A probable case of non-syndromic brachycephaly from 16th century Sardinia (Italy)

V Giuffra; R Bianucci; M Milanese; G Fornaciari

doi:10.1016/j.ijpp.2013.05.005

A probable case of non-syndromic brachycephaly from 16th century Sardinia (Italy)

Int J Paleopathol. 2013 Jun;3(2):134-137. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2013.05.005. Epub 2013 Jun 21.

Authors

V Giuffra¹, R Bianucci², M Milanese³, G Fornaciari⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 57, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: vgiuffra@libero.it.
² Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 57, Pisa, Italy; Laboratory of Physical Anthropology, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, C.so Galileo Galilei, 22, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: raffaella.bianucci@unito.it.
³ Department of History, University of Sassari, Viale Umberto 52, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: mmilanese@tiscali.it.
⁴ Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 57, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: gino.fornaciari@med.unipi.it.

PMID: 29539313
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2013.05.005

Abstract

The skeleton of a 9- to 10-year-old child showing a case of skull malformation due to premature bilateral closure of the coronal suture was encountered during the excavation of a Sardinian plague cemetery ("Lo Quarter") dating to the 1582-1583 Alghero plague outbreak. The skull is deformed, with increased bi-parietal diameter, marked frontal and parietal bosses, shallow orbits, and a palpable ridge perpendicular to the coronal suture. Digitate impressions are observable on both fronto-parietal regions of the skull's inner table. Since the splanchnocranium has not preserved, it is impossible to verify if facial anomalies might have been present. Although the cranial appearance might be reminiscent of different genetic syndromes, the absence of obvious hand and feet anomalies is a hallmark for non-syndromic brachycephaly.

Keywords: Alghero; Bilateral coronal synostosis; Sardinia; Skull deformation.