Whole-body three-dimensional multidetector CT of 13 Egyptian human mummies.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to assess the role of multidetector CT and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions in noninvasive studies of Egyptian mummies.


METHODS
We studied 13 mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Torino, Italy, dating from Dynasty III to Dynasty IV (2650-2450 B.C.) and from the Ptolemaic period (332-30 B.C.) to the Roman period (30 B.C.-A.D. 395), using a multidetector CT unit with a single volumetric acquisition of the whole body, including lower extremities, followed by 3D reconstruction. All mummies were completely wrapped; preservation conditions of external wrappings were good in all.


RESULTS
The general setting, embalming techniques, sex and age assessment (from body and skeletal features), anthropometric measurements (cranial measurements and evaluation of stature), conditions of the skeleton and soft tissue, any abnormalities, and the presence of foreign objects were evaluated in each mummy, and a detailed report was drawn up. Virtual unwrapping permitted the identification of physiognomy of the whole dehydrated body placed beneath the wrappings; 3D reconstruction and virtual fly-through navigation allowed further evaluations of the internal parts of the body.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained with this protocol provided important anthropologic and paleopathologic information that would have been impossible to obtain by other noninvasive techniques. Moreover, this method has great potential for studies of conservation, anthropology, and paleopathology of other Egyptian and ancient human remains. Multidisciplinary cooperation among anthropologists, paleopathologists, Egyptologists, and radiologists is essential.
Cesarani
Federico
F
Istituto di Radiologia Diagnostica ed Interventistica, Università di Torino, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Battista di Torino, Ospedale Molinette, Corso Bramante 84, 10126 Torino, Italy.
Martina
Maria Cristina
MC
Ferraris
Andrea
A
Grilletto
Renato
R
Boano
Rosa
R
Marochetti
Elisa Fiore
EF
Donadoni
Anna Maria
AM
Gandini
Giovanni
G
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004534:Egypt; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009106:Mummies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*