Multiple osteomata from medieval Tuscany, Italy (ca. 10th-12th AD).

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible etiology of multiple osteomata on a skull and long bones from an individual from a medieval site in Tuscany, Italy. MATERIALS: Human skeletal remains dating to the 10th-12th century AD from the parish church of S. Pietro in Pava, in the province of Siena (Tuscany, Central Italy). METHODS: Macroscopic and imaging analyses (Cone Beam Computed Tomography). RESULTS: Nine round-shaped new bone formations are observed on a female individual aged 40-50 years. The lesions have a smooth surface and range from 2.2-6 mm in diameter. CONCLUSIONS: Cone Beam Computed Tomography confirmed that the lesions were composed of compact bone. Macroscopic and radiological features suggest the presence of nonsyndromic multiple osteomata. SIGNIFICANCE: Single cranial osteomata are commonly observed in osteoarchaeological remains, but multiple osteomata are rare and might assist in our understanding of neoplastic conditions in the past. LIMITATIONS: The lack of soft tissues prevents the diagnosis of complex disorders, such as the Gardner syndrome, which is characterised by multiple osteomata and polyposis of the colon. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Careful investigation and reporting of all neoplastic lesions in ancient human remains in order to increase our knowledge about the etiology in past human populations.

Mastoid osteoma in a prehispanic cranium (1390 A.D.) from Northern Chile.

OBJECTIVE: Osteomas are slow-growing benign tumors that can affect the skull, most frequently the parietal and frontal. Temporal bone osteomas are more common in the external acoustic meatus and exceptional in the mastoid region. The rarity of mastoid osteomas is confirmed by the fact that very few cases have been reported in the clinical and paleopathological literature. The aim of this paper is to report a new paleopathological case of mastoid tumor in a Pre-Hispanic adult cranium. MATERIALS: The skull derives from the Chunchuri (today Dupont-1 site) Pre-Hispanic site in Northern Chile (1390 A.D). METHODS: Macroscopical examination and high-resolution tomography were used to assess the cranium. RESULTS: The CT scan revealed a well demarcated lesion suggestive of a mastoid osteoma. CONCLUSIONS: This case adds new evidence regarding the antiquity of primary neoplasms in ancient populations and reinforces the importance of high resolution imaging in paleopathological research. SIGNIFICANCE: Due to the antiquity of the remains this is probably the oldest reported case of mastoid osteoma. LIMITATIONS: The patrimonial nature of the remains did not allow histopathological studies. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Further intensive review of archeological skeletal collections is needed to better understand the epidemiology of neoplastic lesions in past populations.

Did Antonio Vallisneri (1661-1730) really describe frontal sinus osteoma? Unexpected insights for paleo-neuroparasitology.

It has been believed for a long time that the Paduan scholar Antonio Vallisneri (1661-1730) described the second historical case of the frontal sinus osteoma in 1733. By historico-medically reexamining this case, we conclude that the brain concretions he described were not a case of frontal sinus osteoma, while they appear to have been pathological outcomes of neurocysticercosis, whose larval stages would only be described by Johann Goeze (1731-1793) later, in 1784. Thus, this case becomes relevant for the history of neuroparasitology.

Paleopathological evidence of paranasal lesions: Two cases of frontal sinus osteomata from Imperial Rome.

The archaeological excavations carried out in 1999 in the Collatina necropolis of the Roman Imperial Age (1st-3rd centuries AD) (Rome, Italy) discovered the skeletal remains of two adult males with evidence of paranasal lesions. Both individuals showed postmortem damage in the frontal bone, through which it was possible to macroscopically detect an oblong new bone formation. In both specimens, radiological examination of the defects' morphology showed new pediculated-based bone formations. Radiology also confirmed the presence of benign osseous masses arising from the right frontal sinus and interpreted as osteomata. Their dimensions did not exceed 10 mm, so that mechanical complications and compression of the adjacent structures could be ruled out. The osteomata of paranasal sinuses are rarely reported in paleopathology, since they can be discovered only incidental to bone breakage or radiography. Hence, the evaluation of their occurrence in past populations represents an important challenge. The two cases presented here show direct and rare evidence of frontal sinus osteomata dating back to the Roman Imperial Age.

Middle ear pathology in ancient and modern populations: incudal osteoma.

CONCLUSIONS: Osteomas of the incus were found in surprisingly high numbers in ancient and modern populations. The coexistence of osteoma formation and unique vascularization on the medial surface of the incus alludes to a relationship between the two findings. OBJECTIVE: Osteomas involving the middle ear ossicles are rare. The aim of this study was to compare the incudal pathology of ancient and recent periods using the recent literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pathologies encountered in 1170 human incudes belonging to different populations from ancient and recent periods were studied. Most of the ossicles were found in the middle ear of dry skulls or during dissection. The observations were done with a binocular microscope and a Nikon Profile Projector. RESULTS: A total of 47 incudes (4.01%) presented with a variety of pathologies, osteomas being found in 19 cases (1.62%). The osteomas were noted only on the medial surface of the incus. Other findings, including prominent erosions, multiple nutrient foramina and pitting, were also found on the medial side of the incus. The incidence of osteoma was found to be more common in ancient populations (1.88%) and most prevalent among Bedouins (4.55%).

[Frontal sinus osteoma in a skull found in the archeological excavations at the old Louvre]. / Mise en évidence d'un ostéome du sinus frontal sur un crâne provenant des fouilles archéologiques du vieux Louvre.

A skeleton dating 8th-9th centuries exhumed from the Napoleon square at the Louvre, presents a voluminous ivory or benign osteomata at its frontal sinus. Anthropological and pathological studies give matter to introduce this osteomata on the morphological and demographic problematica ot the benign tumours.

Tumors in the remains of ancient Egyptians.

A survey of the tumors found in the remains of the Ancient Egyptians shows the occurrence of all the kinds of tumors which would be expected to be preserved in the osteological evidence. On the other hand, findings of tumors in the soft tissues of mummies are only exceptional. The frequency of tumors seems to be lower than in recent years, probably because of the shorter mean duration of life. The pathological lesions preserved in bony sturcture reveal not only osseous tumors, but also the presence of some tumors of soft tissues eroding the bone. To the survey of cases described in the literature, original findings of a calcified myoma uteri and of a probably epipharyngeal carcinoma are added. Because our knowledge on the history of tumors is not yet comprehensive, much more attention should be devoted to the search for them, starting from the moment of excavation of any cemetary.