CT-scanning of ancient Greenlandic Inuit temporal bones

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Additional morphological evidence of former infectious middle ear disease (IMED) was found by CT-scanning in 5 of 6 Greenlandic Inuit crania strongly suspected for former IMED due to earlier examination revealing either bilateral hypocellularity or asymmetry of the pneumatized area of the temporal bones. The CT-scans showed sclerosing and obliteration of the air cells and even destruction of the cellular septae, and a high degree of irregularity of the cells. Sclerosing of the surrounding bone tissue was also found. The findings in one cranium were dubious and could both be regarded as a congenital malformation or an infection in infanthood. CT-scan confirms and even adds to the results of conventional X-ray of temporal bones making hypotheses of paleopathology more reliable. The findings also support the environmental theory of pneumatization of the air cell system in the temporal bones.
Original languageEnglish
JournalActa Oto-Laryngologica
Volume112
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)674-9
Number of pages6
ISSN0001-6489
Publication statusPublished - 1992

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Air; Greenland; History, Ancient; Humans; Inuits; Mastoid; Otitis Media; Paleopathology; Temporal Bone; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

ID: 21140273