Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
A 4,000-year-old skull reveals that ancient Egyptians were not only adept at identifying and treating diseases and injuries but also attempted to treat cancer, according to a recent study.
Image: Tondini, Isidro, Camarós, 2024.
Researchers studied two ancient human skulls to gain insights into how the Egyptians dealt with cancer centuries ago. The study highlights their medical practices and limitations.
The study’s first author, Tatiana Tondini, noted that ancient Egyptians could manage complex cranial fractures, but cancer remained a frontier in their medical knowledge.
Published in Frontiers in Medicine, the study identified perimortem cutmarks associated with metastatic lytic lesions in one skull. These lesions result from cancer spreading to bones, causing bone destruction.
The team aimed to understand the prevalence of cancer in ancient times and how past societies interacted with the disease, shedding light on historical medical practices.
The skulls analyzed belonged to a 30-year-old male from 2687-2345 BCE and a 50-year-old female from 663-343 BCE, providing a broad timeline for examining ancient medical interventions.
Microscopic analysis of one skull revealed a large lesion indicative of neoplasm and around 30 small, round metastasized lesions, showing extensive tissue destruction due to cancer.
Researchers were stunned to find cutmarks around the lesions, likely made with a sharp metal instrument, suggesting attempts at surgical intervention. Additionally, healed lesions from traumatic injuries were found, indicating possible treatments that allowed the individual to survive.
Lead author Prof. Edgard Camarós emphasized that this study shifts perspectives on ancient medical practices and sets the stage for further research in paleo-oncology to explore how ancient societies dealt with cancer.