Hidden Insights

Comprehensive Radiological Analysis of Four Skeletal Populations From 13th–19th Century Southern Finland Reveals Neoplastic and Other Lesions Invisible on Bone Surfaces

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12371327
AutoresKati Salo (0000-0002-4357-0092, University of Helsinki, autor correspondente), Anna Föhr (0009-0001-1555-0406, Helsinki University Hospital), Rimantas Jankauskas (0000-0001-7611-2576, Vilnius University)
Ano2026
Volume36
Fascículo1
Páginas196-206
Data de publicação2026-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.70079
OpenAlexW7124273222
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas41

This study aims to identify lesions confined to the internal structures of bones. A radiographic analysis was performed on 219 archaeological, historical period skeletons from southern Finland. Although the study examines nearly all preserved skeletal elements using plain radiographs, it does not incorporate computed tomography. Notably, 17 individuals (7.8%) were preliminarily diagnosed with neoplastic lesions. The 7.8% prevalence of neoplasia includes benign lesions, malignant lesions, and some lesions where there was uncertainty as to whether they were neoplasia or other diagnoses. We observed lesions that are not detectable on the bone surface. In addition, we identified lesions that had been previously overlooked in the macroscopic analysis, or initially interpreted as taphonomic alterations. However, upon re‐evaluation with X‐ray imaging, these are now considered indicative of tumors. In previous macroscopic analyses, only benign neoplastic lesions were identified. These findings highlight the significance of comprehensive radiological examination of skeletal remains in advancing the understanding of the historical prevalence and development of bone neoplastic formations

Bone pathology · Neoplastic disease · Paleopathology · Radiography · Radiological weapon · Taphonomy · Forensic and Genetic Research · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Paleopathology and ancient diseases