They measured small angle X-ray scattering of human hair at beamline 15A in the Photon Factory, Institute of Materials Structure Sciences, and found that the sample taken from breast cancer patients showed characteristic scattering pattern different from those of healthy women. They propose from these observation that hair analysis using SR may be used as a simple, non-invasive screening method for breast cancer.
Arrows show parts of pattern from healthy samples.
In the changed pattern, a diffuse ring resulting from random orientation superimposes on this region.