Computed Tomography-Detected Paleopathologies in Ancient Egyptian Mummies

Abstract

Objective: Computed tomography (CT)-based analyses of mummies have been performed since the 1970s but, until now, no systematic summary of PubMed®-published data has been performed. The aim was to perform a systematic review of previously published cases and summarize artificial changes and detectable paleopathologies.

Materials and methods: Data collection from publications on CT analyses of mummies from ancient Egypt until the Greco-Roman period (up to 700 ad) from the PubMed® database (1973-2013) and descriptive data analysis.

Results: Forty-seven publications on CT-based analyses have been identified, which reported on 189 mummies. Commonly reported artificial changes were destruction of the nasal bone and left-sided lateral abdominal incision for removal of inner organs. Dental and jaw pathologies (n = 42), chronic degenerative changes of skeletal bones (n = 39), and arteriosclerosis (n = 36) were reported in a subfraction of cases while traumatic fractures (n = 16) and other diseases were less often identified. The cause of death was rarely detectable by CT, but a cut through the throat, arrowheads, and bone fracture could be verified by CT.

Conclusion: Standards in documentation of CT devices have changed over the past 40 years, and insufficient documentation limits the interpretation of findings. In ancient Egyptian mummies, most organs have been removed during the mummification process while teeth and jaws are often preserved. Dental pathologies were frequent in ancient Egypt and can indicate personal circumstances and diet. The cause of death is rarely verifiable, but CT scan could be the clue. Although well known in Egyptian mummies, artificial changes may lead to misinterpretation of CT findings.