A radiological reassessment of the ‘pregnant mummy’: A comment to Ejsmond et al., 2021

Abstract

Ejsmond et al. described a fetus inside the pelvic cavity of an ancient Egyptian mummy from the first century BC based on a Computed Tomography (CT) study. The objective of this reply is to open a discussion about this interesting finding with the scientific community. The article based the diagnosis on the external appearance of a pelvic mass that resembled a rolled up fetus but without being able to detect any anatomical configuration or bones. We welcome the authors effort to do advanced radiological mummy studies; however, we are unconvinced by their interpretation. We believe that it is not possible to identify, with any certainty, the pelvic object in question as a fetus. The article explained lack of identification of fetal bones that they must have shrunk. In our experience, ancient Egyptian un-mummified fetal skeletons and mummies kept their anatomical details. It is very unlikely that the dense semi-rounded compact structure could be ‘a fetal head’ as assumed in the article because the skull bones during fetal life are un-fused and would have collapsed and disarticulated after death. We encourage Ejsmond et al. to revise or re-do the CT scan of the mummy with the proper protocol supervised by a paleo-radiologist, to revise/clarify the diagnosis of the ‘pregnant mummy’ and include possible differential diagnosis such as visceral packs/condensed embalming materials, or a calcified pelvic tumor.