Chondrodermatitis Nodularis Helicis Follow-up

  • Author: Victor J Marks, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 1, 2012
 

Complications

While surgical intervention is a mainstay of therapy, multiple surgeries may be necessary. At times, removal of underlying protuberant cartilage results in adjacent protuberances that can be site(s) of recurrence of chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis (CNH), owing to a change in pressure points.

Next

Prognosis

The prognosis for patients with chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis (CNH) is excellent, although long-term morbidity is common.

Previous
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Victor J Marks, MD  Associate, Department of Dermatology, Section Chief, Dermatologic Surgery, Geisinger Health System

Victor J Marks, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, and Pennsylvania Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Russell Scott Akin, MD, FAAD  Procedural Dermatologist, Midland Dermatology

Russell Scott Akin, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Christine A Papa, DO  Instructor, Department of Dermatology, Kennedy Memorial Health System, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Kelly M Cordoro, MD  Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Pediatrics, Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine

Kelly M Cordoro, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Professors of Dermatology, Dermatology Foundation, Medical Society of Virginia, National Psoriasis Foundation, Society for Pediatric Dermatology, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Edward F Chan, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Edward F Chan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Hakeem Sam, MD, PhD, FRCPC, to the development and writing of this article.

References

  1. Rex, J., Ribera, M., Bielsa, I., et al. Narrow Eliptical Excision and Cartilage Shaving for Treatment of Chondrodermatitis Nodularis. Dermatologic Surgery. 2006;32:400-404.

  2. Grigoryants V, Qureshi H, Patterson JW, Lin KY. Pediatric chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis. J Craniofac Surg. Jan 2007;18(1):228-31. [Medline].

  3. Tsai TH, Lin YC, Chen HC. Infantile chondrodermatitis nodularis. Pediatr Dermatol. May-Jun 2007;24(3):337-9. [Medline].

  4. Upile T, Patel NN, Jerjes W, Singh NU, Sandison A, Michaels L. Advances in the understanding of chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helices: the perichondrial vasculitis theory. Clin Otolaryngol. Apr 2009;34(2):147-50. [Medline].

  5. Chan HP, Neuhaus IM, Maibach HI. Chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis in monozygotic twins. Clin Exp Dermatol. Apr 2009;34(3):358-9. [Medline].

  6. Newcomer VD, Steffen CG, Sternberg TH, Lichtenstein L. Chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis; report of ninety-four cases and survey of literature, with emphasis upon pathogenesis and treatment. AMA Arch Derm Syphilol. Sep 1953;68(3):241-55. [Medline].

  7. Magro CM, Frambach GE, Crowson AN. Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis as a marker of internal disease [corrected] associated with microvascular injury. J Cutan Pathol. May 2005;32(5):329-33. [Medline].

  8. Oelzner S, Elsner P. Bilateral chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis on the free border of the helix in a woman. J Am Acad Dermatol. Oct 2003;49(4):720-2. [Medline].

  9. Cribier B, Scrivener Y, Peltre B. Neural hyperplasia in chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis. J Am Acad Dermatol. Nov 2006;55(5):844-8. [Medline].

  10. Moncrieff M, Sassoon EM. Effective treatment of chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis using a conservative approach. Br J Dermatol. May 2004;150(5):892-4. [Medline].

  11. Kromann N, Hoyer H, Reymann F. Chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis treated with curettage and electrocauterization: follow-up of a 15-year material. Acta Derm Venereol. 1983;63(1):85-7. [Medline].

  12. Lawrence CM. The treatment of chondrodermatitis nodularis with cartilage removal alone. Arch Dermatol. Apr 1991;127(4):530-5. [Medline].

  13. Affleck AG. Surgical treatment of chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis: conservation of normal tissue is important for optimal esthetic outcome. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Oct 2008;66(10):2194. [Medline].

  14. Rajan N, Langtry JA. The punch and graft technique: a novel method of surgical treatment for chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis. Br J Dermatol. Oct 2007;157(4):744-7. [Medline].

  15. Affleck AG. Surgical treatment of chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis: conservation of normal tissue is important for optimal esthetic outcome. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Oct 2008;66(10):2194. [Medline].

  16. Ramsey ML, Marks VJ, Klingensmith MR. The chondrocutaneous helical rim advancement flap of Antia and Buch. Dermatol Surg. Nov 1995;21(11):970-4. [Medline].

  17. Abell E. Inflammatory diseases of the epidermal appendages and of cartilage. In: Lever WF, ed. Lever's Histopathology of the Skin. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott-Raven; 1997:416-7.

  18. Arndt KA. Chondrodermatitis helicis. In: Fitzpatrick TB, Eisen AZ, Wolff K, et al, eds. Dermatology in General Medicine. 4th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1993:1149-51.

  19. Lawrence CM. Chondrodermatitis nodularis. In: Arndt KA, LeBoit PE, Robinson JK, Wintroub BU, eds. Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery: An Integrated Program in Dermatology. Vol 1. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1996:507-11.

  20. Moschella SL, Cropley TG. Diseases of the mononuclear phagocytic system: The so-called reticuloendothelial system. In: Moschella SL, Hurley HJ, eds. Dermatology. Vol 1. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1992:1061-2.

 
Previous
Next
 
Classic chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis on the superior helix.
Close-up view of classic chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis.
Chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis on the antihelix.
Taken during surgery, this photo demonstrates reflection of the skin, which reveals the underlying perichondrium and cartilage. After the cartilage is removed, the flap is reapproximated and sutured.
Taken 6 months after surgery.
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.