Tumors in the 18th and 19th centuries at Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract

Symptoms signs of benign and malignant tumors were observed during paleopathological analysis of skeletal remains from the city of Brno in the Czech Republic. Approximately 1,200 skeletons were examined from two Modern era archaeology sites: the Malá Nová ulice (Little New Street) cemetery and the cemetery of the Nemocnice Milosrdných bratrí (Merciful Brothers' Hospital). Osteomas, usually located on the flat bones of the cranial vault, were the most frequent skeletal pathology. Symptoms signs of malignant tumors were observed in three cases. In one case lytic foci caused by the metastases of a malignant tumor in the soft tissue was observed. Traces of myeloma multiplex were found in two individuals. Living conditions in that period, and possible carcinogenic environmental influences were assessed for the general population of Brno. This report contributes to a better understanding of the historical development of cancers and the clarification of possible causes for their modern increase of incidence.

Unusual find of osteolytic lesion on skeleton from the Middle Bronze Age—Possible case of peritoneal abscess

“…In these cases, bone destruction usually begins in cancellous bone, so the lesions are in the form of a crater (most often, the skull, sternum, vertebrae, ribs, and hip bones are affected). The edges of the defect are sharp and serrated without signs of repair; the area is lined with very small perforations—known as “pitting” (Capasso, 2005; Ragsdale et al, 2018; Strouhal et al, 1996; Vargová et al, 2013). Bone metastases usually form multiple foci of various sizes, in contrast to another type of malignant tumor—multiple myeloma.…”

Paleopathological, Trichological and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín

“…those of the Neolithic era (Crubézy et al 2002), Slavic burial sites (Stloukal, Vyhnánek 1976;Kalová 2012), and modern cemeteries (Vargová, Horáčková 2005;Vargová et al 2013). Despite all these difficulties, the analysis of human skeletal remains from Prague-Zličín may contribute to diachronic development of arthrosis and spondylosis in historical European populations.…”