Exploring perceptions of creative activities in occupational therapy.

Abstract

Cysts of the jaws are not lesions that are confined to modern times. Studies on the palaeopathology of ancient Egypt by Ruffer1 described lesions in the jaws of three mummified specimens which appear to be radicular cysts. Two of them are from a predynastic era, Naga el Deir (circa 4500 BC). One of them shows a root remnant in the right second premolar region of the maxilla with a cavity in the bone at its apex. The second specimen shows a cystic lesion in the bone of the lower first permanent molar. The third specimen is from Cleopatra's period, Ras el Tin, and shows an oval opening with smooth borders measuring 12 by 8 mm in the outer wall of the alveolar bone in the premolar region. Another study on ancient Egyptian skulls and mandibles was made by Salama and Hilmy ; They reported on two pathological cavities found in two specimens from a collection of skulls excavated at Sakara; belonging to the period of King Unas of the fifth dynasty circa 2800BC. One in an adult skull, shows a large radicular cyst in relation to the maxillary left canine and premolar. The second specimen shows a large multilocular cyst in the left body of an edentulous mandible. There is expansion of both inner and outer plates of bone, the cystic expansion involving the ascending ramus and including the coronoid process.