System and method for cancer detection

• US 20040092807A1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Soreg Nuclear Research Center Israel Atomic Energy Commission, Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. (Weizmann Institute of Science)
• Original Assignee: Soreg Nuclear Research Center Israel Atomic Energy Commission
• Inventors: Vartsky, David, Shilstein, Sana, Chechik, Rachel, Breskin, Amos
• Application Number:
  US10/397,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20040092807A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4092 for producing synchrotron radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4488 Means for cooling A61B6/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/485 involving fluorescence X-ray imaging

Abstract

Apparatus for non-invasive in vivo detection of a chemical element in the prostate of a subject, comprising: (a) a probe adapted for being inserted into at least one of the rectum or the urethra of the subject; (b) an irradiation system capable of exciting the chemical element to emit radiation to form emitted radiation; (c) a radiation detector located within the probe, wherein the radiation detector is capable of detecting the emitted radiation and wherein the radiation detector is suitable for mapping the emitted radiation; and (d) a signal recording, processing and displaying system for mapping the level of tie chemical element in the prostate of the subject at a plurality of different points in the prostate according to the mapping of the emitted radiation. In one embodiment, the irradiation system is capable of delivering exciting radiation through the probe to the prostate; in another embodiment the emitted radiation comprises fluorescent X-ray radiation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for non-invasive in vivo detection of a chemical element in the prostate of a subject, comprising:

(a) a probe adapted for being inserted into at least one of the rectum or the urethra of the subject;

(b) an irradiation system capable of exciting the chemical element to emit radiation to form emitted radiation;

(c) a radiation detector located within said probe, wherein said radiation detector is capable of detecting said emitted radiation and wherein said radiation detector is suitable for mapping said emitted radiation; and

(d) a signal recording, processing and displaying system for mapping the level of the chemical element in the prostate of the subject at a plurality of different points in the prostate according to said mapping of said emitted radiation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said emitted radiation comprises fluorescent X-ray radiation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said irradiation system is capable of delivering exciting radiation through said probe to the prostate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation detector comprises at least one of a high energy-resolution solid state detector and a high energy-resolution gaseous detector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation detector comprises at least one of a stationary detector, a scanning detector, a position-sensitive detector or an array of detectors or a combination thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation detector is selected from the group consisting of a radiation detector having a single element, a radiation detector having a pixelized array and a radiation detector having an array assembled of a plurality of individual elements.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of Silicon radiation detector, Germanium radiation detector, Silicon-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Germanium-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Mercury Iodide radiation detector and Cadmium-Zinc Telluride radiation detector.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said high energy-resolution gaseous detector is selected from the group consisting of a gas proportional detector and gas scintillation detector.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of a PIN diode, a surface barrier diode, a drift diode, a micro-strip detector, a drift chamber, a multi-pixel detector and a multi-strip detector.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said irradiation system comprises a scanning irradiation system.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation detector is capable of detecting radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles so as to allow said signal recording, processing and displaying system to map said level of the chemical element at said plurality of different points.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an arrangement of radiation detectors for detecting radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles so as to allow said signal recording, processing and displaying system to map said level of the chemical element at said plurality of different points.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chemical element comprises zinc, wherein said radiation detector and said irradiation system are suitable for measuring the level of zinc, and wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps the level of zinc to detect a possible cancer in at least a portion of the prostate.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation detector is suitable for measuring the level of at least one radioactive substance introduced into the prostate.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps a boundary of a possible cancer in the prostate.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps said boundary according to a distribution of the chemical element in at least a region of the prostate being examined.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said boundary is at least partially determined according to a distribution of different concentrations of the chemical element within at least said region.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said distribution of said different concentrations of the chemical element is also used for staging the cancer.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one additional mapping device for combining with information from said signal recording, processing and displaying system for determining said boundary.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said at least one additional mapping device is selected from the group consisting of a transrectal ultrasound probe and a magnetic-resonance-imaging probe.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chemical element comprises a chemical element introduced into the prostate for a specific medical procedure, and wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps the level of the chemical element to perform the specific medical procedure on at least a portion of the prostate.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said specific medical procedure comprises a photodynamic therapy.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the chemical element is Pd.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said radiation detector detects X-ray fluorescence.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the chemical element is introduced in either a quantitative or a qualitative amount.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chemical element to be detected comprises one or more of Zn, Fe, Ca, Br, or Pd.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chemical element to be detected comprises Zn.

28. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the chemical element to be detected emits characteristic fluorescent X-rays according to an identity of the chemical element, and wherein an intensity of said characteristic fluorescent X-rays correlates to a concentration of the chemical element, such that said radiation detector is adapted to detect at least one chemical element according to said characteristic fluorescent X-rays and to measure said intensity.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said irradiation system comprises at least one of a radioactive source, an X-ray tube, a synchrotron light source, an X-ray beam guide connected to an external X-ray source or a miniature plasma X-ray generator.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said irradiation system is coupled to a monochromatizing element so as to provide a radiation with a substantially accurate energy.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said monochromatizing element is selected from the group consisting of a crystal monochromator and a plurality of different absorbing films each characterized by a different absorption coefficient.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a biopsy device.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a device for injection of a drug or a contrast agent.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a device for illumination of the prostate with light.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a normalizer for normalizing measurement of said emitted radiation according to a normalizing measurement of a reference element.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said normalizer is operable to normalize said emitted radiation according to an amount of Compton scattered radiation of radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation detector is characterized by geometry selected from the group consisting of planar geometry, spherical geometry cylindrical geometry and an irregular geometry.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an X-ray optical system, located within said probe, wherein said X-ray optical system is selected so as to collimate and/or focus radiation emitted by said irradiation system and/or radiation emitted by the chemical element.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a focusing element for focusing said radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said focusing element is selected from the group consisting of a capillary optical device and an aperture.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a collimator for collimating said radiation emitted by the chemical element into said radiation detector.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a collimating element for collimating said radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a capillary X-ray optics for focusing and collimating said radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said collimator is characterized by geometry selected from the group consisting of planar geometry, spherical geometry cylindrical geometry and an irregular geometry.

45. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising electronic circuitry, adapted for being located within said probe, wherein said electronic circuitry is designed and constructed for transmitting signals from said radiation detector to said signal recording, processing and displaying system.

46. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a thermoelectric cooling system, adapted for being located within said probe, wherein said thermoelectric cooling system is designed and constructed for cooling said radiation detector to have improved energy resolution.

47. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation detector is capable of discriminating between radiation emitted by the chemical element being present in the prostate and radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues surrounding said prostate, thereby to map the prostate.

48. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a collimator for collimating said emitted radiation in a manner that radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues other than tissues of the prostate is absorbed by said collimator.

49. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said collimator is made of a substrate having a plurality predetermined radiation paths, wherein said plurality of predetermined radiation paths is selected from the group consisting of radiation paths directing radiation emitted from the chemical element in a single location to a plurality of locations on said radiation detector, radiation paths directing the radiation emitted from the chemical element in a plurality of locations to a plurality of locations on said radiation detector, and radiation paths directing the radiation emitted from the chemical element in a plurality of locations to a plurality of detector-elements.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein each of said plurality of predetermined radiation paths is selected from the group consisting of a thin aperture, a thin capillary and an X-ray optical element.

51. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation detector is capable of simultaneously detecting said emitted radiation from a plurality of depth inside the prostate.

52. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an arrangement of radiation detectors and a collimator, wherein said collimator is capable of collimating radiation emitted from different depths inside the prostate into different locations of said radiation detector or different radiation detectors.

53. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transrectal ultrasound probe.

