Possible case of hyperparathyroidism in a Roman period skeleton from the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, diagnosed using bone histomorphometry.
A histomorphometric study of thin femoral head sections of a skeletal sample from the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, dated from circa 36 B.C. to 400 A.D., identified an adult female (Dk31-A1) in her mid-50s with a high percentage resorption surface with tunneling resorption as is typically found in hyperparathyroidism. Five static histomorphometric bone parameters were measured with the following results for this individual: 1) mean wall thickness, 41.94 micron, 2) trabecular bone volume, 18.54%, 3) surface volume, 4,070 mm2/cm3, 4) mean trabecular diameter, 132 microns, and 5) total resorption surface, 12.31%. The overall histomorphometric features and differential diagnosis support the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism. We conclude that histomorphometry of dried bone, particularly in this case where preservation is ideal, is a valuable investigative technique for paleopathology.
Cook
M
M
Department of Pathology, University Hospital/University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Molto
E
E
Anderson
C
C
D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D000076144:Egypt, Ancient; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D010164:Paleopathology