A Clinical Picture published Online First and in an upcoming Lancet details a radiographic examination of the heart of Santa Rosa—a well preserved mummy dating back to 13th century BC, and concludes her cause of death could well have been a embolism that began in the heart. The Clinical Picture is by Professor Ruggero D'Anastasio, Department of Human Movement Sciences, State University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy, and colleagues.
Previous examinations have confirmed that the mummy was a girl of age 18—19 years, and that her whole torso had not developed properly, indicating Cantrell's syndrome—a rare condition which causes defects involving the diaphragm, abdominal wall, pericardium, heart, and lower sternum.
Tuberculosis infection is one theory on the cause of death of Santa Rosa. However, detailed sample analysis showed no signs of this infectious disease in her lifetime. But when the authors carried out a low intensity radiograph on her heart, it revealed a ventricular diverticulum—a heart defect commonly associated with Cantrell's syndrome. The radiograph also revealed a mass, probably a thrombus (blockage), which was most probably fatal.
The authors conclude: "Ventricular diverticulum is one of the most common heart defects described in patients with Cantrell's syndrome and is frequently associated with development of thrombus and subsequent embolisation...The present data suggest that a cardiac embolism could have been the cause of her death."
Professor Ruggero D'Anastasio, Department of Human Movement Sciences, State University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy. T) +39 (0)871 410927 / +39 333 3735819 E) r.danastasio@unich.it
For full Clinical Picture, see: http://press.thelancet.com/santarosa.pdf
Journal
The Lancet