Visibility of tumor-like details in inline phase contrast mammography using quasi monochromatic X-ray sources

A new generation of quasi monochromatic high-flux X-ray sources, based on the X-ray radiation produced through Compton scattering between an electron beam and a laser beam, is under development. One of the possible applications of this source is inline phase contrast mammography, based on the observation of the edge-enhancement effect that can be observed at the border of structures inside the breast in images produced using a partially or totally coherent X-ray beam. In this work we present the results of a set of simulations of inline phase contrast mammography using typical inverse Compton scattering sources parameters. The simulated sample was a tumour-like mass having spherical shape, diameter between 200 mu m and 5 mm, placed inside a breast-like matrix, 4cm thick, and a standard composition of 50% glandular tissue and 50% adipose tissue. We discuss the minimum requirements for mammography using inverse Compton scattering sources and we discuss how the working parameters of the experimental setup (focal spot size, source-object distance, object-detector distance, detector point spread function, mean energy, energy bandwidth) affect the image quality, and specifically the edge-enhancement visibility. In particular, we show that the energy bandwidth does not significantly affect the visibility up to several keV. On the other hand, the edge-enhancement visibility depends substantially on other parameters such as source-object distance and detector point spread function. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. RI Oliva, Piernicola/E-5839-201