SYNCHROTRON-RADIATION - NEW TREND IN X-RAY MAMMOGRAPHY

In order to exploit the peculiar characteristics of synchrotron radiat ion for X-ray mammography purposes, monochromatic X-ray beams of selec ted energies from 16 keV to 22 keV have been used for the first time e ver to obtain mammograms of surgically removed breast specimens contai ning cancer nodules. The apparatus devised particularly in view of a p ossible clinical applications, allowed large breast specimens fixed in space to be exposed to a vertical scanning X-ray beam. The mammograms obtained with synchrotron radiation, compared with those made using a traditional mammographic unit had higher contrast and better resoluti on demonstrating, in all the cases studied, a high capability to displ ay a large number of structures inside the neoplastic lesions. Thermol uminescent dosimeters were used to determine the doses. The average me an glandular doses, at 17 keV and 18 keV, were 1.56 mGy and 0.84 mGy, respectively, comparable with the value of 1.41 mGy delivered with the conventional grid apparatus.