Simulations of breast cancer imaging using gamma-ray stimulated emission computed tomography.
Journal Article
Here, we present an innovative imaging technology for breast cancer using gamma-ray stimulated spectroscopy based on the nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) technique. In NRF, a nucleus of a given isotope selectively absorbs gamma rays with energy exactly equal to one of its quantized energy states, emitting an outgoing gamma ray with energy nearly identical to that of the incident gamma ray. Due to its application of NRF, gamma-ray stimulated spectroscopy is sensitive to trace element concentration changes, which are suspected to occur at early stages of breast cancer, and therefore can be potentially used to noninvasively detect and diagnose cancer in its early stages. Using Monte-Carlo simulations, we have designed and demonstrated an imaging system that uses gamma-ray stimulated spectroscopy for visualizing breast cancer. We show that gamma-ray stimulated spectroscopy is able to visualize breast cancer lesions based primarily on the differences in the concentrations of trace elements between diseased and healthy tissue, rather than differences in density that are crucial for X-ray mammography. The technique shows potential for early breast cancer detection; however, improvements are needed in gamma-ray laser technology for the technique to become a clinically feasible method of detecting and diagnosing cancer at early stages.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Lakshmanan, MN; Harrawood, BP; Agasthya, GA; Kapadia, AJ
Published Date
- February 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 33 / 2
Start / End Page
- 546 - 555
PubMed ID
- 24239988
Pubmed Central ID
- 24239988
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1558-254X
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0278-0062
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1109/tmi.2013.2290287
Language
- eng