CTICasesRelapsing Polychondritis
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Imaging findings
A 42-46 year old woman with recurrent chest, nasal, and ear pain. A chest radiograph showed a decreased right-to-left diameter of the air column. CT demonstrated thickening of the tracheal cartilage with sparing of the posterior wall, extending into the proximal bronchi and causing marked narrowing. Lung windows revealed differences in lung density, with the left upper lobe appearing more lucent than the right, suggesting obstruction.
Key takeaways
This is a classic example of relapsing polychondritis, characterized by chronic inflammation of cartilage. Imaging findings of tracheal cartilage thickening with posterior wall sparing and resultant airway narrowing are highly characteristic, leading to air trapping as seen by regional lucency differences in the lungs.
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See all cases from March 11, 2015 →