Tracking down the White Plague. Chapter three: Revision of endocranial abnormally pronounced digital impressions as paleopathological diagnostic criteria for tuberculous meningitis

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249020
• Publication Date: 2021-03-19T17:35:07Z
• Authors: Olga Spekker; David R. Hunt; William Berthon; László Paja; Erika Molnár; György Pálfi; Michael Schultz
• Keywords: Tuberculous Meningitis; Paleopathology; Pathognomonic

Abnormally pronounced digital impressions (APDIs) on the endocranial surface develop secondary to a prolonged rise in intracranial pressure. This can result from number of pathological conditions, including hydrocephalus due tuberculous meningitis (TBM). APDIs have been described with relation TBM not only modern medical literature but also several paleopathological studies. However, are pathognomonic for and their diagnostic value identifying past human populations has evaluated identified pre-antibiotic era skeletons. To assess first time, macroscopic investigation was performed skeletons Terry Collection (Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA). Our material consisted 234 tuberculosis (TB) as cause death (TB group) 193 non-tuberculous (NTB) causes (NTB group). The examination focused stage prominence frequency TB group NTB group. determine significance difference (if any) between two groups, χ 2 testing our data conducted. We found that were twice common than comparison frequencies revealed statistically significant groups. In addition, more stages recorded frequently results indicate be considered criteria practice. With suitable circumspection, utilization provides paleopathologists stronger basis consequently, sensitive means assessing populations.