title: Palaeopathology of the earlobe crease (Frank's sign): New insights from Renaissance art.
abstract: Several studies have associated the earlobe crease sign, discovered by Sanders T. Frank in 1973, with cardiovascular pathology, yet very few studies have focused on the antiquity of this trait, with the most ancient one thought to date back to the Roman Emperor Hadrian (76-138CE). This article presents two more cases from the Italian Renaissance in the works of the artist Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506) and examines them in a multidisciplinary fashion.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: francesco.galassi@iem.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Francesco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Galassi
authors.affiliation: Medical and Surgical Sciences Department, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.affiliation: University of the Arts, Central Saint Martins, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, King's Cross, London N1C 4AA, UK; The Gordon Museum of Pathology, Kings College London, Guy's Campus, St. Thomas' Street, London SE1 9RT, UK.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ballestriero
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; School of Humanities and Creative Arts (Department of Archaeology), Flinders University, Adelaide 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Habicht
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Biological Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy Unit, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henneberg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rühli
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history; D004431:Ear, External / Q000473:pathology*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D006801:Humans; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D010151:Paintings; D010808:Physical Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D015595:Skin Aging
keywords: Cardiovascular pathology; Earlobe crease; Frank's sign; Mantegna; Palaeopathology; Prevention; Renaissance