Analysis of low-angle x-ray scattering peaks from lyophilized biological samples

Target-filter combination effects on breast tissue characterization using mammographic X-rays: A Monte Carlo simulation study

BACKGROUND

Characterization of normal and malignant breast tissues using X-ray scattering techniques has shown promising results and applications.

OBJECTIVE

To examine possibility of characterizing normal and malignant breast tissues using the scattered photon distribution of polyenergetic beams of 30 kV X-rays.

METHODS

A Monte Carlo simulation is upgraded so that it is capable of simulating input mammographic X-ray spectra from different target-filter combinations, tracing photon transport, and producing the distribution of scattered photons. The target-filter combinations include Mo-Mo, Mo-Al, Mo-Rh, Rh-Rh, Rh-Al, W-Rh, and W-Al. Analysis of obtained scattered photon distribution is carried out by comparing the ratio of count under the peak in the momentum transfer region from 0 to 1.55 nm-1, to that in the region from 1.6 to 9.1 nm-1 (covering the regions of scattering from fat and soft tissue, respectively) for breast samples with different percentages of normal tissue (0-100%).

RESULTS

Mo-Mo target-filter combination shows a high linear dependence of the count under peak ratio on the percentage of normal tissue in breast samples (R2 = 0.9513). Despite slightly less linear than Mo-Mo, target-filter combinations other than Rh-Rh, W-Rh, and W-Al produce high linear responses (R2 > 0.9)CONCLUSION:Mo-Mo target-filter combination would probably be the most relevant in characterizing normal and malignant breast tissues from their scattered photon distribution.

The influence of hydration on the architectural rearrangement of normal and neoplastic human breast tissues

In adult women, the water-content represents between 50% and 70% of the mass in normal breast tissues and this percentage is increased within diseased tissues. Water molecules play an essential role in the structural organization of biological tissues such as breast. Then, in this study, we have investigated the influence of the water molecules on the breast tissue organization and their role on the hierarchical tissue rearrangement promoted by tumor growth.

SAXS and WAXS techniques were used to analyze healthy, benign and malignant human breast samples in native and lyophilized conditions. The scattering profiles in SAXS and WAXS regime of each tissue type in both conditions were compared in order to identify the structural transformation in these tissues and verify the water influence on the morphological arrangement of normal and pathological human breast tissues.

From SAXS, changes at the axial periodicity of collagen fibrils were revealed. Additionally, when the water content has removed a peak at q = 4.17 nm⁻¹ (that was present only in pathological samples) shifted in opposite directions within benign and malignant lesions. From WAXS, water and fatty acids were identified within native samples. However, after freeze-drying, only the fat component was observed in the scattering profiles.

Therefore, when the water molecules were removed from the samples, structural changes associated with pathological progression were visible. From this, insights about their influence over the changes promoted by the tumor growth have been proposed. Finally, the findings of this study have the potential to provide valuable information to the development of new target therapy.

A semianalytic model to extract differential linear scattering coefficients of breast tissue from energy dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements

The goal of this work is to develop a technique to measure the x-ray diffraction signals of breast biopsy specimens. A biomedical x-ray diffraction technology capable of measuring such signals may prove to be of diagnostic use to the medical field. Energy dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements coupled with a semianalytical model were used to extract the differential linear scattering coefficients [mus(x)] of breast tissues on absolute scales. The coefficients describe the probabilities of scatter events occuring per unit length of tissue per unit solid angle of detection. They are a function of the momentum transfer argument, x=sin(theta/2)/X, where theta=scatter angle and lambda=incident wavelength. The technique was validated by using a 3 mm diameter 50 kV polychromatic x-ray beam incident on a 5 mm diameter 5 mm thick sample of water. Water was used because good x-ray diffraction data are available in the literature. The scatter profiles from 6 degrees to 15 degrees in increments of 1 degrees were measured with a 3 mm x 3 mm x 2 mm thick cadmium zinc telluride detector. A 2 mm diameter Pb aperture was placed on top of the detector. The target to detector distance was 29 cm and the duration of each measurement was 10 min. Ensemble averages of the results compare well with the gold standard data of A. H. Narten ["X-ray diffraction data on liquid water in the temperature range 4 degrees C-200 degrees C," ORNL Report No. 4578 (1970)]. An average 7.68% difference for which most of the discrepancies can be attributed to the background noise at low angles was obtained. The preliminary measurements of breast tissue are also encouraging.

