Polychondritis presenting with oculomotor and abducens nerve palsies as the initial manifestation.

We treated a patient with relapsing polychondritis (RP) who presented with intermittent oculomotor and abducens nerve palsies as the first manifestation. Ear swelling and laryngeal edema emerged 7 months later, which led us to diagnose him with RP. Moderate doses of glucocorticoid resolved all symptoms. Our experience with RP accompanied by oculomotor nerve palsy suggests that RP should be considered in patients with cranial nerve palsies so that they may be promptly diagnosed and treated.