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Endoscopy in Mummy Studies

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The Handbook of Mummy Studies

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Abstract

Non- or minimally invasive techniques have been developed to overcome the difficulties in securing permission to perform invasive and destructive biopsies on mummies. To that end, researchers first employed radiology; however, in some mummified remains, pathological signs are not easily detectable on X-ray or CT images. Endoscopy, alternatively, has emerged as the definitive diagnostic tool for minimization of damage to mummies in the course of biopsy or research. Indeed, this technique tends to be more acceptable to descendants as well as curators of invaluable remains. This chapter reviews a brief history of endoscopy, summarizes the fundamental techniques and tools currently employed, and finally considers the advantages and shortcomings of this modality based on our personal experiences in mummy research.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Basic Science Reseach Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea by the Ministry of Education(2020R1A2C1010708).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Ancient DNA, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

    Mark Spigelman

  2. Division of Infection and Immunity, Centre of Clinical Microbiology Royal Free hospital UCL London, London, UK

    Mark Spigelman

  3. Institute of Forensic and Anthropological Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Dong Hoon Shin

Authors
  1. Mark Spigelman
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  2. Dong Hoon Shin
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea (Republic of)

    Dong Hoon Shin

  2. University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

    Raffaella Bianucci

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Spigelman, M., Shin, D.H. (2021). Endoscopy in Mummy Studies. In: Shin, D.H., Bianucci, R. (eds) The Handbook of Mummy Studies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1614-6_6-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1614-6_6-2

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  • Print ISBN: 978-981-15-1614-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-15-1614-6

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Endoscopy in Mummy Studies
    Published:
    08 April 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1614-6_6-2

  2. Original

    Endoscopy in Mummy Studies
    Published:
    04 October 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1614-6_6-1

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