Application of small angle X-ray scattering [SAXS] for differentiation between normal and cancerous breast tissues

ABSTRACT

Small angle X-ray scattering [to angles less than 10[degree sign]] is predominantly coherent. Coherent scattering leads to diffraction effects and especially constructive interferences. These interferences carry some information about the molecular structure of the tissue. As breast cancer is the most widespread cancer in women, this project evaluated the application of small angle X-ray scattering [SAXS] for differentiation between normal and cancerous breast tissues. The energy dispersive method with a set up including X-ray tube, primary collimator, sample holder, secondary collimator and HP Ge detector was used. The best constructive interference was found to be at 6.5[degree sign] after doing experiments on adipose breast tissue at several angles of 4, 5, 6, 6.5 and 7.3 degrees. The total number of 99 breast tissue samples, including normal and tumor were studied at the 6.5[degree sign]. The corrected intensity versus momentum transfer was obtained for each sample. Adipose tissue shows a sharp peak in low momentum transfer region. It is easy to separate adipose tissue and mixed tissue [adipose and fibroglandular] from tumor in peak positions [each coherent scattering spectrum has a peak that its position is determined by momentum transfer]. Furthermore adipose tissue has shown significantly higher peaks than other breast tissues. Benign and malignant breast tissues were differentiated by both peak positions and peak heights [each peak has a height in coherent scattering spectrum]. Preservation of samples nitrogen tank had no effects on molecular structure of the breast tissue. By energy dispersive small angle X-ray scattering, it is possible to differentiate between normal, benign and malignant breast tissues