54. A method of non-invasive in vivo detection of a chemical element in the prostate of a subject, comprising:

endoscopically inserting a probe into the subject;

irradiating the prostate with said probe by exciting radiation thereby exciting the chemical element to emit radiation to form emitted radiation;

detecting and mapping said emitted radiation with said probe; and

mapping the level of the chemical element in the prostate of the subject at a plurality of different points in the prostate according to said mapping of said emitted radiation.

55. She method of claim 54, wherein said emitted radiation comprises fluorescent X-ray radiation.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein said endoscopically inserting said probe is into the rectum or the urethra of the subject.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein said detecting said emitted radiation is by a radiation detector which comprises at least one of a stationary detector, a scanning detector, a position-sensitive detector or an array of detectors or a combination thereof.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said radiation detector is selected from the group consisting of a radiation detector having a single element, a radiation detector having a pixelized array and a radiation detector having an array assembled of a plurality of individual elements.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein said radiation detector comprises at least one of a high energy-resolution solid state detector and a high energy-resolution gaseous detector.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of Silicon radiation detector, Germanium radiation detector, Silicon-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Germanium-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Mercury Iodide radiation detector and Cadmium-Zinc Telluride radiation detector.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein said high energy-resolution gaseous detector is selected from the group consisting of a gas proportional detector and gas scintillation detector.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of a PIN diode, a surface barrier diode, a drift diode, a micro-strip detector, a drift chamber, a multi-pixel detector and a multi-strip detector.

63. The method of claim 54, wherein said irradiating comprises scanning the prostate so as to excite the chemical element to emit said radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles.

64. The method of claim 54, wherein said detecting said emitted radiation is by scanning the prostate so as to detect said emitted radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles.

65. The method of claim 54, wherein said detecting said emitted radiation is by an arrangement of radiation detectors arranged so as to detect said emitted radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles.

66. The method of claim 54, wherein the chemical element comprises zinc, and wherein the level of zinc is used for detecting a possible cancer in at least a portion of the prostate.

67. The method of claim 54, further comprising introducing at least one radioactive substance into the prostate and measuring the level of said at least one radioactive substance in the prostate.

68. The method of claim 66, further comprising mapping a boundary of said possible cancer in the prostate.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said mapping said boundary is according to a distribution of the chemical element in at least a region of the prostate being examined.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein said boundary is at least partially determined according to a distribution of different concentrations of the chemical element within at least said region.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising using said distribution of said different concentrations of the chemical element for staging the cancer.

72. The method of claim 68, further comprising mapping the prostate using at least one mapping method other than an X-ray fluorescence method and information obtained from said at least one mapping method with information from said emitted radiation for determining said boundary.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein said at least one additional mapping method is selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic imaging and a magnetic-resonance-imaging.

74. The method of claim 54, wherein the chemical element comprises a chemical element introduced into the prostate for a specific medical procedure, and wherein said mapping the level of the chemical element is used for performing the specific medical procedure on at least a portion of the prostate.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein said specific medical procedure comprises a photodynamic therapy.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the chemical element is Pd.

77. The method of claim 74, wherein the chemical element is introduced in either a quantitative or a qualitative amount.

78. The method of claim 54, wherein the chemical element to be detected comprises one or more of Zn, Fe, Ca, Br, or Pd.

79. The method of claim 54, wherein the chemical element to be detected comprises Zn.

80. The method of claim 55, wherein the chemical element to be detected emits characteristic fluorescent X-rays according to an identity of the chemical element, and wherein an intensity of said characteristic fluorescent X-rays correlates to a concentration of the chemical element, such that said radiation detector is adapted to detect at least one chemical element according to said characteristic fluorescent X-rays and to measure said intensity.

81. The method of claim 54, wherein said irradiating the prostate is by an irradiation system comprising at least one of a radioactive source, an X-ray tube, a synchrotron light source, an X-ray beam guide connected to an external X-ray source or a miniature plasma X-ray generator.

