Target-filter combination effects on breast tissue characterization using mammographic X-rays: A Monte Carlo simulation study.

Background: Characterization of normal and malignant breast tissues using X-ray scattering techniques has shown promising results and applications.

Objective: To examine possibility of characterizing normal and malignant breast tissues using the scattered photon distribution of polyenergetic beams of 30 kV X-rays.

Methods: A Monte Carlo simulation is upgraded so that it is capable of simulating input mammographic X-ray spectra from different target-filter combinations, tracing photon transport, and producing the distribution of scattered photons.