Diagnosis of Relapsing Polychondritis Clinical criteria Sometimes biopsy Diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis is established if the patient develops at least 3 of the following: Bilateral chondritis of the external ears Inflammatory polyarthritis Nasal chondritis Ocular inflammation Respiratory tract chondritis Auditory or vestibular dysfunction Biopsy of involved cartilage, most often the pinna, is helpful if clinical diagnosis is not clear-cut but is rarely required.