Tissue Characterization Using Low Angle X-Ray Scattering

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Speller, R. D. | Royle, G. J.

Affiliations: Medical Physics Department, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, 11-20 Capper Street, London WC1E 6JA, United Kingdom

Abstract: Diffraction studies of polyenergetic x-ray beams at low angles can be used to investigate tissues. Recent evidence on molecular form factors indicates that unique “fingerprints” exist for materials in the form of scattering information at angles between 0° and 10°. We have measured low angle scattering information in the form of energy spectra using a tungsten target x-ray source. It is shown that for certain scattering angles these spectra are highly structured, where this structure can be related to tissue type. We propose that these measurements will be diagnostic for various conditions such as osteoporosis or gall stone disease.

DOI: 10.3233/XST-1992-3201

Journal: Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 77-84, 1992