Differential Diagnoses of Intravitam and Postmortem Bone Loss at the Micro-Level

Abstract

In paleopathology and forensic anthropology the examination of bone frequently reveals difficulties in the interpretation of porotic bone structures (Schultz, 2001a). Most notably, it is not always easy to differentiate between intravitam and postmortem bone loss in macerated, that is dry bones, through macroscopic examination. Therefore, in paleopathology, forensic anthropology, or legal medicine as well as in prehistoric or historic archaeology, microscopic research is necessary to establish reliable diagnoses. The causes of intravitam changes that lead to porosity are relatively well known (e.g., osteoporosis due to inactivity or old age; osteoclastic processes such as malignant tumors, tuberculosis, and other inflammatory processes; insufficient blood supply or hemorrhage). The nature and the causes of postmortem factors of decomposition and diagenesis are still not completely understood (Schultz, 1997, 2001a). The most important factors of diagenesis causing bone loss in dry bones are, for instance, soil and water, plant roots, fungi, algae, bacteria, protozoa, and arthropods and their larvae (Schultz, 1986, 1997, 2001a, b). This chapter makes a contribution to the differential diagnoses of intravitam and postmortem bone loss and shows the microscopic examination of thin ground sections of samples taken from dry bones to be the method of choice.