WE‐G‐103‐06: X‐Ray Scattering and Spectroscopy Applied to Mammography: An Initial Study

Abstract

Purpose: One of available resources for possible improvement of a number of already existing and well developed mammography techniques, without additional dose burden, could be the use of scattering radiation. Methods: The authors undertook a preliminary study of the feasibility for applying the forward scattered radiation for determining the percentage of glandular equivalent material or the atomic number (Z) in cases such as Mammography assessment of breast cancer. All measurements made in the study involved a Model 017 mammography phantom. The full spectra of 80 KV x‐ray tube were detected by two solid state CdTe detectors: one in the direction of transmitted beam and the second located at several angles of interest determined by a system of metal collimators. Results: It was determined that the average difference between pure fat equivalent material (0% of glandular equivalent material) and 100% glandular percentage varies by a factor of approximately 8 over the different energy intervals. The intensity of the forward scattered radiation showed a mild decreasing tendency and in certain cases it was independent of the percentage of glandular equivalent material, especially at energies above 40 keV. The calculated ratio of intensities of forward scattered and transmitted radiation is an increasing function of glandular percentage and can be used as an additional index in mammographic diagnosis of breast cancer. Conclusion: The major advantage of the approach described in this study is that the the FS‐T scattering ratio can be applied to selected volumes of interest that are defined by the intersection of the collimated forward scattered and transmitted detectors. © 2013, American Association of Physicists in Medicine. All rights reserved.