Microscopici segni paleopatologici

Paleopathology encompasses the study of diseases in antiquity using a variety of different sources including human mummified and skeletal remains, calcified soft tissues, coprolites, ancient documents, paintings and sculptures from the past.
In the interdisciplinary field of Paleopathology, various methods are required to which microscopy should be added. Microscopic analysis leads to reliable diagnoses of ancient diseases.
Here we present some paleopathological investigations conducted in collaboration with the Microscopy Centre, University of L’Aquila. The first paleopathological cases concern brucellar bone alterations in antiquity and their dietary implications. Another case deal with a rare echinococcus cyst found during the anthropological excavation at Castel di Sangro (L’Aquila, XX century d.C.). The last one is a pseudopathological case from Herculaneum (79 d.C.): the microscopic techniques revealed post mortem bone alterations that, in the beginning, were incorrectly diagnoses as pathological.
In all cases the results of microscopic analysis were fundamental to reach credible conclusions.