| Perichondritis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Perichondritis of the pinna | |
| Specialty | Otorhinolaryngology |
| Differential diagnosis | Otitis externa[1] |
Perichondritis is inflammation of the perichondrium, a layer of connective tissue which surrounds cartilage.[2] A common form, auricular perichondritis (perichondritis auriculae) involves infection of the pinna due to infection of traumatic or surgical wound or the spread of inflammation into depth (e.g. Infected transcartilaginous ear piercings).[3][4] It may lead to severe deformation of the pinna if not treated vigorously with IV antibiotics. The causative organism is usually Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A rare form is laryngeal perichondritis (perichondritis laryngis). It develops suddenly due to an injury, virulent organisms or compromised immune status of the host, and also affects cartilage of the larynx. This may result in deformations and stenoses.
- ^ Wolfson, Allan B.; Hendey, Gregory W.; Ling, Louis J.; Rosen, Carlo L. (2009). Harwood-Nuss' Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. PT428. ISBN 978-0-7817-8943-1.
- ^ "Perichondritis" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ Medline Plus description of Perichondritis of the outer ear
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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