title: Brief communication: a possible case of melorheostosis from antiquity.
abstract: An unusual case of discontinuous hard tissue hyperostosis is described in a 25-30-year-old female dating between 4000 and 5500 BP from northern Chile. This specimen was one of 104 individuals examined from the Morro-1 site, which is known to represent the Chinchorro culture. The only other reported case from antiquity dates to 500 AD (Lester [1969] J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 49:142-143). A review and comparison of this case to the medical literature supports a diagnosis of melorheostosis. Differential diagnosis is presented with the ruling out of nonspecific manifestations of osteomyelitis/periostitis as the most likely alternative diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, California State University, Sacramento 95819, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lytle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008557:Melorheostosis / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D010164:Paleopathology