Kitti Köhler, Csilla E. Németh, Zsolt Bernert, Antónia Marcsik, Péter Zádori, Gergely Biró, Krisztina Buczkó, Zsolt Gallina, Erika Molnár, Tamás Hajdu: A case of osteoblastic metastatic cancer from the 10-13th century in Western Hungary. (poster) (original) (raw)

Case of metastatic carcinoma from end of the 8th–early 9th century Slovakia

American journal of …, 2001

The first case of metastatic carcinoma ever detected in Slovakia comes from a Slavonic cemetery at Borovce, in the district of Piešt'any, which is dated from the end of the 8th to the middle of the 12th century AD. The disease afflicted a 50 -60-year-old male, buried in a grave from the older phase of inhumation (8th-early 9th century AD). A number of osteolytic metastases were found in all bones of the skull and postcranial skeleton except for the forearms, hands, lower legs, and feet. They were studied macroscopically by standard X-rays, and by scanning electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy. Analogous finds from Central European countries were also obtained. They are discussed in relation to their chronology, which shows a tendency of increasing occurrence culminating in the Middle Ages. Some demographic and paleopathological characteristics of the burials in the Borovce cemetery are also provided. Am J Phys Anthropol 116: 216 -229, 2001.

Malignant tumors in osteoarchaeological samples from Hungary

Acta Biologica …, 2009

According to our current knowledge, tumors are the same age as mankind itself. The prevalence of tumorous diseases, however, was seemingly relatively low in the past and apparently increased dramatically in modern times. This theory is based on scattered case studies. However, the majority of these investigations were not carried out using modern diagnostic techniques. The scarcity of data concerning the antiquity of cancer demands new investigations in this field. Future paleopathological discoveries and the application of improved diagnostic techniques may enable "paleo-oncology" to make further contributions to our understanding of cancer. In this study, we present data on the occurrence of malignant bone tumors in 12 anthropological series (3967 individuals) from Hungary dated to the 3 rd -16 th centuries AD. All skeletons were subjected to a careful macroscopic investigation, complemented by radiological examination and in special case scanning electron-microscopic and histological analyses, too. We identified 13 cases of malignant bone tumors. In most instances, multiple osteolytic lesions with slight osteoblastic reactions, in characteristic skeletal distributions, were strongly suggestive of metastatic carcinoma. However, in some cases multiple myeloma cannot be excluded. A mature male with pronounced osteoblastic reactions, particularly on the hip bones, seemed to be most compatible with the diagnosis metastatic prostate cancer. These observations indicate that carcinomas were present in human populations living on the territory of present-day Hungary over the last two millennia. Acta Biol Szeged 53(2):117-124 (2009) Key WordS paleopathology osteoarchaeological samples Hungary metastatic carcinoma multiple myeloma

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.

A Case of Metastatic Carcinoma from XIIth – XIIIth Century Transylvania, Romania

Annales d'Université "Valahia" Târgovişte. Section d'Archéologie et d'Histoire, 2012

The human skeletal remains analyzed in th is study come from the medieval cemetery of Feldioa ra, Romania (XIIth – XIIIth centuries). A total number of 144 individuals were identified in the 124 grave s excavated in several field periods between 1990 and 2007. In this work the characteristics of osteolyt ic lesions, identified in a skeleton of a 30–34 years old femal e, are discussed. All the skeletal elements availab le for analysis were subject to careful macroscopic and ra diologic evaluations. Numerous lesions with various shapes and dimensions ranging between 2 mm and 25 mm were pr sent in both cranial and post-cranial skeleton. All the characteristics of the pathological changes are ind icative of a metastatic carcinoma. While a precise diagnosis of the primary lesion is not possible, the characteris tics of the lesions as well as the age and sex of t he individual suggest that the metastatic carcinoma originated fr om a breast cancer. Nevertheless, other types of tu mors such...

A Case of Lytic Metastases of a Carcinoma from the Ossuary at Hallstatt (Upper Austria)

