Basilar portion porosity: A pathological lesion possibly associated with infantile scurvy

Int J Paleopathol. 2017 Sep:18:92-97. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2017.05.010. Epub 2017 Jun 16.

Abstract

Recent analysis of the juvenile (≤12 years) human remains from a 19th century site in Wolverhampton, England revealed a relatively high level of nutritional deficiency diseases within the population. Indeed, 41.7% of the 48 juvenile skeletons analysed exhibited a combination of porous and proliferative bone lesions consistent with the pathological alterations associated with nutritional stress. This paper describes a pathological lesion on the inferior surface of the basilar portion of the occipital bone, not previously reported in association with infantile scurvy, but which was exhibited by 90% (N=9) of the 10 scorbutic individuals identified during this study.

Keywords: 19th Century; Basilar portion; Porotic lesion; Scurvy; Sub-adult; Wolverhampton.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / history
  • Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / pathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • England
  • History, 19th Century
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Occipital Bone / pathology*
  • Porosity
  • Scurvy / history*
  • Scurvy / pathology*