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World's Oldest Tumor Found In a Neanderthal Bone

Posted by samzenpus on from the first-isn't-always-best dept.

First time accepted submitter minty3 writes "A fibrous dysplasia tumor has been found in the bone of a Neanderthal that is more than 120,000 years old. The world's oldest tumor in a Neanderthal rib was part of a collection of bones, which were excavated more than 100 years ago from a site in Krapina, Croatia. They were X-rayed in the 1980s, and initially didn't reveal the tumor. It was only when scientists took a closer look at a radiograph where a rib fragment appeared to be 'burned out' did they return to the rib and subject it to higher quality scans."

4 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. Well, well, well... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Looks like the paleo diet didn't work for Grok after all...

    1. Re:Well, well, well... by simonbp · · Score: 4, Funny

      Obviously, it was caused the paleolithic nuclear reactor Grok was working at. They had very primitive safety systems.

  2. interview by iggymanz · · Score: 4, Funny

    When questioned, the Neanderthal said, "It's naht ah tumah!" and then ran off to fornicate with his housemaid.

  3. Re:Oldest *hominid* tumor, maybe by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Humans are the only species that matters though.

    Humans ... who are Americans.

    You needn't be so redundant, it's not as though there are non-American humans, so why belabor the obvious?