BACKGROUND Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare, long-term, and potentially life-threatening disease characterised by recurrent paroxysmal inflammation that can involve and destroy the cartilage of the external ear, nose, larynx, and trachea. METHODS We here report a case of RP involving solely the tracheobronchial cartilage ring (and not the auricular. nasal or articular cartilage) complicated by Sjögren's syndrome in a 47-year-old female whose delayed diagnosis caused a sharp decline in pulmonary function. After corticosteroid treatment, her pulmonary function improved. CONCLUSIONS In such cases, our experience suggested that 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and fiberoptic bronchoscopy should be used to diagnose airway chondritis as relapsing polychondritis in the early phase of disease.