Elemental distribution mapping on breast tissue samples

The main of this work is to determine the elemental and absorption distribution map in breast tissue samples by X-ray fluorescence and X-ray transmission microtomography. The experiments were performed at the X-ray fluorescence beamline (D09B-XRF) in the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Source (LNLS), Campinas, Brazil. A quasi-monochromatic beam produced by a multilayer monochromator was used as an incident beam. The sample was placed on a high precision goniometer and translation stages that allow rotating as well as translating it perpendicularly to the beam. The fluorescence photons were collected with an energy dispersive HPGe detector placed at 90 degrees to the incident beam, while transmitted photons were detected with a fast Na(Tl) scintillation counter () placed behind the sample on the beam direction. All the tomographic images were reconstructed using a filtered-back projection algorithm. In the breast tissue samples, it was possible to determine the distribution of Zn, Cu and Fe in healthy tissue and tumor.