PMID: 15362343Sep 15, 2004Paper

Did Ramesses II really have ankylosing spondylitis? A reappraisal

Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal = Journal L'Association Canadienne Des Radiologistes
Rethy ChhemClement Fauré

Abstract

To challenge the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis in the mummy of Ramesses II that was suggested about 30 years ago and to propose a differential diagnosis for the changes that were detected in the mummy's spine and pelvis. We read and interpreted both the published and unpublished radiographs of the mummy. Changes in the mummy's spine and pelvis included ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament at the cervical spine level, ossified enthesopathy of both the right and left rectus femoris tendons as well as the right ischial tuberosity, a large osteophyte at both acetabula margins, no ankylosis of the cervical apophyseal joints and no ankylosis of the right sacroiliac joint. The radiologic evidence does not support the claim that Ramesses II had ankylosing spondylitis. Our radiologic reappraisal suggests instead the diagnosis of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. This new diagnosis needs to be validated by a computed tomographic scan of the mummy.

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