University Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Dubrava, Av Gojka Suska 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Radiographics. 2012 Nov-Dec;32(7):2151-7. doi: 10.1148/rg.327115744.
The aim of this study was to test the value of computed tomography (CT)-guided endoscopy in the scientific study of mummified remains and the recovery of unidentified objects from ancient mummified remains. CT-guided endoscopy was performed on an Egyptian mummy from the Late Period to help retrieve an unidentified object from its skull. The combined use of CT and endoscopy facilitated the recovery of the object, minimizing further damage to the remains and to the object itself. The successful recovery of the brittle object allowed detailed analysis of the item to be performed in an attempt to determine the nature of its presence in the cranial cavity. It was confirmed that the object was a monocotyledon stem fragment. Relying on the existing literature on mummification and excerebration methods in ancient Egypt, we concluded that the stick was probably used for transnasal removal of the brain. The results of this study demonstrate the great potential of CT-guided endoscopy for minimally invasive recovery of small unidentified items from mummies that could yield important information about mummification procedures and the materials used to preserve bodies.
本研究旨在测试 CT 引导内窥镜检查在木乃伊学研究和从古代木乃伊中回收未知物体方面的价值。对一具来自晚期埃及的木乃伊进行了 CT 引导内窥镜检查，以帮助从其头骨中取出一个未知物体。CT 和内窥镜的联合使用有助于回收该物体，最大限度地减少对遗骸和物体本身的进一步损坏。易碎物体的成功回收使得可以对该物品进行详细分析，以尝试确定其在颅腔中存在的性质。确认该物体是单子叶植物茎段的碎片。根据现有的关于木乃伊制作和古埃及去脑方法的文献，我们得出结论，该棍棒可能用于经鼻移除大脑。本研究的结果表明，CT 引导内窥镜检查在微创回收木乃伊中微小未知物品方面具有巨大潜力，这可能为木乃伊制作过程和用于保存尸体的材料提供重要信息。
