Chronic inflammation of the maxillary sinuses is used to reconstruct upper airway health in bioarchaeology. However, the aetiological value of hyperostotic alterations such as wall thickening, lobules, spicules, and remodelled spicules has recently been questioned, as they may result from alternative pathological processes. In this study, macroscopic analysis was combined with non-destructive Synchrotron Radiation X-ray phase-contrast micro-Computed Tomography (SR-μCT) to histologically characterise formations within the maxillary sinuses. Bone samples of three females and two males dated to Etruscan (Pontecagnano 6th-5th c. BCE) and Late Antique-Medieval (Pava, 5th-12th c. CE) ages were analysed. The sample set included four fragments of maxillary sinus walls displaying distinct hyperostotic changes and one amorphous mass with irregular margins invading the maxillary sinus: dentoalveolar disease on the same side was observed in association with the latter. Wall thickening was characterised by woven bone trabeculae, while the lobule appeared as a hollow structure with no lamellar bone, indicative of the active stage of sinus inflammation with reactive new bone formation. Spicules and remodelled spicules consisted of lamellar compact bone representing osseous metaplasia of fibrotic scar tissue produced by long-standing inflamed respiratory mucosa lining and denoting the healing stage. By contrast, the amorphous mass appeared as a disorganized mineralized tissue consistent with a calcification. While one limitation is sample size, the application of SR-μCT offers a powerful non-invasive approach to maximise visibility of diagnostic histological features of sinus lesions and supports the validation of hyperostotic changes as manifestations of chronic maxillary sinus inflammation in archaeological skeletal remains
Non-destructive virtual histology helps characterising hyperostotic changes of maxillary sinuses in bioarchaeology
RICCOMI G.
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2026-01-01
Abstract
Chronic inflammation of the maxillary sinuses is used to reconstruct upper airway health in bioarchaeology. However, the aetiological value of hyperostotic alterations such as wall thickening, lobules, spicules, and remodelled spicules has recently been questioned, as they may result from alternative pathological processes. In this study, macroscopic analysis was combined with non-destructive Synchrotron Radiation X-ray phase-contrast micro-Computed Tomography (SR-μCT) to histologically characterise formations within the maxillary sinuses. Bone samples of three females and two males dated to Etruscan (Pontecagnano 6th-5th c. BCE) and Late Antique-Medieval (Pava, 5th-12th c. CE) ages were analysed. The sample set included four fragments of maxillary sinus walls displaying distinct hyperostotic changes and one amorphous mass with irregular margins invading the maxillary sinus: dentoalveolar disease on the same side was observed in association with the latter. Wall thickening was characterised by woven bone trabeculae, while the lobule appeared as a hollow structure with no lamellar bone, indicative of the active stage of sinus inflammation with reactive new bone formation. Spicules and remodelled spicules consisted of lamellar compact bone representing osseous metaplasia of fibrotic scar tissue produced by long-standing inflamed respiratory mucosa lining and denoting the healing stage. By contrast, the amorphous mass appeared as a disorganized mineralized tissue consistent with a calcification. While one limitation is sample size, the application of SR-μCT offers a powerful non-invasive approach to maximise visibility of diagnostic histological features of sinus lesions and supports the validation of hyperostotic changes as manifestations of chronic maxillary sinus inflammation in archaeological skeletal remainsI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
