Metastatic Prostate Carcinoma from Imperial Rome (1st to 2nd Centuries AD) (original) (raw)
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Metastatic prostate carcinoma from Imperial Rome (1st-2nd century A.D.)
2018
This study describes and discusses a rare case of metastatic carcinoma that affected the skeleton of an adult male recovered in the necropolis of Casal Bertone in Rome (Italy). The necropolis, which dates back to the Imperial Age (1st to 2nd century AD), is located near some residential structures and a large place identified as a fullery (fullonica). Methods: Anthropological and paleopathological studies of the skeletal remains were performed via careful macroscopic, microscopic, radiological (X-ray and CT scan), and histological investigation. Results: The skeleton displayed mixed osteoclastic and osteoblastic lesions that mainly involved the axial bones, in particular the sternum, the ribs, the spine, and the scapular and pelvic girdles. The anatomical distribution and the destructive and proliferative nature of the lesions suggested diffuse metastases arising from a soft-tissue primary cancer. The age and sex of the individual, as well as radiographic and histological pictures, allowed diagnosis of an advanced prostate cancer with extensively diffused bone metastases. Conclusion: At present, this is the only case of prostate cancer from the Imperial Age recovered in Rome.
Skeletal Metastatic Carcinomas from the Roman Period (1st to 5th Century AD) in Hungary
Pathobiology, 2014
sex and age of the individuals, the most probable diagnostic option is prostate carcinoma with skeletal metastases. Conclusions: In view of the scarcity of cancer metastases that have been diagnosed in archeological specimens in general, identification of all examples of cancer in antiquity represents an important contribution both to paleopathology and to modern medicine.
Prostate metastatic bone cancer in an Egyptian Ptolemaic mummy, a proposed radiological diagnosis
International Journal of Paleopathology, 2011
There is great interest in the history and occurrence of human cancer in antiquity and particularly in ancient Egyptian populations. Despite the number of Egyptian mummies and skeletons studied through various means, evidence of primary or metastatic cancer lesions is rare. The Digital Radiography and Multi Detector Computerized Tomography (MDCT) scans of a male Ptolemaic Egyptian mummy, from the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia (MNA) in Lisbon displayed several focal dense bone lesions located mainly on the spine, pelvis and proximal extremities. The exceptional detail of the MDCT images allowed the proposed diagnosis of osteoblastic metastatic disease, with the prostate being the main hypothesis of origin. These radiologic findings in a wrapped mummy, to the best of our knowledge, have never previously been documented, and could be the oldest evidence of this disease, as well as being the cause of death.
Prostatic hyperplasia in the mummy of an italian renaissance prince.Prostate. 2000 Dec 1;45(4):320-2
2000
BACKROUND. Pandolfo III Malatesta (1370-1427) was a leading figure of the Italian Renaissance. He was a valiant soldier and horseman with a very active life style. Historical sources report that he died of a fever in 1427. The tomb, containing his mummified body, has recently been discovered in Fano (Marche, Central Italy). METHODS. After careful X-ray and videographic examination, autopsy was performed to diagnose possible pathologies. Samples of different tissues were collected and rehydrated by Sandison's method and submitted to routine histology processes. Sections of treated tissue were fixed on clean slides, stained with hematoxylin-eosin or Gardner's Trichromic and observed at light microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. The autopsy showed good preservation of the skeletal muscles, cartilage, internal and external organs included prostate gland and penis. Macroscopic examination revealed stag-horn calculi (calcium urate) of the left kidney and a severe enlargement of the prostate, with calcifications detectable by X-ray and a large nodule protruding in the lumen of an ectatic urethra. Histology shows fibrous bands of connective and muscular tissue surrounding some circular and oblong lacunae, with no preservation of epithelial structures. The macroscopic and histological picture, showing clear prostatic nodular hyperplasia, makes this the first case described in paleopathology.
Paleoandrology and prostatic hyperplasia in Italian mummies (XV-XIX century)
Medicina nei secoli, 2001
Prostatic hyperplasia, a very common condition today, was well known in the past as cause for bladder distension. The difficulty to identify, at autopsy of natural or artificial mummies, even a normal-sized prostate is probably the result of putrefaction processes and its usually dramatic size reduction as well. We report two ancient cases of prostatic hyperplasia recently observed in natural mummies from Italy. The first case regards Pandolfo III Malatesta (1370-1427), a leading figure of the Italian Renaissance. He was a valiant soldier and horseman with a very active life style. The tomb, containing his naturally mummified body, has recently been discovered in Fano (Marche, Central Italy). After careful X-ray and videographic examination, the autopsy showed good preservation of the skeletal muscles, cartilage, internal and external organs, included prostate gland and penis. Macroscopic examination revealed a staghorn calculus (calcium urate) of the left kidney and a severe enlarg...
