Applications of X-ray diffraction analysis in crystalline and amorphous body tissues

Elastic scattering of x-ray photons can provide information in a number of areas of tissue analysis in medicine. This, paper describes measurements ma de of two types of tissue to demonstrate three different areas of applicati on: . Data are presented on the differential linear coherent scattering coeffic ients for healthy and diseased breast tissue with the intention that such r esults could be used in the design and development of mammographic imaging systems. . Scattering results on bone tissue are presented along with techniques tha t can be used to make quantitative estimates of important biological or cli nical parameters. To demonstrate the use of these approaches examples are t aken from the archaeological study of bone and the clinical estimate of ske letal status. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.