Giant cell tumor of bone in an eighteenth-century Italian mummy.

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of the bone is a locally aggressive and rarely metastasizing neoplasm. It is composed of neoplastic mononuclear stromal cells with a monotonous appearance admixed with macrophages and osteoclast-like giant cells. In a small subset of cases, GCT is malignant. Terminology previously related to this entity, and which is no longer supported by the World Health Organization, includes osteoclastoma and benign fibrous histiocytoma (BFH). Giant cells occur in numerous other pathologic conditions of the bone, which accounts for the misrepresentation of these non-GCT tumors in the early literature. Non-ossifying fibroma (NOF), aneurysmal bone cyst, and chondroblastoma have been erroneously labeled GCT for this reason. A single description of an ancient GCT was reported by Brothwell and Sandison and subsequently mentioned by Aufderheide and Rodrìguez-Martìn who were astonished that more of these tumors had not been identified in archaeological cases. To the best of our knowledge, no other cases of ancient GCT have been cited in the paleopathology literature. The study of this type of neoplasm in antiquity can be used as a means to better understand its characteristics and behavior and to expand the depth of time of the etiology of these lesions. We report a case of GCT of the left femur observed following the total body CT imaging of a partially mummified adult female, dating to eighteenth century.

A case of enchondroma from Carolingian necropolis of St. Pere De Terrassa (Spain): An insight into the archaeological record.

Enchondromas occur with an estimated modern incidence rate of 27.7% of benign bone tumors (Hauben and Hogendoorn, 2010), but few are represented in the paleopathological record. The medieval site of St. Pere in Spain has produced a convincing case. The diagnosis was confirmed by X-Ray, CT-scan and µ-CT scan. Therefore UF 755 from St. Pere - a male of more than 60 years old - can be confirmed as a femoral case of enchondroma, supported by evidence, in the paleopathological record.

Paleopathological study on a case of osteosarcoma.

This report concerns a probable case of osteosarcoma found in a precontact Hawaiian skeleton from the east coast of Oahu Island, Hawaii. A young adult female showed a tumorous bone proliferation with a coarse, corallike appearance at the distal metaphyseal area of the left femur. In gross observation, a profusion of coalescing bone was extended to the surrounding space and also invaded the marrow space. X-ray films revealed spotted and ringed shadows in the shaft and a "sunburst appearance" in the lesion. Histological examination of the tumor bone fragment showed a great deal of primitive bone tissue formation without any systemic Haversian structure. The diagnosis of osteogenic osteosarcoma is much more compatible than other primary malignant bone tumors such as Ewing's sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and chondrosarcoma or osteoplastic metastatic carcinoma of the bone when the location and morphology of the tumor are considered along with the age of the decedent.

Femoral unicameral bone cyst in a medieval child. Radiological and pathological study.

Radiological, macroscopic and microscopic study of a unicameral cyst in the femur of a child of the early Middle Ages. The changes are similar to those known for unicameral cyst today.