychondritis Diagnosed by Nasal Septum Biopsy
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Early Stage Relapsing Polychondritis Diagnosed by Nasal Septum Biopsy

Takaaki Kobayashi, Sandra Moody, Masafumi Komori, Akira Jibatake and Makito Yaegashi
Case reports in medicine, Vol.2015, pp.307868-4
01/01/2015
DOI: 10.1155/2015/307868
PMCID: PMC4710948
PMID: 26843866
url
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/307868View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare inflammation of cartilaginous tissues, the diagnosis of which is usually delayed by a mean period of 2.9 years from symptom onset. We present the case of a 36-year-old man with nasal pain and fever. Physical examination of the nose was grossly unremarkable, but there was significant tenderness of the nasal bridge. Acute sinusitis was initially diagnosed due to thickened left frontal sinus mucosa on computed tomography (CT); however, there was no improvement after antibiotic intake. Repeat CT showed edematous inflammation of the nasal septum; biopsy of this site demonstrated erosion and infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, and neutrophils in the hyaline cartilage. Relapsing polychondritis was confirmed by the modifiedMcAdam's criteria and can be diagnosed at an early stage by nasal septum biopsy; it should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with nasal symptoms alone or persistent sinus symptoms.
General & Internal Medicine Life Sciences & Biomedicine Medicine, General & Internal Science & Technology

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