Ancient Egyptian Skull Reveals Pioneering Surgery for Tumor Removal
Uncovering a skull with bone damage caused by various tumors, researchers have discovered groundbreaking evidence of cancer surgery in ancient Egyptian history, marking a significant advancement in medical practices of the time.
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Did you know that cancer is not just a modern disease? Medical texts from ancient Egypt show that healers back then were already familiar with the condition. Recently, a skull dating back over 4,000 years has provided new evidence suggesting that ancient Egyptian physicians may have attempted to treat certain cancers through surgery.
The skull, labeled 236 in the Duckworth Laboratory collection at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, belonged to a man who was approximately 30 to 35 years old at the time of his death. Since the mid-19th century, scientists have been examining the scarred surface of the skull, which shows multiple lesions believed to be bone damage caused by malignant tumors. This skull is considered one of the earliest known cases of cancer in ancient times, dating back to between 2686 BC and 2345 BC.
Recent research using a digital microscope and micro-computed tomography (CT) scans has revealed new information about the tumor scars on the skull. Upon closer inspection, researchers found evidence of cut marks around the tumors, indicating that sharp metal tools were used to remove the growths. The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine on Wednesday.
Senior study author Dr. Edgard Camarós, a professor in the department of history at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Coruña, Spain, mentioned that it was the first time humanity had dealt surgically with what we now know as cancer.
Dr. Camarós also added that it remains uncertain whether the healers attempted to remove the tumors while the patient was alive or if the tumors were extracted after death for further examination.
"If the cut marks were made while the person was alive, it suggests a treatment connected to the cancer," explained Camarós. On the other hand, if the cuts were made after death, it indicates a medical autopsy related to the cancer.
Regardless, Camarós expressed amazement at the idea of a surgical procedure being performed. However, he noted that it is difficult to differentiate between a treatment and an autopsy.
Several of the metastatic lesions on skull 236 display cut marks. A closeup of cut marks, probably made with a sharp object, is shown.
Several of the metastatic lesions on skull 236 display cut marks. A closeup of cut marks, probably made with a sharp object, is shown.
Courtesy Tondini, Isidro, Camarós
Medical ‘knowledge and mastery’
Ancient Egyptian medicine, as recorded in documents like the Ebers Papyrus and the Kahun Papyrus, was remarkably advanced. Dr. Ibrahem Badr, an associate professor at Misr University for Science and Technology in Egypt, highlighted the significance of recent discoveries that provide concrete evidence of this sophistication.
According to Badr, ancient Egyptian medicine was distinct from other ancient civilizations as it incorporated surgical techniques alongside herbal remedies.
The 1,000 year-old brain of an individual excavated from the c. 10th Century churchyard of Sint-Maartenskerk (Ypres, Belgium). The folds of the tissue, which are still soft and wet, are stained orange with iron oxides.
The brain of a person who lived 1,000 years ago was found in the churchyard of Sint-Maartenskerk in Ypres, Belgium, dating back to the 10th Century. The tissue still retains its soft and wet texture, with folds that appear orange due to iron oxides.
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The study authors mentioned that the research opens up a new avenue for reevaluating the medical history of ancient Egyptians. Their methods have shifted the results from being uncertain archaeological possibilities to being scientifically and medically certain.
Additionally, the scientists discovered cancer lesions in another skull from the Duckworth collection. This skull, labeled E270 and dating back to 664 BC to 343 BC, belonged to a woman over 50 years old. Three lesions were identified on the specimen, indicating damage to the bone from malignant tumors.
The research team examined skulls from the Duckworth Laboratory collection at the University of Cambridge using microscopic analysis and CT scanning.
The research team examined skulls from the Duckworth Laboratory collection at the University of Cambridge using microscopic analysis and CT scanning.
Tondini, Isidro, and Camarós kindly provided information about skull 236 and E270. E270 did not exhibit any surgical signs related to the disease. However, the woman's skull did show long-healed fractures, indicating successful medical treatment for head injuries.
“That person survived many years after that trauma,” Camarós said.
Writing cancer’s ‘biography’
Badr described the analysis of both skulls as a remarkable piece of research that offers new scientific evidence about pathology and the development of medicine among ancient Egyptians.
He works with scientists from Europe and the United States to study atherosclerosis in ancient Egyptian mummies. This research aligns with the scientific direction of the skull investigation. Badr and his colleagues use 21st century technologies like CT scans and DNA sequencing to conduct detailed examinations of mummies. Through this work, they aim to uncover more about medical knowledge in Egyptian antiquity.
Eman Ghoneim studies the surface topography of the section of the ancient Ahramat Branch located in front of the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx.
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According to Badr, there is a pressing need to reexamine the history of Egyptian medicine using advanced scientific methods. By applying these modern techniques, researchers can delve deeper into the study of medicine in ancient Egypt, gaining a more detailed and accurate understanding.
The new discoveries also contribute to filling in a part of cancer's "mysterious history" by uncovering a chapter that dates back thousands of years, according to Camarós.
"By delving into our past, we are realizing that cancer was more common and widespread than we had previously believed," he explained.
Ancient Egyptians had a unique understanding of cancer. They focused on the tumors that could be seen on the body. The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical text from 3000 BC to 2500 BC, is the earliest known record of cancer. Among its 48 case studies on various illnesses, there is a detailed account of breast cancer.
One of the metastatic lesions with cut marks on skull 236 is shown.
One of the metastatic lesions with cut marks on skull 236 is shown.
Healers in ancient Egypt were aware of cancer, but treating it was a challenge. The Edwin Smith papyrus, which documented medical cases, mostly mentioned medicines and healing strategies. However, there were no specific treatments mentioned for breast cancer tumors, according to Camarós.
"It specifically says there’s no treatment,” he said. “They realized this was a frontier when it came to their medical knowledge.”
However, the incisions around the skull tumors suggest that healers in ancient Egypt were trying to change that, surgically removing the tumors to either heal the patient, or to examine the tumors more closely.
Catherine Wu
Catherine Wu
Courtesy Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
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Camarós believes that they have two options when it comes to cancer treatment: either trying to treat it as they have been doing or trying to understand it medically to potentially treat it better in the future. He sees this as a significant milestone in the field of medicine.
Mindy Weisberger is a science writer and media producer whose work has appeared in Live Science, Scientific American and How It Works magazine.
Editor's P/S:
The article reveals fascinating new insights into the ancient Egyptian understanding and treatment of cancer. The discovery of surgical marks on a 4,000-year-old skull suggests that healers may have attempted to remove malignant tumors, providing evidence of advanced medical knowledge beyond previously believed. It highlights the remarkable skills of ancient Egyptian physicians, who incorporated both herbal remedies and surgical techniques into their medical practices. This discovery challenges the notion that cancer is a modern disease, demonstrating its prevalence throughout history.
Furthermore, the analysis of another skull from the same collection reveals evidence of healed fractures, indicating successful medical treatment for head injuries. These findings contribute to a growing body of research that utilizes advanced technologies to re-examine the medical practices of ancient Egypt, shedding new light on their sophistication and the extent of their medical knowledge. By uncovering the medical advancements of the past, we gain a deeper appreciation for the evolution of medical knowledge and the enduring challenges faced by humanity in the realm of healthcare.
