The angular distributions of photons scattered by human breast tissues (adipose and glandular) and by eight breast-equivalent materials (water, polymethylmethacrylate, nylon, polyethylene and four commercial breast-equivalent materials simulating different glandular-adipose proportions) have been measured at a photon energy of 17.44 keV (Kalpha-radiation of Mo). Transmission target geometry has been used with an acceptance of +/- 0.6 degrees and an uncertainty of approximately 7%. Experimental molecular form factors were extracted from diffraction patterns normalizing the number of scattered photons with theoretical data in regions where no structure is expected. Linear attenuation coefficients have been measured for all samples at this energy. The results for water, polymethylmethacrylate, nylon and adipose tissue agree with former reported data. The results for human breast tissues at low and medium scattering angle (1-25 degrees, corresponding to the momentum transfer region between 0.2 and 3 nm(-1)) differ from the breast-equivalent materials. The results for adipose tissue are similar to the corresponding values from commercial breast-equivalent materials while the results for glandular tissue are similar to those for water.

The angular distribution of photons scattered by healthy (adipose and glandular) and cancerous human breast tissue and by tissue‐equivalent materials were measured for photon energies of 17.44 keV (Kα radiation of Mo) and 6.93 keV (Kα radiation of Co) using an x‐ray tube equipped with a graphite monochromator and a goniometer system. The measurements of 17.44 keV were performed in transmission geometry with an acceptance of ±0.3° and an uncertainty of ∼7%. The measurements at 6.93 keV were performed in reflection geometry with solid samples in order to detect crystal structures in the samples. All samples show scattering signatures similar to those of amorphous material, but some of them also present sharp peaks corresponding to crystalline structure. Strong differences between breast‐equivalent material and breast tissue occur at low and medium scattering angles. Healthy and cancerous breast tissue show considerable differences. The results demonstrate that x‐ray scattering signatures (coherent and incoherent) are good parameters for characterizing breast tissue. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

MRI can be used for assessing the development of infarcts and volume reduction in the prostate after embolization. Further studies are needed to correlate these findings to clinical outcome.

Both 100-300 and 300-500 μm microspheres are safe and effective embolic agents for PAE to treat LUTS-related to BPH. Although functional and imaging outcomes did not differ significantly following use of the two embolic sizes, the greater incidence of adverse events with 100-300 μm microspheres suggests that 300-500 μm embolic materials may be more appropriate.

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