Three Skulls Dating from the French Revolutionary Years Diagnosed with Tinea Capitis: A Paleopathologic Approach.

The Musée Dupuytren was a Parisian pathology museum established in 1835. This museum hosted 3 skulls with severe craniofacial lesions initially tagged as aggressive forms of tinea capitis. The aim of this study was to investigate these specimens and discuss the initial diagnosis. Historical investigations were conducted based on the biographic data from the tags of the 3 skulls and entries on the catalog of the museum. Age was determined using dentition and the patency of cranial base synchondroses. The computed tomography scans were performed using standard medical devices. The 3 skulls were from the late 18th to early 19th century. Skull № 1 was a 5-year-old child and presented with microcephaly and extensive vault osteolysis compatible with an aggressive benign lesion, a malignant tumor, or a chronic infection. Skull № 2 was a 12- to 18-year-old teenager and presented with symmetrical porotic hyperostosis compatible with undernutrition and various hematologic conditions causing prolonged anemia, but also with chronic inflammation and/or infection. Skull № 3 was also from a 12- to 18-year-old teenager and presented with focal temporal osteolysis compatible with an aggressive benign or a low-grade malignant temporal soft-tissue lesion or with chronic infection. These skulls contribute to the understanding of the concept of tinea in the 19th century. They are furthermore windows on the sanitary and social conditions in Paris in the years following the French revolution and during the Napoleonian wars.

A 1842 skull from Dupuytren's museum of Paris: an original artifact of Joseph Gensoul first maxillectomy technique.

Joseph Gensoul was a pioneer of ENT surgery. In 1827, he performed the first total maxillectomy on 17-year-old boy. His work inspired many surgeons, who were previously unwilling to remove maxillary tumours. A paleopathological study performed in the Dupuytren museum allowed us to identify a skull from the early 19th century, with a large maxillar tumour. There were indications that this skull was operated according to Gensoul's technique. The aim of this study is to confirm that this patient had, in fact, received this surgical treatment. This is a historical and descriptive paleopathological study of a skull of the early 19th century of Dupuytren Museum in Paris. The historical research was conducted in collaboration with the French Academy of Medicine and the Museum of Medicine History (Paris). Bones mark cut studies allowed us to confirm that the patient was operated according to the method described by Gensoul in his "Surgical letter" in 1833. Our historical research has allowed us to understand the perspectives of surgeons in the 19th century and the intellectual processes that led to this discovery. At a time when the robotization and industrialization dominate our art, it is interesting to look to our past, our origins, and our history. The study of ancient humans remains and allows us to understand the origin of our specialty and pay tribute to these pioneering surgeons. Their intellectual approach and boldness should be acknowledged and applauded, especially as it is also the key to our success.