1. Anatomical confirmation of computed tomography-based diagnosis of the atherosclerosis discovered in 17th century Korean mummy.
- Author
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Kim MJ, Kim YS, Oh CS, Go JH, Lee IS, Park WK, Cho SM, Kim SK, and Shin DH
- Subjects
- Abdominal Cavity diagnostic imaging, Abdominal Cavity pathology, Adult, Aorta, Abdominal diagnostic imaging, Aorta, Abdominal pathology, Coronary Vessels diagnostic imaging, Coronary Vessels pathology, Female, Heart diagnostic imaging, Humans, Middle Aged, Asian People, Atherosclerosis diagnostic imaging, Atherosclerosis pathology, Mummies diagnostic imaging, Mummies pathology, Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Abstract
In the present study on a newly discovered 17th century Korean mummy, computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple aortic calcifications within the aortic wall that were indicative of ancient atherosclerosis. The CT-based findings were confirmed by our subsequent post-factum dissection, which exhibited possible signs of the disease including ulcerated plaques, ruptured hemorrhages, and intimal thickening where the necrotic core was covered by the fibrous cap. These findings are strong indicators that the mummy suffered from aortic atherosclerosis during her lifetime. The present study is a good example of how CT images of vascular calcifications can be a useful diagnostic tool in forming at least preliminary diagnoses of ancient atherosclerosis.
- Published
- 2015
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