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High-resolution three-dimensional micro-computed tomography assessment of micro-architectural patterns in non-adults with cribra orbitalia : correlation between macro- and micro-scale bone features
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  • Veda Mikasinovic,
  • Ksenija Djukic,
  • Petar Milenkovic,
  • Jelena Jadzic,
  • Petar Milovanovic,
  • Marija Djuric
Veda Mikasinovic
Univerzitet u Beogradu Medicinski fakultet
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Ksenija Djukic
Univerzitet u Beogradu Medicinski fakultet
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Petar Milenkovic
Univerzitet u Beogradu Medicinski fakultet
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Jelena Jadzic
Univerzitet u Beogradu Medicinski fakultet
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Petar Milovanovic
Univerzitet u Beogradu Medicinski fakultet

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Marija Djuric
Univerzitet u Beogradu Medicinski fakultet
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Abstract

Skeletal porous lesions such as cribra orbitalia (CO) have long been of interest to bioanthropologists worldwide, mainly due to their high prevalence in osteological material. Previous studies considered CO as an external morphological manifestation, and therefore, research has mainly focused on visible (macroscopic) CO patterns. However, the understanding of CO-induced micro-scale bone changes is still scarce. Therefore, here we performed high-resolution micro-computed tomography imaging to investigate three-dimensional CO-induced micro-architectural patterns in non-adults, with a particular focus on the correlation between macroscopic and micro-architectural orbital features. Cortical and trabecular micro-architectural changes in the orbital roof were analyzed in non-adults up to 15 years of age, using orbital roof samples with and without macroscopic traces of CO (n=28). A widely accepted five-grade macroscopic CO scoring system was applied to analyze CO severity. Areas affected with CO (area 1) and areas without macroscopic CO traces (area 2) were analyzed separately. The conducted high-resolution analysis showed that cortical and trabecular micro-architecture varied with CO presence, lesion severity (CO grade), and the analyzed area. Inter-grade comparisons suggested that most of the analyzed micro-architectural parameters were not significantly different between adjacent CO grades. Based on the micro-architectural evaluation of areas 1 and 2, the porous lesions were much more extensive than revealed by gross examination. Our analysis also revealed that micro-architectural differences were particularly pronounced in younger non-adults. Taken together, the macroscopic examination of CO appears to reflect only the tip of the iceberg, as the micro-architectural changes are much larger than macroscopically identified.
Submitted to Microscopy Research and Technique
22 Apr 2024Assigned to Editor
22 Apr 2024Submission Checks Completed
24 Apr 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Apr 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Jul 20241st Revision Received
07 Jul 2024Editorial Decision: Accept