Differentiation of Relapsing Polychondritis and Auricular Perichondritis by Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Case Report and Literature Review

复发性多软骨炎(Relapsing Polychondritis, RP)是一种以免疫介导为特征的系统性炎症性疾病，耳软骨炎是RP最具特征性的临床表现之一。耳廓软骨膜炎(Auricular Perichondritis)临床上表现为耳廓红肿疼痛，可伴有脓肿形成。当RP初期临床症状仅表现于耳部时，RP与耳廓软骨膜炎不易进行鉴别。磁共振成像(Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI)具有优异的软组织分辨率和多参数成像能力。本文报告1例通过磁共振成像鉴别复发性多软骨炎与耳廓软骨膜炎的临床资料，复习国内外相关文献，探讨MRI在RP与耳廓软骨膜炎鉴别诊断中的应用价值。Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by immune-mediated cartilage destruction, with auricular chondritis being one of its most distinctive clinical manifestations. In contrast, auricular perichondritis typically presents with erythema, swelling, and pain of the auricle, potentially progressing to abscess formation. Early-stage RP with isolated auricular involvement can be clinically indistinguishable from auricular perichondritis, posing diagnostic challenges. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), leveraging its exceptional soft-tissue resolution and multiparametric imaging capabilities, provides critical insights into cartilage-specific inflammatory patterns. This article presents a case in which MRI effectively differentiated RP from auricular perichondritis, underscoring its diagnostic utility in clinical practice. A literature review further explores the role of MRI in delineating these two entities based on characteristic imaging biomarkers.