Applications of phase contrast imaging to breast tissues in vitro

In this dissertation we have produced in vitro breast images by a phase contrast imaging technique using the diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) method. The DEI setup was implemented both at the X-ray applied Crystallography Laboratory (LCARX) using a conventional generator and at the XRD2 beamline of the Brazilian National Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS) in Campinas. Two types of breast cancer were investigated from breast tissues provided by the University Center for Women Health (CAISM-UNICAMP) through collaboration with a professional mastologist: invasive lobular carcinoma and invasive ductal carcinoma. Other images were performed on well characterized test objects and biological samples. The images obtained were compared with images obtained by the conventional absorption contrast method. The diffraction enhanced images of test objects, insect and breast tissues with cancer showed higher resolution as compared with the conventional images mainly from the boundaries of the sample. The tissue with invasive lobular carcinoma had details increased when compared with a conventional image, but it was not possible to clearly visualize the interfaces of the tumour in this case. The diffraction enhanced images had higher quality because this system uses an analyzer crystal placed after the sample. This crystal serves as a narrow angular slit which resulted in images with gain in contrast as compared to the conventional images methods. The DEI algorithm to obtain two new images so called "Apparent Absorption" and "Refraction" images were used to the breast tissue and test objects images taken at symmetrical half intensity sides of the rocking curve. Furthermore, this algorithm was also used to images taken at symmetrical positions of the analyzer further away from the top resulting in images with higher resolution and signal to noise ratio (AU)