Pulmonary fibrosis with intractable pneumothorax: New pulmonary manifestation of relapsing polychondritis

Relapsing Polychondritis is a rare disease which causes the repetitive inflammation of cartilage and connective tissues. Although the large airway is sometimes involved and the stenosis of them often influences the prognosis of the patients, there have been few reports concerning the manifestation of the peripheral lung. A 60-year-old man with pulmonary fibrosis was admitted to a regional hospital due to sudden deafness, and then he suffered from relapsing polychondritis. During the steroid therapy, he also suffered from bilateral pneumothoraces. His computed tomogram revealed many bilateral bullae, emphysematous changes, and fibrotic changes in bilateral lungs. The mechanism of generating peripheral pulmonary manifestations is also discussed.