Analysis of the skeleton from tomb 144 of the early medieval necropolis of Vicenne-Campochiaro in Central Italy revealed several features indicative of leprosy. The skeleton belongs to a male estimated to be between 20 and 25 years of age. The distal halves of the 1st and 2nd left metatarsals present acro-osteolysis and both legs show severe subperiosteal bone reaction. The facial skeleton shows changes compatible with a chronic inflammatory process, possibly due to an infectious disease. The anatomical distribution of the lesions and their association with other skeletal lesions seem to be compatible with a near-lepromatous form of leprosy. A differential diagnosis is made and the skeletal traits pathognomonic of leprosy are discussed.
BELCASTRO M.G., MARIOTTI V., FACCHINI F., DUTOUR O. (2005). Leprosy in a skeleton from the 7th century necropolis of Vicenne-Campochiaro (Molise, Italy). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, 15, 6, 431-448 [10.1002/oa.799].
Leprosy in a skeleton from the 7th century necropolis of Vicenne-Campochiaro (Molise, Italy)
BELCASTRO, MARIA GIOVANNA;MARIOTTI, VALENTINA;FACCHINI, FIORENZO;
2005
Abstract
Analysis of the skeleton from tomb 144 of the early medieval necropolis of Vicenne-Campochiaro in Central Italy revealed several features indicative of leprosy. The skeleton belongs to a male estimated to be between 20 and 25 years of age. The distal halves of the 1st and 2nd left metatarsals present acro-osteolysis and both legs show severe subperiosteal bone reaction. The facial skeleton shows changes compatible with a chronic inflammatory process, possibly due to an infectious disease. The anatomical distribution of the lesions and their association with other skeletal lesions seem to be compatible with a near-lepromatous form of leprosy. A differential diagnosis is made and the skeletal traits pathognomonic of leprosy are discussed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
