Bridging the gap between forensic anthropology and osteoarchaeology—a case of vascular pathology

Abstract We report on two cases of similar bony lesions and emphasize the importance of cooperative work between forensic anthropology and forensic pathology. A fairly well preserved cadaver of an old woman was autopsied by a forensic team at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Portugal. Although age at death and sex were easily determined, there was insufficient other evidence for personal identification. However, the female revealed severe and extensive lesions in both lower legs and these were useful for determining personal identity. Here we describe the pathological findings, consistent with venous chronic insufficiency. The woman's family subsequently confirmed she suffered from this condition. Furthermore, they informed us of varicose ulcers, which also were suspected by the ties found, in both her legs, during autopsy. A long history of venous chronic insufficiency was subsequently found in her medical records. We compare these forensic findings to the bony pathologies of a male skeleton from the Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection not previously diagnosed. We argue that these two cases represent the same pathological condition. Without the medical forensic work, the skeletal remains of the second case might not have been positively identified. The benefits of cooperative work between medical and anthropological forensic specialists are reinforced leading to resolution of otherwise unidentified skeletal pathological conditions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.