Burial Position
A 3,000-year-old skeleton from a conquered territory of ancient Egypt is now the earliest known complete example of a person with malignant cancer spreading from an organ, findings that could help reveal insights on the evolution of the disease, researchers say. Here, the skeleton (called Skeleton Sk244-8) in its original burial position in a tomb in northern Sudan in northeastern Africa, with a blue-glazed amulet (inset) found buried alongside him; the amulet shows the Egyptian god Bes depicted on the reverse side.
Right Scapula
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
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
A view of the sternum, with arrows indicating the location of lytic lesions.
Rib
New bone formation on the left first rib. The insert shows a close-up of an area of new bone formation (45× magnification).
Rib
A photo and radiograph of the left first rib. Arrows indicate the locations of lesions.
Thoracic Vertebrae
Destructive lesions in the 7th thoracic vertebrae. The arrows indicate regions of new bone formation.
Thoracic Vertebra
A close-up view of lytic lesions in the 5th thoracic vertebra.
Pelvis
A close-up of new bone formation (indicated by arrows) in a lytic lesion in a part of the pelvis (40x magnified).
Right Femur
A photo and radiograph of lytic lesions in the right femur.
Preserved Skeleton
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.