Measurement of coherent x-ray scatter form factors for amorphous materials using diffractometers

The feasibility of measuring the coherent x-ray scatter form factors of amorphous materials using powder diffractometers has been assessed. A five-step procedure was developed: (i) Low-angle background, consisting of a portion of the incident x-ray beam that passes directly to the detector, is measured using a specially designed replacement for the sample holder which absorbs most of the photons that otherwise would scatter off the sample holder cavity. (ii) Angle-dependent effects including monochromator efficiency and projected beam area are characterized by extracting the incoherent signal from the diffraction pattern of powdered graphite. The incoherent signal divided by the calculated incoherent cross section gives a correction factor as a function of scattering angle theta. (iii) Diffraction patterns are measured for the samples for theta = 2 degrees -150 degrees. (iv) The scattering data are corrected for background and then for angle-dependent effects. (v) The data are normalized to calculated free atom form factors at high theta, and the coherent form factor extracted. The method was implemented on two diffractometers at different energies (Co Kalpha and Cu Kalpha), and the results compared for water and plastics. Over the range 0.117 < x < 5.39 nm(-1), where x = lambda(-1) sin(theta/2), the average form factor ratio for water was 0.93. Systematic errors are difficult to eliminate. While this x-ray powder diffractometer technique suffices for a survey measurement of the form factor of a material, its accuracy is probably insufficient for detailed studies.

Characterization of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma using low-angle x-ray scattering signatures of serum

The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually occurs at late stages in the disease when there are few effective treatment options. The measurement of the concentration of tumour markers in the serum of patients is a complementary tool frequently used for the interpretation of diagnostic imaging results. It is also used as a prognostic tool for the detection of cancer. Unfortunately, the sensitivity of tumour markers is still low and many times it yields normal results for cirrhotic and HCC patients. In the current work, the detection possibility of the structural changes in serum proteins accompanying cirrhosis and HCC is investigated using a low-angle x-ray scattering (LAXS) technique. The results show that there are significant differences in the LAXS profiles of cirrhosis and HCC lyophilized serum samples compared to normal. The changes in shape, total counts and position of the first scattering peak at 4.8 degrees, which was previously reported to be sensitive to the structural changes in protein, showed the most characteristic deviations from normal serum. The present results are promising and would offer a potentially helpful complementary tool for monitoring cirrhosis and HCC.

Optimum momentum transfer arguments for x-ray forward scatter imaging

In our research program we have shown through modeling, related numerical calculations, and experimental measurements that there exists a potential use of scattered radiation for medical x-ray imaging. Each incident photon of wavelength lambda which scatters at a small angle theta with respect to its initial direction of travel has a change in momentum characterized by the photon momentum transfer argument x = lambda(-1) sin(theta/2). In this work, we show that in order to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) obtained with scattered x rays, one must detect photons with specific x values. Using a photon counting detector to distinguish 2-cm-thick polymethyl methacrylate and nylon targets situated within a 15-cm-diam spherical water phantom with an 80 kV beam yields experimentally SNR/square root(K(air)c) = 12.8 +/- 0.2 (mJ/kg)(-1/2) when using the photons between x = 0.5 and 0.7 nm(-1). Here K(air)c is the air collision kerma and the average momentum transfer argument, x, is calculated by weighting x by the incident photon fluence distribution. The model predicts a value of SNR/square root(K(air)c) = 12.9 (mJ/kg)(-1/2). If we choose to form the signal with the range in x extended to be from 0.5 to 1.0 nm(-1) then, despite the detection of more scattered photons, experimentally SNR/square root(K(air)c) decreases by 38% to 7.9 +/- 0.3 (mJ/kg)(-1/2). The model predicts a value of 9.46 (mJ/kg)(-1/2). Results for energy integrating detectors are in general similar to those for photon counters, but there exist cases where a significant decrease in SNR can occur. For example, for measurements in air with the two plastics at theta = 3 degrees the SNR for an energy integrator was found to be 52% that of a photon counter. Numerical calculations predict that the effects of spectral blur can be significant when a narrow angular range is used for detection. Preliminary numerical predictions for breast tissues suggest a potential use of x-ray scatter in the field of mammography.