82. The method of claim 54, wherein said irradiation system is coupled to a monochromatizing element so as to provide a radiation with a substantially accurate energy.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein said monochromatizing element is selected from the group consisting of a crystal monochromator and a plurality of different absorbing films each characterized by a different absorption coefficient.

84. The method of claim 54, further comprising using said probe for performing a biopsy procedure.

85. The method of claim 54, further comprising using said probe for injection of a drug or a contrast agent into the prostate.

86. The method of claim 54, further comprising using said probe for illuminating the prostate with light.

87. The method of claim 54, further comprising a normalizing measurement of said emitted radiation according to a normalizing measurement of a reference element.

88. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein said normalizing is according to an amount of Compton scattered radiation of radiation emitted by said irradiation system

89. The method of claim 54, further comprising collimating and focusing said exciting radiation and said emitted radiation.

90. The method of claim 54, further comprising imaging the prostate using a transrectal ultrasound probe.

91. The method of claim 57, further comprising cooling said radiation detector to have improved energy resolution.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein said cooling said radiation detector is by a thermoelectric cooling system, adapted for being located within said probe.

93. The method of claim 54, further comprising discriminating between radiation emitted by the chemical element being present in the prostate and radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues surrounding said prostate, thereby to map the prostate.

94. The method of claim 54, further collimating said emitted radiation in a manner that radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues other than tissues of the prostate is absorbed.

95. The method of claim 54, further comprising simultaneously detecting said emitted radiation from a plurality of depth inside the prostate.

96. The method of claim 54, further comprising collimating radiation emitted from different depths inside the prostate into different locations of a radiation detector or different radiation detectors.

97. A system for diagnosing prostate cancer in the prostate of a subject, the system comprising:

(a) a first apparatus for determining a first parameter being a level of a chemical element in the prostate;

(b) a second apparatus for determining a second parameter being indicative of prostate specific antigen (PSA) activity in the blood serum of the subject; and

(c) a data processor programmed to diagnose the prostate cancer if said first parameter has a predetermined relation with respect to a first predetermined threshold and said second parameter has a predetermined relation with respect to a second predetermined threshold.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein said predetermined relation of each of said first and said second parameters is independently selected from the group consisting of above and below a respective predetermined threshold.

99. The system of claim 97, wherein said first apparatus is operable to detect said first level of said chemical element in vivo or in vitro.

100. The system of claim 97, wherein said second parameter is selected from the group consisting of serum PSA level, PSA density, PSA velocity, a level of age specific PSA, and percentage of free PSA.

101. The system of claim 97, wherein said first apparatus is an X-ray fluorescence-based apparatus.

102. The system of claim 97, wherein said second apparatus selected from the group consisting of an activation analysis-base apparatus, an atomic absorption-based apparatus, and a particle-induced X-ray emission-based apparatus.

103. The system of claim 97, wherein said chemical element comprises Zn.

104. The system of claim 97, farther comprising a biopsy device.

105. The system of claim 97, wherein said first apparatus comprises:

(i) a probe adapted for being inserted into at least one of the rectum or the urethra of the subject;

(ii) an irradiation system capable of exciting said chemical element to emit radiation to form emitted radiation; and

(iii) a radiation detector located within said probe, wherein said radiation detector is capable of detecting said emitted radiation and wherein said radiation detector is suitable for mapping said emitted radiation.

106. The system of claim 105, wherein said emitted radiation comprises fluorescent X-ray radiation.

107. The system of claim 105, wherein said irradiation system is capable of delivering exciting radiation through said probe to the prostate.

108. The system of claim 105, further comprising a signal recording, processing and displaying system electrically communicating with said data processor, and operable to map said level of said chemical element at a plurality of different points in the prostate according to said mapping of said emitted radiation.

109. The system of claim 105, wherein said radiation detector comprises at least one of a high energy-resolution solid state detector and a high energy-resolution gaseous detector.

110. The system of claim 105, wherein said radiation detector is selected from the group consisting of a radiation detector having a single element, a radiation detector having a pixelized array and a radiation detector having an array assembled of a plurality of individual elements.

