Elemental Characterization and Radiation Parameters of Malignant and Healthy Breast Tissues

Introduction: Elemental imbalances in breast cancer patients have been linked with carcinogenic processes which are responsible for the development and growth of breast malignancy. In medical applications of radiation, this elemental characterization is important in determining the radiation parameters which are fundamental in understanding the interaction of radiation with concerned tissue. This study aims to carry out an elemental characterization of malignant and healthy breast tissue and to determine their respective radiation parameters. Methods: Particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) procedure was used for the elemental characterization of the samples. The resulting elemental concentrations were used in calculating the photon radiation parameters with the aid of the “EpiXS” software. Results: Among the elements determined, Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, K, Mn, Zn, and Pb in the malignant group were found to be significantly higher than that of the healthy group at a 0.05 significance level. Although not significant, the effective atomic number (Zeff) and the electron density (ρe) of the malignant group were slightly higher than that of the healthy group and this causes the difference in the mass attenuation coefficients for photoelectric effect and pair production interactions of the two subjects. The healthy tissue which has the lower value of Zeff and ρe dominated the maximum values of EABF while the minimum values were dominated by the malignant breast tissue which has the higher Zeff and ρe. The variation in the photon radiation parameters between the two groups suggests that the two groups will behave differently when photons interact with them. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study will be helpful in radiation biological physics and thus be proven worthwhile in radiodiagnostic, radiation dosimetry, and radiation therapy of breast cancer.