Purépecha Biohistory Project: A Differential Diagnosis on Burial 14.2 : A Possible Case of Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy

The well preserved skeletal remains of a young adult female from the pre-Hispanic city of Angamuco, Michoacán, Mexico were analyzed during the Purépecha Biohistory Project in May of 2016. The bones of this individual display an array of proliferative new bone formation (PNBF) in the form of extensive periosteal reaction to the majority of the elements present. A differential diagnosis was conducted based on the types of lesions present and their distribution on the individual's skeleton. Osseous responses similar to that observed on this individual have been credited to a variety of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease, hepatobiliary disorders and endocrine disorders; thus complicating the diagnosis of a particular disease. However, through the analysis of several different diseases and their involvement of the skeleton, a diagnosis of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy appears to be the most applicable to this case.