111. The system of claim 105, wherein said radiation detector comprises at least one of a stationary detector, a scanning detector, a position-sensitive detector or an array of detectors or a combination thereof.

112. The system of claim 109, wherein said high energy-resolution gaseous detector is selected from the group consisting of a gas proportional detector and gas scintillation detector.

113. The system of claim 109, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of Silicon radiation detector, Germanium radiation detector, Silicon-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Germanium-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Mercury Iodide radiation detector and Cadmium-Zinc Telluride radiation detector.

114. The system of claim 113, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of a PIN diode, a surface barrier diode, a drift diode, a micro-strip detector, a drift chamber, a multi-pixel detector and a multi-strip detector.

115. The system of claim 105, wherein said irradiation system comprises a scanning irradiation system.

116. The system of claim 108, wherein said radiation detector is capable of detecting radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles so as to allow said signal recording, processing and displaying system to map said level of said chemical element at said plurality of different points.

117. The system of claim 108, further comprising an arrangement of radiation detectors for detecting radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles so as to allow said signal recording, processing and displaying system to map said level of said chemical element at said plurality of different points.

118. The system of claim 105, wherein said radiation detector is suitable for measuring the level of at least one radioactive substance introduced into the prostate.

119. The system of claim 105, wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps a boundary of the prostate cancer in the prostate.

120. The system of claim 119, wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps said boundary according to a distribution of said chemical element in at least a region of the prostate being examined.

121. The system of claim 119, wherein said boundary is at least partially determined according to a distribution of different concentrations of said chemical element within at least said region.

122. The system of claim 121, wherein said distribution of said different concentrations of said chemical element is also used for staging the cancer.

123. The system of claim 108, further comprising at least one additional mapping device for combining with information from said signal recording, processing and displaying system for determining said boundary.

124. The system of claim 118, wherein said at least one additional mapping device is selected from the group consisting of a transrectal ultrasound probe and a magnetic-resonance-imaging probe.

125. The system of claim 108, wherein said chemical element comprises a chemical element introduced into the prostate for a specific medical procedure, and wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps the level of said chemical element to perform the specific medical procedure on at least a portion of the prostate.

126. The system of claim 125, wherein said specific medical procedure comprises a photodynamic therapy.

127. The system of claim 126, wherein the chemical element is Pd.

128. The system of claim 125, wherein said radiation detector detects X-ray fluorescence.

129. The system of claim 125, wherein said chemical element is introduced in either a quantitative or a qualitative amount.

130. The system of claim 105, wherein said chemical element to be detected comprises one or more of Zn, Fe, Ca, Br, or Pd.

131. The system of claim 106, wherein said chemical element to be detected emits characteristic fluorescent X-rays according to an identity of said chemical element, and wherein an intensity of said characteristic fluorescent X-rays correlates to a concentration of said chemical element, such that said radiation detector is adapted to detect at least one chemical element according to said characteristic fluorescent X-rays and to measure said intensity.

132. The system of claim 105, wherein said irradiation system comprises at least one of a radioactive source, an X-ray tube, a synchrotron light source, an X-ray beam guide connected to an external X-ray source or a miniature plasma X-ray generator.

133. The system of claim 105, wherein said irradiation system is coupled to a monochromatizing element so as to provide a radiation with a substantially accurate energy.

134. The system of claim 133, wherein said monochromatizing element is selected from the group consisting of a crystal monochromator and a plurality of different absorbing films each characterized by a different absorption coefficient.

135. The system of claim 105, further comprising a device for injection of a drug or a contrast agent.

136. The system of claim 105, further comprising a device for illumination of the prostate with light.

137. The system of claim 105, further comprising a normalizer for normalizing measurement of said emitted radiation according to a normalizing measurement of a reference element.

