258 • Enrique Gerszten and Marvin J. Allison 



AZ7 1 -MUMMY 



Figure 1. Subcutaneous lipoma in right side of chest. 



Figure 2. Microscopic features of a lipoma. 



Figure 3. Cross section of tumor on right cheek below eye. 



Figure 4. Microscopic features of tumor composed of ma- 

 lignant cells. 



On gross examination there was a 4 x 4 x 2-cm sub- 

 cutaneous mass on the right side of the chest approximately 6 

 cm below the axilla (Figure 1). Histologic sections of the 

 chest wall mass show a conglomeration of fat cells intermin- 

 gling with fibrous septa (Figure 2). As occurs normally in 

 most paleopathological studies, the nuclei of the neoplastic 

 cells were not seen. The findings are consistent with previous 

 descriptions of lipomas (Robbins et al. 1984:270-271). 



The second soft tissue tumor is consistent with a rhab- 

 domyosarcoma. It was found in a male child, approximately 

 l2to 18 months old, of the Cabuzaculture(A.D. 300-600)of 



northern Chile. The lesion was that of a hard swelling on the 

 mummy's right cheek below the eye, forcing that eye closed, 

 and measured 5.5 x 5 x 2 cm (Figure 3). The bones of the 

 right orbit were normal, as were the lungs, heart, and liver. 

 The cause of death could not be determined. 



The histology of this kind of tumor usually shows cells 

 forming islands or broad cords, separated by fibrovascular 

 stroma (Robbins et al. 1 984: 1316). The histopathology of the 

 present ca.se shows pleomorphic, disintegrated cells sur- 

 rounded by a delicate, fibrous stroma (Figure 4). Most of the 

 cells show a shrunken cytoplasm, and in a few instances 



Zagreb Paleoputholo^\ S\mp. 1988 



