Study of trace elements in normal and malignant breast tissues using X-ray photons

Study of trace elements in normal and cancer breast tissues has been evolved as one of the powerful diagnostic tool for the breast cancer. In the present work we have studied the linear attenuation coefficients in normal and malignant breast tissues of different age group using synchrotron radiation, trace elements using Total reflection X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (TXRF) and spatial distribution of trace elements using synchrotron based microXRF (SR-μXRF) technique. Experimentally it is observed higher X-ray attenuation coefficient values for malignant tissues than the normal tissues; this may be attributed to the changes in composition of trace elements. In order to ascertain the role of trace elements such as P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr and Pb which are responsible for causing the malignancy have been detected using TXRF spectrometer. It is observed that the concentration of these elements is higher in malignant breast tissues than in the normal breast tissues. Furthermore the spatial distribution of S, Ca, Cr, Fe, Zn and Br have been measured using synchrotron based μXRF technique and concentration is found to be higher in malignant breast tissues than the normal breast tissues. Therefore using X-ray photons one can determine the trace elements not only quantitatively but also spatial distribution in normal and malignant breast tissues using X-ray photons