In Photos: Ancient Egyptian Skeleton Reveals Earliest Metastatic Cancer

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Burial Position

ancient egyptian skeleton with signs of earliest malignant cancer.

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

Right Scapula

Right Scapular Lesions

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

A photo and radiograph of the right scapular blade. The arrows indicate the locations of lytic lesions, which are areas where the bone has been destroyed by a disease process, such as cancer.

Left Clavicle

Left Clavicle

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

View of the left clavicle with the pathological lesions indicated by arrows. A radiograph of the same bone can be seen on the bottom. At top left, a close-up of the lesion is indicated by the rectangle.

Sternum

Sternum Lesions

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

A view of the sternum, with arrows indicating the location of lytic lesions.

Rib

Rib Bone Formation

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

New bone formation on the left first rib. The insert shows a close-up of an area of new bone formation (45× magnification).

Rib

Rib Lesions

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

A photo and radiograph of the left first rib. Arrows indicate the locations of lesions.

Thoracic Vertebrae

Thoracic Vertebrae Lesions

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

Destructive lesions in the 7th thoracic vertebrae. The arrows indicate regions of new bone formation.

Thoracic Vertebra

Thoracic Vertebra Lesions

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

A close-up view of lytic lesions in the 5th thoracic vertebra.

Pelvis

New Bone Formation in Lesion on Pelvis

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

A close-up of new bone formation (indicated by arrows) in a lytic lesion in a part of the pelvis (40x magnified).

Right Femur

Femur Lesions

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

A photo and radiograph of lytic lesions in the right femur.

Preserved Skeleton

Preserved Skeleton

(Image credit: PLOS ONE)

Preserved elements of the ancient Egyptian skeleton and elements affected by pathological changes. Dark areas indicate full preservation, light areas indicate fragmented areas. Hatched areas are the bones affected by lytic lesions.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
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