International Journal of Cancer, 2007
To determine whether a 2,700-year-old tumor can be reliably diagnosed using microscopic and proteomic techniques and whether such prostate carcinomas show the same morphological pattern at the micro-level as modern-day carcinomas, this case was investigated. A 40-50-year-old Scythian king who lived during the Iron Age in the steppe of Southern Siberia (Russia) suffered from macroscopically visible osteoblastic and osteoclastic lesions throughout his entire skeleton. Macro-morphological (macroscopy, endoscopy, radiology) and micro-morphological techniques (histology, scanning-electron microscopy) as well as proteomic techniques (1-Dand 2-D-electrophoresesis, Western blot) were applied. The results of the morphological and biochemical investigation proved that this mature male suffered for many years from and probably died of a carcinoma of the prostate. The diagnosis mainly rests on the results of the microscopic examination of the lesions and the positive evidence of PSA, which is an important marker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is remarkable that, in this ancient case, the morphological pattern at the microlevel is the same as in recent cases. The loss of the spongy bone substance (red bone marrow) provoked chronic anemia during the final months of the life of this king. The proteomic techniques applied are new for the investigation of recent and ancient macerated bones. Sensitive and reliable biochemical markers (PSA) are an important precondition to detect such tumors in recent and ancient materials. Currently, this is the oldest known case of prostate cancer diagnosed reliably by morphological and biochemical techniques.
Prostatic hyperplasia in italian mummies (XV-XIX century)
Prostatic hyperplasia represents a very common condition today, but it was well known in the past as a cause for bladder disten-sion. At autopsy of natural or artificial mummies, the difficulty in identifying even a normal-volume prostate is likely to be due to putrefaction processes as well as dramatic reduction in size. We report three ancient cases of prostatic hyperplasia recently observed in natural and artificial mummies from central Italy. The first case regards Pandolfo III Malatesta (1370-1427), Lord of Fano and a leading figure of the Italian Re naissance. He was a valiant soldier and horseman with a very active life style. The monumental tomb containing his naturally mummified body, was explored in Fano. After careful X-ray and videographic examination , autopsy showed good preservation of the skeletal muscles, cartilage, internal and external organs, including prostate gland and penis. Macro scopic examination revealed a renal stone and severe enlargement of the prostate...
Metastatic carcinoma in a 14th-19th century skeleton from Constância (Portugal)
During 2002, the extensive archaeological excavations of the ancient Constância necropolis (Centre of Portugal), dated from 14th-19th centuries, resulted in the exhumation of 151 individuals. Among the several paleopathological cases, a middle-aged female skeleton with osteolytic lesions in her skull, axial skeleton, upper limbs and femurs was observed. These pathological findings are characterised by an asymmetric pattern with osteolytic focus of distinct size and irregular shape. Some skeletal elements display both osteolytic and osteoblastic lesions. The latter exhibit deposition of fine layers of woven bone. Lesions were observed macroscopically and radiology was used as a complementary method of scrutiny, especially in cases of unclear observation. The case was diagnosed as that of a probable metastatic carcinoma due to the multifocal distribution of the lesions in areas of intense haematopoietic activity, their morphology and some osteoblastic responses, as well as the presence of pathological fractures in the ribs. The skeleton's sex and age at death are in agreement with the proposed diagnostic, constituting the first case of malignant carcinoma detected in non-identified Portuguese human skeletal remains.
International journal of paleopathology, 2018
The aim of this article is to provide additional documentation of bone metastases to help anthropologists recognize the condition and potentially suggest the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma in differential diagnosis. Thirteen individuals clinically diagnosed with bladder carcinoma from the 20 century Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection were macroscopically studied to document bone metastases in bladder cancer. Bone metastases were found through macroscopic observation in three individuals or 23% of the study sample. Metastases were mostly of a mixed nature (45%), although both osteoblastic (13%) and osteolytic (9%) also occurred. In particular, mixed and osteoblastic metastases exhibited different distribution patterns, even when affecting the same bones. The vertebrae (24.7%), skull (12.9%), ribs (11.7%), proximal humeri (7.8%), pelvis (5.2%), proximal femora (2.6%), sacrum (1.3%) and sternum (1.3%) were the most commonly affected. Osteolytic lesions included coalescing superficial ...