Perichondritis of the Ear By Bradley W Kesser, MD, University of Virginia School of Medicine Reviewed / Revised Apr 2022 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Treatment Topic Resources Perichondritis With Abscess... Perichondritis of the ear can be a diffuse inflammatory, but not necessarily infectious, process resulting in diffuse swelling, redness, and pain of the pinna, or an abscess between the cartilage and the perichondrium.