Lesions characteristic of infection or malignant tumor in Paleo-Eskimo skulls

Abstract

Summary_ Study of two Paleo-Eskimo skulls found in a necropolis on St-Lawrence Island (Alaska), including radiography and histological exami nation, revealed the following features. One of the skulls showed a perfora tion with remodelled borders, considered to be due to trauma and secondary infection. The other showed areas of osteolysis characteristic of a malignant tumor (probably carcinomatous metastasis rather than myeloma).These cases illustrate the advantage of using various methods of investi gating bone pathology, particularly microradiography, in skeleton paleopath ology.