138. The system of claim 137, wherein said normalizer is operable to normalize said emitted radiation according to an amount of Compton scattered radiation of radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

139. The system of claim 105, wherein said radiation detector is characterized by geometry selected from the group consisting of planar geometry, spherical geometry cylindrical geometry and an irregular geometry.

140. The system of claim 105, further comprising an X-ray optical system, located within said probe, wherein said X-ray optical system is selected so as to collimate and/or focus radiation emitted by said irradiation system and/or radiation emitted by said chemical element.

141. The system of claim 140, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a focusing element for focusing said radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

142. The system of claim 141, wherein said focusing element is selected from the group consisting of a capillary optical device and an aperture.

143. The system of claim 140, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a collimating element for collimating said radiation emitted by said irradiation system

144. The system of claim 140, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a capillary X-ray optics for focusing and collimating said radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

145. The system of claim 140, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a collimator for collimating said radiation emitted by said chemical element into said radiation detector.

146. The system of claim 145, wherein said collimator is characterized by geometry selected from the group consisting of planar geometry, spherical geometry cylindrical geometry and an irregular geometry.

147. The system of claim 108, further comprising electronic circuitry, adapted for being located within said probe, wherein said electronic circuitry is designed and constructed for transmitting signals from said radiation detector to said signal recording, processing and displaying system.

148. The system of claim 105, further comprising a thermoelectric cooling system, adapted for being located within said probe, wherein said thermoelectric cooling system is designed and constructed for cooling said radiation detector to have improved energy resolution.

149. The system of claim 105, wherein said radiation detector is capable of discriminating between radiation emitted by said chemical element being present in the prostate and radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues surrounding said prostate, thereby to map the prostate.

150. The system of claim 105, further comprising a collimator for collimating said emitted radiation in a manner that radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues other than tissues of the prostate is absorbed by said collimator.

151. The system of claim 150, wherein said collimator is made of a substrate having a plurality predetermined radiation paths, wherein said plurality of predetermined radiation paths is selected from the group consisting of radiation paths directing radiation emitted from the chemical element in a single location to a plurality of locations on said radiation detector, radiation paths directing the radiation emitted from the chemical element in a plurality of locations to a plurality of locations on said radiation detector, and radiation paths directing the radiation emitted from the chemical element in a plurality of locations to a plurality of detector-elements.

152. The system of claim 150, wherein each of said plurality of predetermined radiation paths is selected from the group consisting of a thin aperture, a thin capillary and an X-ray optical element.

153. The system of claim 105, wherein said radiation detector is capable of simultaneously detecting said emitted radiation from a plurality of depth inside the prostate.

154. The system of claim 105, further comprising an arrangement of radiation detectors and a collimator, wherein said collimator is capable of collimating radiation emitted from different depths inside the prostate into different locations of said radiation detector or different radiation detectors.

155. The system of claim 105, further comprising a transrectal ultrasound probe.

156. A method of diagnosing prostate cancer in the prostate of a subject, the method comprising:

determining a first parameter being a level of a chemical element in the prostate;

determining a second parameter being indicative of prostate specific antigen (PSA) activity in the blood serum of the subject; and

wherein the prostate cancer is diagnosed if said first parameter has a predetermined relation with respect to a first predetermined threshold and said second parameter has a predetermined relation with respect to a second predetermined threshold.

157. The method of claim 156, wherein said predetermined relation of each of said first and said second parameters is independently selected from the group consisting of above and below a respective predetermined threshold.

158. The method of claim 156, wherein said determining said level of said chemical element is done in vivo or in vitro.

159. The method of claim 156, wherein said second parameter is selected from the group consisting of serum PSA level, PSA density, PSA velocity, a level of age specific PSA, and percentage of free PSA.

160. The method of claim 156, wherein said determining said level of said chemical element is by X-ray fluorescence.

161. The method of claim 156, wherein said determining said level of said chemical element is affected by a procedure selected from the group consisting of an activation analysis, an atomic absorption a particle-induced X-ray emission.

