X-ray linear attenuation coefficients in the mammographic range for ultrasonic breast phantom materials.

X-ray linear attenuation coefficients for simulated fat and glandular parenchyma used in ultrasound breast phantoms were measured at 15.2, 20.3, 30.0, 40.0, and 60.0 keV and values compared with published figures calculated from the experimentally determined elemental composition of excised breast parenchyma. Agreement was excellent. These ultrasonic tissue-mimicking (TM) materials can be used in radiographic or ultrasound phantoms for testing imaging instruments as well as for training personnel.