title: A case of relapsing polychondritis initially presenting with bronchial chondritis.
abstract: A 51-year-old woman presented with one-month history of fever, productive cough, dyspnea, hoarseness and polyarthritis. Computed tomography (CT) depicted diffuse bronchotracheal stenosis, which deteriorated in exhalation. Three-dimensional CT revealed airway stenosis from the trachea to the lobar bronchi. We made a diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis (RP). Administration of high-dose glucocorticoid and oral cyclophosphamide resolved the symptoms and the bronchial stenosis. It was noteworthy that all features presented were bronchial chondritis and polyarthritis. RP should be considered when patients have polyarthritis with respiratory symptoms. The dynamic expiratory CT and three-dimensional image reconstructions are useful for detecting and following up bronchotracheal involvement.
authors: Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo , Japan.
authors: Yoko
authors: Y
authors: Nakazato
authors: Fumitaka
authors: F
authors: Mizoguchi
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Kohsaka
authors: Nobuyuki
authors: N
authors: Miyasaka
mesh_terms: D001980:Bronchi; D001995:Bronchography; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide
keywords: Bronchial chondritis; Computed tomography; Polyarthritis; Relapsing polychondritis; Three-dimensional reconstruction