An Autopsy Case of Relapsing Polychondritis

A Review of 53 Cases in Japan

Abstract

A 59 year-old male was admitted with irritable cough and anterior chest pain. The distribution of the pain corresponed to the rib cartilages. Chest roentgenogram revealed generalized narrowing of the trachea and bronchi. The patient died of suffocation by the tracheal stenosis.
Macroscopic examination at autopsy revealed generalized narrowing of the central airway from the larynx to the main bronchi. Microscopic examination showed the loss of basophilic staining and the dissolution of the cartilage of the laryx, trachea and ribs. 53 previously reported cases in Japan were reviewed.