Medical Biophysics Graduate Student Association

MBPGSA Blog

Updates, opinion pieces, and news related to the department

X-Ray determines Cause of Death For Italian Saint

This news is quite old, exactly from last year but I forgot to post it. I shouldn't never pass on the opportunity of displaying the fun part of science. Apparently an x-ray image taken several centuries after the death of Santa Rosa (wikipedia) proved that she died from a cardiac embolism instead of tuberculosis. The body of Santa Rosa, an 18- or 19-year old girl, was naturally mummified in the 13th century. Apparently, a low intensity X-ray revealed that a right deviation of the ventricular septum and the presence of a mass believed to be a thrombus, between the apex of the left ventricle and the entry of the diverticulum. Ventricular diverticulum is one of the most common heart defects described in patients with Cantrell’s syndrome. Until now it was believed that she had died of tuberculosis. CSI 13th century!

Blog, Research, ScienceSamuel Oduneye