An X-ray fluorescence system for measuring trace element concentrations in breast 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 present in breast tissue was accomplished using the detection of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) emitted from the elements when irradiated with photons of appropriate energy. The measuring system was evaluated by assessing the presence of calcium, iron, copper and zinc in healthy and pathological breast tissue. The qualitative comparison between the element levels measured in the two types of specimens suggests significant elevation of zinc in the pathological tissue.