Mammography with synchrotron radiation.

Abstract

To determine the feasibility of using synchrotron radiation (SR) in diagnostic mammography. Monochromatic SR of x-ray beams of selected energies of 14-20 keV were used to obtain mammograms of surgically removed breast specimens that contained tumor nodules. For comparison, conventional mammograms of the same specimens were also obtained. The mammograms obtained with SR had higher contrast and better resolution than did traditional mammograms and demonstrated excellent detail in all cases studied. The mean glandular doses at 17 and 18 keV were 1.56 and 0.83 mGy, respectively, which is compatible with the mean value of 1.41 mGy delivered with the conventional grid apparatus. SR mammography appears to be a promising diagnostic imaging technique.