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To the Editor: Ancient human mummies are a unique source to study the evolution of disease.¹ Noninvasive imaging of such historic tissues is of increasing interest in paleoanthropological and paleopathological studies, with conventional radiograph and computed tomography (CT) scan being the standard modalities.² However, the ability to differentiate soft tissues by CT scan in mummies is limited and the ionizing radiation is of uncertain safety to the samples. Clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been applied to ancient dry tissues after sample-altering rehydration,^3-4 a process deemed necessary due to the lack of unbound protons. We show the ability of standard clinical MRI to visualize historic dry tissues without rehydration by use of a newly available MRI pulse sequence.

Methods

Ancient artificially embalmed Egyptian mummies (1 head, 2 hands, and 1 foot; circa 1500-1100 BCE; private collection of F.R.) and a naturally mummified Peruvian corpse (circa 1100 CE; Museum of . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Frank J. Rühli, Dr Med, PhD
frank.ruhli@anatom.uzh.ch

Hendrik von Waldburg, Med Vet Pract
Swiss Mummy Project
Institute of Anatomy
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland

Sonia Nielles-Vallespin, PhD, MSc, BSc
Siemens AG Medical Solutions
Erlangen, Germany

Thomas Böni, Dr Med
Swiss Mummy Project
Orthopedic University Hospital Balgrist
Zurich, Switzerland

Peter Speier, PhD, BSc
Siemens AG Medical Solutions
Erlangen, Germany