To diagnose a probable case of rheumatoid arthritis in a mummified female body from the 16th century and to backdate the first clinical diagnosis, entering the diatribe regarding the ancientness of the disease.
Department of Oncology, Division of Pathology, Section of Paleopathology, University of Pisa, via Roma no. 57, 56126 Pisa, Italy. r.ciranni@do.med.unipi.it