Scar formation may occur at any site of involvement, including the nose, nasopharynx, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. Cicatricial pemphigoid affects women twice as often as men, and most patients are over 50 years of age. All 13 had involvement of other areas of the aerodigestive tract as well, but isolated laryngeal involvement has been reported. The primary symptom of laryngeal pemphigoid is severe odynophagia, and the most common findings are ulcers of the epiglottis and aryepiglottic folds. Diagnosis is dependent upon biopsy, which shows inflammatory subepithelial bullae surrounded by a mixed cellular inflammatory infiltrate.
Intralesional steroids are ineffective, and stenoses require surgical correction.
Relapsing Polychondritis Relapsing polychondritis is a rare idiopathic, generally progressive, autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of cartilage. Relapsing polychondritis occurs in all age groups, having a bell-shaped distribution and a peak incidence in the fourth decade. This disease is characterized by episodes of inflammation with subsequent destruction of the cartilage of the ears, nose, and larynx. Arthritis involving the large joints is also common. Laryngeal involvement is manifested by hoarseness, dyspnea, stridor, cough, and, sometimes, pain and hemoptysis.