X-ray characterization of breast phantom materials

Phys Med Biol. 1998 May;43(5):1367-77. doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/43/5/026.

Abstract

A pulse-height spectroscopic technique is used to measure the linear attenuation coefficients of commercially available composite phantom materials designed to simulate the attenuation characteristics of breast fat and breast glandular tissue. The manufacturers have specified the composition of these materials with the goal of matching the linear attenuation coefficients of breast tissues, calculated using the mixture rule. Over the energy range 18 to 100 keV, measurements from these materials are in close agreement with manufacturers' predictions and with previously measured linear attenuation coefficients of breast tissue samples.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue
  • Aluminum
  • Artifacts
  • Breast / anatomy & histology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammography*
  • Phantoms, Imaging*
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Aluminum