We report a case of relapsing polychondritis successfully decannulated 7 years after the emergency tracheotomy. A 14-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with a history of cough and dyspnea worsening for a month. Flexible laryngofiberscopic examination revealed severe subglottic stenosis. Tracheotomy was performed on the admission day. Histological findings from the cricoid cartilage were compatible to relapsing polychondritis. Systemic administration of corticosteroids was performed. The subglottic stenosis improved gradually. The decannulation and surgical closure of the tracheal stoma was performed 7 years after the tracheotomy. Though relapsing polychondritis causes recurrent inflammatory reactions in the cartilaginous structures, it is not impossible to close the tracheal stoma in patients of subglottic stenosis due to this disease.
