Department of Radiology, Trauma Center Murnau, Prof.-Küntscher-Strasse 8, 82418, Murnau, Germany,
Skeletal Radiol. 2013 Nov;42(11):1527-35. doi: 10.1007/s00256-013-1696-2. Epub 2013 Aug 8.
To assess changes in different tissues during the process of artificial mummification by natron using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to translate the results to image interpretation in paleoradiological studies of ancient mummies.
A human lower limb (LL) was amputated from a female donor 24 h post-mortem and mummified by artificial natron (54 % NaCl, 16 % Na2SO4, 18 % Na2CO3 12 % NaHCO3) in ancient Egyptian style. The LL was kept in a fume hood at 16-25 °C and 30-75 % relative humidity. CT and MRI were performed at specific intervals with quantitative evaluation of Hounsfield units (HU) and signal intensities (SI).
Evaluated tissues showed different HU and SI changes during the experimental mummification. All tissues revealed an overall but varying increase of HU in CT examinations. All tissues except for the compact bone revealed an overall but varying decrease of SI in the IR and T2-weighted sequences of the MRI. Typical findings included a distinct increase of HU in the cutis at the end of the study and a temporary increase of SI in the IR and T2-weighted sequences in all muscle groups.
Radiological findings showed a regular, controlled and effective dehydration by the applied natron without detectable putrefaction. Evaluated tissues revealed different radiological changes during the experiment, which altogether led to preservation of the tissues without radiologically identifiable destruction. The cutis revealed radiological signs of direct interaction with the natron in the form of covering and possibly permeation.
利用计算机断层扫描（CT）和磁共振成像（MRI）评估钠硝石人工木乃伊化过程中不同组织的变化，并将结果转化为古木乃伊的古放射影像学研究中的图像解读。
从一名女性供体死后 24 小时截肢的人下肢（LL），并以古埃及风格用人工钠硝石（54%氯化钠、16%硫酸钠、18%碳酸钠、12%碳酸氢钠）进行木乃伊化。LL 被放置在通风橱中，温度为 16-25°C，相对湿度为 30-75%。在特定间隔进行 CT 和 MRI 检查，并对亨氏单位（HU）和信号强度（SI）进行定量评估。
评估的组织在实验性木乃伊化过程中显示出不同的 HU 和 SI 变化。所有组织在 CT 检查中均显示出整体但不同程度的 HU 增加。除密质骨外，所有组织在 MRI 的 IR 和 T2 加权序列中均显示出整体但不同程度的 SI 降低。典型的发现包括在研究结束时皮肤的 HU 明显增加，以及所有肌肉群的 IR 和 T2 加权序列中 SI 的暂时增加。
放射学发现表明，应用的钠硝石进行了规则、可控且有效的脱水，而没有可检测到的腐败。在实验过程中，评估的组织显示出不同的放射学变化，这些变化共同导致了组织的保存，而没有可在放射学上识别的破坏。皮肤显示出与钠硝石直接相互作用的放射学迹象，表现为覆盖和可能的渗透。
