Two cases of pelvic osteochondroma in New Kingdom Nubia

Osteochondroma is one of the most common bone tumours found in clinical cases. These tumours usually occur on the metaphyseal surfaces of the bone; approximately 80% of osteochondromas are found on one of the limbs. Only about 5% of cases are located on the pelvis. This study examines two cases of single osteochondroma on the os pubis from Tombos, a New Kingdom period cemetery in ancient Nubia. Determined using macroscopic and radiographic examination, two individuals displayed exostoses consistent with osteochondromas. The first individual was aged 40–55 and the second was aged 55+; both were male. On both individuals the exostosis appears on the anterior aspect of the right pubis, projecting anteriorly approximately 7 cm on the first and 5 cm on the second individual. As the only two cases of osteochondroma in this relatively small skeletal sample (MNI = 128), it is remarkable that these tumours are found in this unusual location. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.