Rescued from the sands of time: interesting otologic and rhinologic findings in two ancient Egyptian mummies from the Royal Ontario Museum.
OBJECTIVE
Two mummified specimens from the Royal Ontario Museum both approximately 3500 years old were recently examined in the Ear Pathology Research Laboratory (EPRL) of the University of Toronto. High-resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning of the ancient Egyptian mummified heads was undertaken with special reference to the nasal cavities, paranasal sinuses, anterior cranial fossae, and temporal bones. The elaborate ritual for the dead that was required to prepare for the after life and our knowledge concerning the status of ear and nasal pathology in ancient Egypt is reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
As a result of this preliminary study, we believe we may have discovered a hitherto unrecognized step in the formal process of mummificiation.
Yardley
M
M
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Toronto, Ontario.
Rutka
J
J
D000076144:Egypt, Ancient; D004615:Embalming / Q000266:history; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D009106:Mummies; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed