ABSTRACT
Background: An early diagnosis of breast cancer relates directly to an accurate treatment plan and strategy. Early detection of breast cancer before its development would be a significant reduction of morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this preliminary study is to investigate the sensitivity of Wide Angle X-ray diffraction [WAXRD] method on women hair samples of healthy and breast cancer patients in comparison with other modalities such as synchrotron based XRD beam and mammography. Materials and Methods: Hair samples were taken from occipital region of skull from healthy and breast cancer patients [43 women] were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and the results were analyzed and compared with mammography and pathology reports. Results: The results of analyzed samples showed the sensitivity for purposed WAXRD method was 86% in comparison with synchrotron based XRD beam [64%] and also with mammography [70%]. Conclusion: This non-invasive method is less harmful and is more sensitive than the two other methods and help the physicians for choosing accurate treatment plan
ABSTRACT
In diagnostic radiology there are two reasons for measuring or estimating radiation doses to patients. Firstly measurements provide a means for setting and checking standards of good practice as an aid to the optimization of patient protection. Secondly estimates of the absorbed dose to tissue and organs in the patients. A total of 2382 patients were studied to calculate the Entrance Surface Air Kerma [ESAK] following seven radiographic examinations including: chest [PA, Lat], lumbar spines [AP, Lat], pelvis [AP], abdomen [AP], skull [PA, Lat], thoracic spine [AP, Lat] and cervical spines [AP, Lat]. The ESAKs values were measured according to x- ray tube output, optimized exposure parameters and body thickness [tp] for each technique. The parameters such as, 1st quartile, mean, median, 3rd quartile, minimum, maximum and standard deviation of each ESAK values are reported and compared to NRPB guide levels. The results showed that the ESAKs values in the lumbar spines and chest X-ray examinations were 30% above the guide levels. However, for the pelvis [AP], skull [PA] and abdomen [AP] examinations, these values were below than those reported by the NRPB. Periodic quality control and monitoring the technical performance of radiographers might effectively improve the image quality and eventually reducing the dose received by patients