Objective

To evaluate processes causing two types of mastoid hypocellularity (Type 1 and Type 3), and to provide histomorphological criteria for a differential diagnosis in archaeological human bone.

Materials and methods

Eight human crania from the early medieval cemetery in Dirmstein (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) displaying secondary obliteration of mastoid air cells were analyzed using light-microscopy and backscattered electron imaging.

Results

In Type 1 hypocellularity, obliteration starts in the non-pneumatized portion of the mastoid process and extends into the pneumatized portion. The findings could represent a chronic, maybe recurrent condition related to a pathologically altered middle ear mucosa in early childhood. In Type 3, a sequence of resorptive and proliferative processes are present and are consistent with a healing stage of mastoiditis.

Conclusions

Using histomorphology, in vivo processes resulting in different types of mastoid hypocellularity can be assessed, even in bones that have undergone some degree of diagenesis.

Significance

The study provides methods to evaluate the etiology of histomorphological changes of the mastoid process, which potentially provides insight into the presence of infection and inflammation in past populations.

Limitations

Diagenetic modifications of archaeological bone can hinder assessment of histomorphological change, requiring careful evaluation during analysis.

Suggestions for further research

Including histomorphology in future studies on archaeological human crania can contribute to an improved differential diagnosis of pathological conditions in the middle ear region.

中文翻译：

---

考古人类骨骼中乳突过程中低细胞性的组织形态学研究。

目的

评估导致两种类型的乳突细胞减少（1型和3型）的过程，并为考古人类骨骼中的鉴别诊断提供组织形态学标准。

材料和方法

使用光学显微镜和反向散射电子成像技术分析了来自Dirmstein（德国莱茵兰-普法尔茨州）中世纪早期公墓的八个人的颅骨，显示出乳突状空气细胞的继发性消失。

结果

在1型细胞减少症中，闭塞开始于乳突过程的非气化部分，并延伸到气化部分。这些发现可能代表了与儿童早期中耳黏膜病理改变有关的慢性或复发性疾病。在类型3中，存在一系列吸收和增殖过程，并与乳突炎的治愈阶段相一致。

结论

使用组织形态学，即使在经历了一定程度的成岩作用的骨骼中，也可以评估导致不同类型乳突细胞减少的体内过程。

意义

该研究提供了评估乳突过程组织形态学改变的病因学的方法，这可能提供对过去人群中感染和炎症的存在的认识。

局限性

考古骨骼的成岩作用会阻碍组织形态变化的评估，因此需要在分析过程中进行仔细评估。

进一步研究的建议

在将来的人类颅骨考古研究中包括组织形态学可以有助于改善中耳地区病理状况的鉴别诊断。