Diagnosis by consensus: A case study in the importance of interdisciplinary interpretation of mummified remains

Abstract

Objective: The goal of this study is to demonstrate the need for interdisciplinary consensus and inclusion of mummy radiology specialists in analyses of mummified remains.

Materials: This study uses paleoimaging data for an ancient Egyptian mummy at the Museum of Human Anatomy "Filippo Civinini".

Methods: This study demonstrates the benefit of evaluation of mummified remains in a multi-disciplinary interpretive team.

Results: The authors propose a diagnosis of DISH, additional signs of undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, and lumbarisation of S1.

Conclusions: The process of diagnosis by consensus is essential to the analysis of mummified remains, which are complexly altered through natural and anthropogenic processes in the millennia subsequent to the individual's death.

Significance: Mummy paleoimaging and paleopathology lacks a unifying set of standards. We present an example of the value to be found in the multi-disciplinary diagnosis by consensus approach.

Limitations: We discuss numerous challenges to accurate and meaningful interpretation that radiography of mummified remains pose.

Suggestions for further research: While the authors do not seek to impose any single set of standards, we do recommend a larger discussion on the topic of (culture-specific) standardisation in mummy paleoimaging and paleopathology. We further recommend the development of an international, multi-disciplinary panel of paleoimaging interpreters.

Keywords: Diagnosis by consensus; Medical imaging; Mummy studies; Paleopathology.