Anthropologie, 2018

A cranium of a mature male (45-55 years) from a charnel house in Hallstatt, Upper Austria (set up in the 12 th century and in use until modern times) exhibits multiple perforations that were most probably caused by a malignant tumour. The lesions vary between 44 and 4 millimetres in diameter and concern nearly all parts of the cranium (frontal, parietal, and occipital bone, maxilla), hereby pertaining to all cranial layers to a different degree. Osteolytic changes accompanied by some sclerotic bone formations are indicative of an active as well as chronic process at the time of death of the individual. Differential diagnosis was carried out by macroscopic inspection, the use of conventional radiography, computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy in the secondary electron-and backscattered electron-mode. Pathology-mimicking effects, diagenetic, and taphonomic damage as causative processes can be excluded. The same applies for various infectious diseases (mycotic, bacterial, tuberculous conditions) as well as several tumorous forms (Langerhans-cell histiocytosis, bone angioma, medullary plasmocytoma). The palaeopathological and clinical diagnostical criteria used suggest a secondary carcinoma. KEY WORDS: Metastatic carcinoma-Cranium-Hallstatt charnel house-Austria-Modern times-Differential diagnosis by CT and SEM PROLOGUE It is well known that Eugen Strouhal, physician and expert in a very broad variety of medical historical, archaeological, egyptological and anthropological, palaeopathological studies, was particularly interested in the history and paleopathology of neoplastic diseases. According to Zink (2012) "his deep interest in this topic was already apparent in his early publications on different neoplasms in ancient Egyptian remains" (Strouhal 1976, 1978a, b).

Lesions and Malignant Deformations in 13-16 Century Hungarian Osteoarchaeological Samples

Anthropological, paleopathological investigations were performed on 89 skeletal remains found in 13-16 century tombs in the courtyard of the 13 th century Dominican monastery in Vasvár in Hungary (Europe). Several osteoarchaeological samples showed lesions and malignant deformations as clear signs of ancient diseases such as syphilis, multiple myeloma and osteosarcoma.

A probable case of metastatic carcinoma in the medieval Netherlands

International journal of paleopathology, 2018

Despite recent considerable gains, our knowledge of cancer in antiquity is still limited. This paper discusses an adult individual from a Dutch medieval hospital site who demonstrates osteoblastic and osteolytic lesions on the ribs, scapula, clavicle, and vertebrae. The morphology, radiographic appearance, and distribution of the skeletal lesions suggest that this individual was affected by metastatic carcinoma. This case increases the number of publications that present an osteoblastic and osteolytic response to cancer and contributes to the body of evidence for archaeological neoplastic disease. For the Netherlands, this individual presents the first published case of probable metastatic carcinoma with mixed skeletal lesions.

Skeletal metastatic carcinoma: a case from 15th–20th century Coimbra, Portugal

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2009

This paper discusses the differential diagnosis of unusual and distinct pathological changes in the skeletal remains of a 40+-year-old female from 15th–20th century Coimbra (Portugal). The most affected area seems to have been the skull, but multiple lesions, lytic and/or blastic, have been found throughout the post-cranial skeleton, more specifically in the scapulae, clavicles, humerus, sternum, ribs, sacrum, innominates and femurs. The differential diagnosis of the lesions gave rise to several possible pathological conditions, namely, Langerhans cell histiocytosis (granulomatosis or Histiocytosis X), multiple myeloma and metastatic carcinoma. Various macroscopic and radiological aspects lead us to consider metastatic carcinoma as the most probable diagnosis. Despite the argumentative identity of the possible primary lesion, age, sex and the mixed nature of the osseous response are consistent with cancer of the breast but do not exclude other carcinomas, namely lung cancer. With temporal and regional differences emerging in the frequency of malignant tumours, the identification of new cases becomes important, particularly from geographic areas where few cases have been reported. In fact, the present report adds to the only case of metastatic carcinoma detected in non-identified Portuguese human skeletal remains until now. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Serious pathological lesions in a small osteoarchaeological sample from 8th-9th centuries in Hungary

Anthropologie, 2001

A skeletal sample excavated in Nyíregyháza-Manda bush (East Hungary), housed in the collection of the Józsa András Museum (Nyíregyháza) and dated to the 8th-9th centuries served as source for the study of palaeopathological lesions. The demographic profile of this sample of 42 skeletons represents 22 adult males, 14 adult females, 2 juveniles and 4 infants. In spite of the small sample, many individuals suffered lesions of bones and teeth, mostly degenerative osteoarthritis, non-specific infections, fractures, porotic hyperostosis, congenital anomalies, and carious lesions or enamel hypoplasia. Three specimens were especially pathological and very special for diffuse idiopathic hyperostosis, spinal tuberculosis and metastatic carcinoma. The purpose of the present study is to add these special cases to the paleopathological literature emphasizing their differential diagnosis.

Medieval example of metastatic carcinoma: A dry bone, radiological, and SEM study

American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 1992

A n elderly male skeleton from medieval Canterbury displayed evidence of DISH and metastatic carcinoma. The dry bone findings, SEM, and radiography suggest a primary focus in the prostate. A review of the palaeopathological literature has shown that such a finding is extremely rare in archaeological remains. This is the first reported case of prostatic carcinoma from medieval England. Q