Dual-Source Dual-Energy CT-Scan Confirms the Diagnosis of Ancient Hydatid Cysts Recovered from a Late Roman Burial in Amiens, France

Gholamreza  Mowlavi; Shapour  Shirani; Zeynab  Askari; Jean  Dupouy-Camet; Sacha  Kacki; Majid  Fasihi Harandi; Faranak  Kargar; Negar  Bizhani; Saeid Reza  Naddaf

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v17i2.9536

Gholamreza Mowlavi Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shapour Shirani Department of Radiology, Tehran Heart Center, Teheran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zeynab Askari Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Jean Dupouy-Camet Parasitology-Mycology Department, Cochin Public Assistance Hospital Paris Hospitals, Paris Cité University, Paris, France
Sacha Kacki CNRS, PACEA, UMR 5199, University of Bordeaux, Pessac Cedex, France
Majid Fasihi Harandi Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Faranak Kargar Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Negar Bizhani Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Saeid Reza Naddaf Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v17i2.9536

Keywords: Echinococcus granulosus; Hydatid cysts; Dual-source dual-energy CT-scan; Amiens

Abstract

Background: Two calcified objects recovered from an adolescent in a burial site in Amiens, France, have been previously identified as hydatid cysts using thin-section petrography. The importance of ancient hydatidosis besides the value of these unique archeological excavated materials encouraged the authors to look at this attractive subject more interdisciplinary by implementing medical radiology.

Methods: In the current experiment, which has been carried out in the Radiology Department, Tehran Heart Center (THC), Tehran, Iran, the conventional and dual-energy dual-source CT-scan was used in studying the remaining structures of the two calcified masses. The imaging procedure was carried out based on X-Ray attenuation by two different tube voltages.

Results: A high concentration of calcium sediment in the cyst walls was revealed in Hounsfield units, the measuring of the elements in CT. Taking advantage of implementing this imaging technique the oxalate calcium was also shown as the dominant component of the samples. The results were all in favor of diagnosing hydatid cysts.

Conclusion: The achieved pictorial results in the present paper have highlighted the important role of CT scan as a noninvasive confirming technique in paleopathological investigations. Using Dual-source dual-energy CT-scan in reconfirming these previously identified hydatid cysts, is an encouraging message towards the necessity of sequential studies on invaluable biological excavated pieces.