Two cases of concha bullosa in a contemporary Cypriot skeletal collection

Abstract

Concha bullosa is the hypertrophy of the superior, middle, or inferior nasal conchae, most commonly referring to the pneumatisation of the middle conchae. It is considered to be the most common anatomical variant of the osteomeatal complex, rather than a pathological development. Though it is common, its aetiology is poorly understood. It is unclear whether sex or ethnicity impacts on the prevalence of concha bullosa, though some research suggests a correlation. Some researchers have argued that concha bullosa predisposes individuals to sinusitis, but the link is not consistent. In this paper, the authors present two new skeletal cases of bilateral concha bullosa identified in female individuals taken from the Cyprus Reference Research Collection (CRRC). This work aims to highlight the limitations associated with the palaeopathological diagnosis of inflammation and the interpretation of skeletal lesions that may be related to sinusitis or infection of the osteomeatal complex in archaeological bone, in relation to the presence of concha bullosa.