A possible histiocytoma in an Egyptian mummy

This report concerns the finding of a possible histiocytoma in the skin of the heel of an Egyptian mummy. Only two other neoplasms have been diagnosed microscopically in ancient material-a squamous papilloma of the hand in an Egyptian mummy and possible malignant melanomas in several Peruvian mummies. No visceral tumors have ever been identified in mummies, and only a few possible neoplasms have been detected on gross examination of skeletal material. The satisfactory preservation of cutaneous histologic and pathologic features in mummies should encourage the performance of additional studies.