Short Review: Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Ancient Mummies

Noninvasive imaging of ancient tissues is of increasing interest in palaeopathological studies, with conventional X-ray and computed tomography currently considered the diagnostic gold standard. Convenitional X-ray has a long tradition, yet imaging of ancient mummies using conventional X-ray technique has its drawbacks too. Until recently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of soft tissues was successful with ancient dry tissues only after morphology-altering rehydration. This process was deemed necessary due to the previous reported lack of unbound protons. Hitherto, any approach without rehydration of the historic samples failed. Yet, the successful application of novel MRI techniques allows broadening of the methodological spectrum of methods for noninvasive studies on ancient corpses, whether they have wet or dry soft tissue, or bone. Spatial discrimination of chemical elements can now be carried out with high sensitivity in any historic specimen, leading to an increased level of diagnostic evidence.