Facial reconstruction of a wrapped Egyptian mummy using MDCT.
OBJECTIVE
Facial reconstruction of mummies and corpses in general is important in anthropological, medical, and forensic studies. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the role of MDCT examination for 3D facial reconstruction and report the results of multidisciplinary work performed by radiologists, anthropologists, and forensic police in reconstructing the possible physiognomy of an ancient Egyptian mummy.


METHODS
Three-dimensional MDCT data were obtained from a well-preserved, completely wrapped Egyptian mummy from the collection of the Egyptian Museum in Torino, Italy, which dated from the XXII or XXIII dynasty (945-715 BC). Data were used as a model for the rapid prototyping stereolithographic technique, a method that allows the creation of a 3D model with digital data using synthetic materials such as a resin or nylon.


RESULTS
The physical creation of the face was accomplished with boosting techniques performed by the progressive layering of plasticine on the nylon model according to the anthropometric data, the conditions of the soft residual dehydrated tissues, and the most accepted scientific and anthropological criteria. CT is the only noninvasive method for obtaining fundamental data for 3D reconstructions of the skull and the body, especially with wrapped mummies.


CONCLUSIONS
Our multidisciplinary cooperative study produced a model of the face of an individual who lived nearly 3,000 years ago, which would not previously have been possible unless we unwrapped, destroyed, and altered the conservation of the bandages and the mummy.
Cesarani
Federico
F
Struttura Operativa Complessa di Radiodiagnostica, Presidi Ospedalieri Riuniiti, Azienda Sanitaria Locale 19, Asti, Regione Piemonte, Italy. federicocesarani@inwind.it
Martina
Maria Cristina
MC
Grilletto
Renato
R
Boano
Rosa
R
Roveri
Anna Maria Donadoni
AM
Capussotto
Valter
V
Giuliano
Andrea
A
Celia
Maurizio
M
Gandini
Giovanni
G
D004534:Egypt; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D009106:Mummies; D010163:Paleontology / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed