Perichondritis is inflammation of the perichondrium, a layer of connective tissue which surrounds cartilage.

[3][4] It may lead to severe deformation of the pinna if not treated vigorously with IV antibiotics.

It develops suddenly due to an injury, virulent organisms or compromised immune status of the host, and also affects cartilage of the larynx.

Signs of perichondritis or chondritis in patients with an embedded earring are similar (these include pain, swelling and erythema of the overlying skin) and fluctuant swelling indicate an abscess that we should drain (typically associated with chondritis).

Dead tissue tears away, as a result, auricle deforms strongly and becomes shrunken.