Biparietal osteodystrophy: Macroscopic appearance, computed tomography imaging and microarchitectural analysis

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Skeletal Biology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Anatomical variations in skull bones are often overlooked in forensic pathology.
• These variations can be crucial for personal identification and understanding cranial trauma.
• Biparietal osteodystrophy, characterized by parietal bone thinning, is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the morphological and imaging characteristics of biparietal osteodystrophy.
• To differentiate this benign condition from pathological bone resorptive diseases.
• To provide awareness for forensic pathologists regarding this specific skull variation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of three autopsy cases with biparietal osteodystrophy (elderly females).
• Conventional computed tomography (CT) imaging of the skull.
• Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) imaging of parietal bone specimens.

Main Results:

• CT revealed smooth, oval resorptive depressions in the parietal bones without suture involvement.
• Micro-CT showed decreased diploic thickness and increased porosity in transitional zones.
• Maximal thinning resulted in fused inner and outer tables, forming a thin cortical layer, resembling egg-shell thinning.

Conclusions:

• Biparietal osteodystrophy is a benign condition characterized by significant thinning of the parietal bones due to diploic space reduction.
• Forensic pathologists must be aware of this finding to prevent misinterpretation as a sign of disease.
• Understanding this variation aids in accurate forensic identification and interpretation of cranial findings.