THE ROLE OF MRI WHEN RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS IS SUSPECTED BUT NOT PROVEN

Relapsing polychondritis (RP), while relatively rare, presents a chara cteristic clinical picture. Based upon a symptom complex of auricular, nasal, and respiratory chondritis associated with ocular and otic com plaints, diagnosis can frequently be made with confidence in the absen ce of histologic confirmation. We present a case where a therapeutic i ntervention was required without sufficient criteria for diagnosis. Ma gnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proved useful in initial evaluation and allowed follow-up imaging demonstrating a gratifying response to ster oid treatment. We believe that MRI has an important role in the diagno sis and subsequent evaluation of patients with proven or suspected RP, particularly those with tracheal involvement.