Radio-scannographic correlation of Harris lines in adults: Forensic and anthropological perspectives

Abstract

Objective: Harris lines are transverse lines of condensation visible on radiography. They have been used in archeology and anthropology as a specific marker of stress for more than a century. Nevertheless, their link with pathology is debatable. The purpose of this study was to determine if Harris lines detected on radiography were corresponding to a specific anatomic structure on computed tomography (CT) scan. Materials and Methods: We studied 99 adult femurs extracted from an anthropological collection of the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle of Paris and compared Harris lines detected on radiographs and their anatomic correlation visible on the CT scan. We determined whether lines were correlated to a specific dense structure on CT or were corresponding to normal trabeculation. Results: CT scan study has identified significantly less dense lines than radiographs (89% vs. 80% of bones didn't have any), other lines were corresponding to lines that had the same characteristics as normal bone trabeculation. Conclusion: Harris lines are not corresponding in adults, to a unique structure that is different from normal bone. Those results, which can be linked to bone remodeling, may explain why it is so difficult to find a link between those lines and stress.