An X-ray fluorescence system for measuring trace element concentrations inbreast tissue

Within the context of developing techniques to aid the diagnosis of breast cancer, the elemental composition of healthy and pathological breast tissue was investigated. In this study the identification of the trace elements p resent in breast tissue was accomplished using the detection of X-ray fluor escence (XRF) emitted from the elements when irradiated with photons of app ropriate energy. The measuring system was evaluated by assessing the presen ce of calcium, iron, copper and zinc in healthy and pathological breast tis sue. The qualitative comparison between the element levels measured in the two types of specimens suggests significant elevation of zinc in the pathol ogical tissue. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.