Fibro-osseous processes (FOPs) of the craniofacial skeleton: A neglected entity in paleopathology?

Abstract

Discrete, small, roundish lesions of localized porous bone can be occasionally seen in the craniofacial skeleton. Such lesions are rarely mentioned and only occur as an incidental discovery being assigned to plenty of diagnoses. As an example, such multiple small lesions of the facial skeleton in a well-preserved skeleton of a 40-60 year old male of the Hunno-Sarmatian Period from Kazakhstan, are discussed. Some of the lesions were examined by digital microscopy, plain radiography, and plain and polarizing microscopy. Considering possible differential diagnoses of vascular, traumatic, inflammatory/reactive, metabolic, and neoplastic entities, as well as developmental conditions, its microscopic characteristics point to a fibro-osseous process. This paper intends to open a discussion on the diagnosis of such lesions, which have been relatively neglected in previous research.