Microscopic evidence for Paget's disease in two osteoarchaeological samples from early northern France

Abstract

Abstract Paget's disease is a chronic condition of unknown cause localized to one or more bones of the human skeleton. It is basically an abnormal and excessive remodelling of bone, alternating phases of active bone resorption and formation and quiescent phases of diminished bone turnover. This combination produces a diagnostic pathologic appearance characterized by irregular bony fragments with a thickened and disorganized trabecular pattern (mosaic). To date, only two histological confirmations, although disputable, have been reported in medieval and 16 th century samples from England (Aaron et al. 1992 , Bell & Jones, 1991 ). This paper presents evidence of the disease from two sites in Normandy. The first one, Lisieux 413, dates from 300–350 AD and the second one, Saint Pierre‐sur‐Dives 16, dates from 1000–1100 AD. The remains were examined macroscopically, radiologically and microscopically. [Paget's disease was suspected in Lisieux 413 based on…] Paget's disease was suspected in Lisieux based on gross morphology of the calvarium. In the case of Saint Pierre‐sur‐Dives 16 Paget's was suspected based on the pelvis, the left femur proximal thickening and a fragmented vertebra. Radiographs showed in both cases osteolytic and osteosclerotic stages of the disease. Thick sections (70 µ) from both skeletal lesions (calvarium of Lisieux 413 and femur of Saint Pierre‐sur‐Dives 16) demonstrated the earliest observations of the mosaic pattern of cement lines joining areas of lamellar bone in thickened trabeculae. Paget's evidence in palaeopathology ought to be based on the association of macroscopic, radiographic and microscopic features. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.