Patent ID: 7430276

Claim:
A method for examining breast tissue of a patient for abnormalities, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an end window X-ray transmission tube comprising a lanthanum, cerium or thulium target that produces mainly X-ray line-emissions selected for absorption at the K-edge of iodine or gadolinium, said X-ray transmission tube having a focal spot under 100 μm; (b) imaging the breast tissue to produce a film or a digital image with the mainly X-ray line-emissions from the end window X-ray transmission tube after first administering to the patient an X-ray contrast agent for the breast tissue, said contrast agent being an iodinated contrast agent if the target is lanthanum or cerium or a gadolinium based contrast agent if the target is thulium such that the contrast agent absorbs the mainly X-ray line-emissions at the K-edge of iodine or gadolinium whereby the imaging of the breast tissue with the mainly X-ray line-emissions after administration of the contrast agent provides sufficient resolution and image contrast for measuring density of neovascular micro-vessels associated with a suspected tumorous mass; (c) viewing the film or digital image and measuring the density of neovascular micro-vessels if present in the film or digital image; and (d) biopsying the breast tissue if and only if the viewing and measurement of density suggests the presence of a suspected tumorous mass.