The Challenging Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disease in Skeletal Remains Identifying Atherosclerotic Calcifications from Modern Documented Individuals

The very high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in populations today makes their study unavoidable, necessary and of paramount importance in forensic sciences. Knowledge about pathological conditions affecting a skeletonised individual is crucial information for reconstructing the biological profile of a victim of crime and may be used in the individualisation and identification of an unknown deceased person (Cunha, 2006). In addition, a correct diagnosis of atherosclerosis in skeletal remains may provide information on the cause of death of the individual.