Non-invasive classification of microcalcifications with phase-contrast X-ray mammography

Zhentian Wang, Nik Hauser, Gad Singer, Mafalda Trippel, Rahel A. Kubik-Huch, Christof W. Schneider and Marco Stampanoni ()
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Zhentian Wang: Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut
Nik Hauser: Interdisciplinary Breast Center Baden, Kantonsspital Baden
Gad Singer: Institute of Pathology, Kantonsspital Baden
Mafalda Trippel: Institute of Pathology, Kantonsspital Baden
Rahel A. Kubik-Huch: Kantonsspital Baden
Christof W. Schneider: Paul Scherrer Institut
Marco Stampanoni: Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Microcalcifications can be indicative in the diagnosis of early breast cancer. Here we report a non-invasive diagnostic method that may potentially distinguish between different types of microcalcifications using X-ray phase-contrast imaging. Our approach exploits the complementary nature of the absorption and small-angle scattering signals of microcalcifications, obtained simultaneously with an X-ray grating interferometer on a conventional X-ray tube. We demonstrate that the new approach has 100% sensitivity and specificity when applied to phantom data, and we provide evidence of the solidity of the technique by showing its discrimination power when applied to fixed biopsies, to non-fixed tissue specimens and to fresh, whole-breast samples. The proposed method might be further developed to improve early breast cancer diagnosis and has the potential to increase the diagnostic accuracy and reduce the number of uncomfortable breast biopsies, or, in case of widespread microcalcifications, to select the biopsy site before intervention.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4797

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