Surgical reconstruction of auricular relapsing polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a multiple system disease of unknown cause characterized by episodic inflammation of cartilage and potentially progressive degeneration of cartilaginous tissue. Solitary auricular cartilage involvement without any inflammatory symptoms is very uncommon and surgical treatment is rarely recommended. We present a 53-year-old Chinese male patient who had undergone a mass resection on the right ear in December 2008 and 1 year later had developed another mass at the same spot. A mass resection and reconstructive surgery were performed and the pathologic result of the mass was auricular RP. Although RP is rarely seen by plastic surgeons, we should have sufficient information about this disease. This case demonstrates a simple and straight surgical approach to obtain an excellent ear appearance.