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Facial reconstruction of a pathological case

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Abstract

In this paper, we describe a forensic paleopathology case using findings obtained from images of a skull with leontiasis ossea. This unique specimen is on display in the National Museum of Anthropology and History in Mexico. The skull shows tissue overgrowth, periosteal bone proliferation, which produced a cortical and diploid thickening involving the entire bone matrix. The study of images, X-rays, and helical computed tomography revealed generalized hyperostosis obliterating the maxillary and sphenoid sinuses, and two exuberant bony masses arising from the maxilla with encroachment of the anterior nasal opening. In order to reconstruct an image of the external appearance in life, a copy was obtained in the first place, using a stereolithography machine, after that, three-dimensional (3-D) facial reconstruction technique was applied, thus an approximation of the external appearance of this specimen was obtained. During the process, we encountered several difficulties, mainly when interpreting the cortical topography, the position of eyes and mouth. In this sense, facial reconstruction allows only for a moderate investigation due to the limited information that can be obtained from the skull and the significant alterations observed.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks go to Dr. Mansilla-Lory for her technical assistance. Thanks also to Fernández-Tapia from Department of Radiology, CT Scanner, Mexico City for use of photography facilities. Thanks to the following collaborators, M. Villanueva from the Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico city, Mexico. L.M. Amezcua-Guerra at Department of Immunology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico. A. Vargas-Rodríguez and Martínez-Lavín from Department of Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico city, Mexico; M. D. Resnick from Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    E. Gaytán

  2. Department of Physical Anthropology, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Mexico City, Mexico

    J. Mansilla-Lory & I. Leboreiro

  3. Biomedical Research, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, México City, Mexico

    S. C. Pineda

Authors
  1. E. Gaytán
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  2. J. Mansilla-Lory
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  3. I. Leboreiro
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  4. S. C. Pineda
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Correspondence to E. Gaytán.

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Gaytán, E., Mansilla-Lory, J., Leboreiro, I. et al. Facial reconstruction of a pathological case. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 5, 95–99 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-009-9088-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-009-9088-6

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