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Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis from Roman Hungary

Publication at First Faculty of Medicine |
2013

Abstract

This paper deals with cases of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) found at the Late Roman Age necropolis in Pecs, Hungary (41 century AD). The skeletal remains of two male individuals, aged between 60-70 years and 45-55 years, displayed right-sided ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament with extra-spinal manifestations typical in DISH cases.

It is presumed that both male individuals were middle-class citizens. Their social status was supplemented with trace element analysis in order to reconstruct the dietary habits of the urban population.

Concentrations of Sr and Zn indicated a predominantly vegetal diet. Potential DISH risk factors and associations were subsequently discussed and compared with our findings.