[Isolated tracheobronchial involvement by atrophic polychondritis: role of PET scanning]

Atrophic polychondritis is a rare and serious disease characterised by multifocal inflammatory lesions of cartilage. The diagnosis, though urgent, is difficult when there is isolated tracheal involvement.

We report the case of a woman of 55 with recent, non-infectious febrile episodes accompanied by a steroid sensitive inflammatory syndrome. Auscultation, lung function tests and a thoracic CT scan suggested tracheobronchomalacia. Atrophic polychondritis was suspected without being confirmed on the basis of histological or biological tests; particularly as no other cartilaginous involvement was discovered. Laryngeal and tracheal hypermetabolism on a PET scan, performed in the absence of corticosteroid treatment, was also in favour of this diagnosis. One month after resumption of steroid treatment at increased dosage, this examination was normal. Secondarily, after careful reduction of steroids, the patient developed nasal chondritis, confirming the diagnosis of atrophic polychondritis.

The PET scanner could be useful in the diagnosis of atrophic polychondritis in its isolated tracheobronchial form. Its place in the follow-up of this disease remains to be evaluated and should take account of the irradiation dose of this examination.