Old hearts for modern investigations: CT and MR for archaeological human hearts remains.
BACKGROUND
Among 800 burials dated between the 15th and 18th centuries and found in the center of Rennes (Brittany, France), a collection of five heart-shaped lead urns was discovered. This material was studied using classical methods (external study, autopsy and histology), and also modern imaging like computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) before and after coronary opacification. The aim of this manuscript is to describe different steps of ancient soft tissues study, especially using imaging techniques.


METHODS
The study gathered various specialists: anthropologists, archeologists, forensic pathologists, radiologists, pathologic physicians, and physicists. Imaging techniques were performed, before and after coronary opacification. Finally, hearts were autopsied and different histological samples were analyzed.


RESULTS
Only heart n°2 was too damaged to be studied. Heart n°3 was considered as normal using all investigation techniques. The study of Hearts n°s 4 and 5 revealed dilated cardiomyopathy while Heart n°1 showed important signs of diffuse hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Different fibro lipid plaques were identified using imaging techniques, and were confirmed by histology.


CONCLUSIONS
The study of archeological soft tissues using modern imaging is possible if the material is well-preserved. This type of research can uncover principal findings, allowing scientists to establish diseases of ancient times.
Service de radiologie Rangueil Toulouse, 1 Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 30052, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France; Laboratoire A.M.I.S (Anthropobiologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse) UMR5288 - Faculté de Médecine Purpan, 37 Allées Jules Guesde 31073, Toulouse Cedex 7, France. Electronic address: Mokrane_fatimazohra@yahoo.fr.
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Mokrane
Laboratoire A.M.I.S (Anthropobiologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse) UMR5288 - Faculté de Médecine Purpan, 37 Allées Jules Guesde 31073, Toulouse Cedex 7, France; INRAP 37 rue du Bignon, CS67737, 35577 Cesson-Sévigné Cedex, France.
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Colleter
Laboratoire A.M.I.S (Anthropobiologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse) UMR5288 - Faculté de Médecine Purpan, 37 Allées Jules Guesde 31073, Toulouse Cedex 7, France; INRAP 37 rue du Bignon, CS67737, 35577 Cesson-Sévigné Cedex, France.
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Duchesne
Laboratoire A.M.I.S (Anthropobiologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse) UMR5288 - Faculté de Médecine Purpan, 37 Allées Jules Guesde 31073, Toulouse Cedex 7, France.
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Gerard
Laboratoire A.M.I.S (Anthropobiologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse) UMR5288 - Faculté de Médecine Purpan, 37 Allées Jules Guesde 31073, Toulouse Cedex 7, France; Service de médecine légale Rangueil Toulouse 1 Avenue du professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 30052, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
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Savall
Laboratoire A.M.I.S (Anthropobiologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse) UMR5288 - Faculté de Médecine Purpan, 37 Allées Jules Guesde 31073, Toulouse Cedex 7, France.
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Crubezy
Service d'anatomie pathologique Rangueil Toulouse, 1 Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 30052, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
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Guilbeau-Frugier
Service de radiologie Rangueil Toulouse, 1 Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 30052, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France; INSERM U1048 - Institut des Maladies Moléculaires et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC, INSERM U1048), CHU Rangueil, 1 Avenue Jean Poulhes - Bâtiment L3-BP 84225 31432 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.
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Moreno
Service de radiologie Rangueil Toulouse, 1 Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 30052, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France; INSERM U1048 - Institut des Maladies Moléculaires et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC, INSERM U1048), CHU Rangueil, 1 Avenue Jean Poulhes - Bâtiment L3-BP 84225 31432 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.
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Sewonu
Service de radiologie Rangueil Toulouse, 1 Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 30052, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France; INSERM U1048 - Institut des Maladies Moléculaires et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC, INSERM U1048), CHU Rangueil, 1 Avenue Jean Poulhes - Bâtiment L3-BP 84225 31432 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.
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Rousseau
Laboratoire A.M.I.S (Anthropobiologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse) UMR5288 - Faculté de Médecine Purpan, 37 Allées Jules Guesde 31073, Toulouse Cedex 7, France; Service de médecine légale Rangueil Toulouse 1 Avenue du professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 30052, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
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Telmon
Laboratoire A.M.I.S (Anthropobiologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse) UMR5288 - Faculté de Médecine Purpan, 37 Allées Jules Guesde 31073, Toulouse Cedex 7, France; Centre universitaire romand de médecine légale, Chemin de la Vulliette 4, CH-1000 Lausanne 25, Switzerland.
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Dedouit
D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
CT; MR; archeology; cardiac imaging; coronary opacification; post mortem