Spectrometric analysis and scanning electronic microscopy of two pleural plaques from mediaeval Portuguese period

Fernandes, Teresa; Granja, Raquel; Thillaud, Pierre L.

doi:10.1016/j.rppneu.2014.01.006

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…A calcified atherosclerotic plaque has slightly irregular margins, as does its surface, but even in a macroscopic analysis, a stratified deposition of layers of bone is visible. On the other hand, pleural calcifications in particular, although macroscopically they are also a superimposition of layers of bone, are considerably more irregular, resulting in thicker calcifications than atherosclerotic ones [25]. Concerning rib cartilage calcifications, these are also more irregular than CAPs, both in terms of shape and surface.…”

Section: Methodological Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Identification Potential of Atherosclerotic Calcifications in the Context of Forensic Anthropology

Monteiro,

Curate,

Garcia

et al. 2024

Biology

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Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease that, in its more developed stages, can lead to the calcification of fatty plaques on the walls of arteries, resulting in the appearance of new bone elements. It is a condition that has been studied and documented little in the context of paleopathology, especially in the framework of forensic anthropology. This article analyzed the skeletal remains of 71 individuals (35 females and 36 males) from the Luís Lopes Identified Collection of the National Museum of Natural History and Science in Lisbon, 31 of whom had an autopsy report. An attempt was made to ascertain whether these bone elements resulting from atherosclerotic calcification would resist cadaveric decomposition and whether they would be recoverable several years after burial, and a survey was carried out of their distribution according to sex and age, as well as their association with other pathologies, such as osteoporosis and cardiac and renal pathologies. An imaging analysis of an atherosclerotic plaque was also carried out to complement the macroscopic analysis and present other methods of identifying plaques. It was concluded that each atherosclerotic calcification has a unique profile, which can be useful for identification, especially in cases where the individual shows a severe condition. In terms of identification potential, the analysis of calcified atherosclerotic plaques can be useful, as they can corroborate or reject an identification. However, it always requires the existence of ante-mortem imaging exams and must always be used in addition to other identification methods. Regardless of the identification, these plaques are bone elements resulting from a pathology and should, therefore, be known and recognized by the scientific community.

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Section: Methodological Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%