162. The method of claim 156, wherein said chemical element comprises Zn.

163. The method of claim 156, wherein said determining said level of said chemical element comprises:

endoscopically inserting a probe into the subject;

irradiating the prostate with said probe by exciting radiation thereby exciting said chemical element to emit radiation to form emitted radiation;

detecting and mapping said emitted radiation with said probe; and

mapping the level of said chemical element in the prostate of the subject at a plurality of different points in the prostate according to said mapping of said emitted radiation.

164. The method of claim 163, wherein said emitted radiation comprises fluorescent X-ray radiation.

165. The method of claim 163, wherein said endoscopically inserting said probe is into the rectum or the urethra of the subject.

166. The method of claim 163, wherein said detecting said emitted radiation is by a radiation detector which comprises at least one of a stationary detector, a scanning detector, a position-sensitive detector or an array of detectors or a combination thereof.

167. The method of claim 166, wherein said radiation detector is selected from the group consisting of a radiation detector having a single element, a radiation detector having a pixelized array and a radiation detector having an array assembled of a plurality of individual elements.

168. The method of claim 166, wherein said radiation detector comprises at least one of a high energy-resolution solid state detector and a high energy-resolution gaseous detector.

169. The method of claim 168, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of Silicon radiation detector, Germanium radiation detector, Silicon-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Germanium-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Mercury Iodide radiation detector and Cadmium-Zinc Telluride radiation detector.

170. The method of claim 168, wherein said high energy-resolution gaseous detector is selected from the group consisting of a gas proportional detector and gas scintillation detector.

171. The method of claim 169, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of a PIN diode, a surface barrier diode, a drift diode, a micro-strip detector, a drift chamber, a multi-pixel detector and a multi-strip detector.

172. The method of claim 164, wherein said irradiating comprises scanning the prostate so as to excite said chemical element to emit said fluorescent X-ray radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles.

173. The method of claim 163, wherein said detecting said emitted radiation is by scanning the prostate so as to detect said emitted radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles.

174. The method of claim 163, wherein said detecting said emitted radiation is by an arrangement of radiation detectors arranged so as to detect said emitted radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles.

175. The method of claim 163, further comprising introducing at least one radioactive substance into the prostate and measuring the level of said at least one radioactive substance in the prostate.

176. The method of claim 163, further comprising mapping a boundary of the prostate cancer in the prostate.

177. The method of claim 176, wherein said mapping said boundary is according to a distribution of said chemical element in at least a region of the prostate being examined.

178. The method of claim 176, wherein said boundary is at least partially determined according to a distribution of different concentrations of said chemical element within at least said region.

179. The method of claim 178, further comprising using said distribution of said different concentrations of said chemical element for staging the cancer.

180. The method of claim 176, further comprising mapping the prostate using at least one mapping method other than an X-ray fluorescence method and information obtained from said at least one mapping method with information from said emitted radiation for determining said boundary.

181. The method of claim 180, wherein said at least one additional mapping method is selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic imaging and a magnetic-resonance-imaging.

182. The method of claim 163, wherein said chemical element comprises a chemical element introduced into the prostate for a specific medical procedure, and wherein said mapping the level of said chemical element is used for performing the specific medical procedure on at least a portion of the prostate.

183. The method of claim 182, wherein said specific medical procedure comprises a photodynamic therapy.

184. The method of claim 182, wherein the chemical element is Pd.

185. The method of claim 182, wherein said chemical element is introduced in either a quantitative or a qualitative amount.

186. The method of claim 163, wherein said chemical element to be detected comprises one or more of Zn, Fe, Ca, Br, or Pd.

187. The method of claim 164, wherein said chemical element to be detected emits characteristic fluorescent X-rays according to an identity of said chemical element, and wherein an intensity of said characteristic fluorescent X-rays correlates to a concentration of said chemical element, such that said radiation detector is adapted to detect at least one chemical element according to said characteristic fluorescent X-rays and to measure said intensity.

188. The method of claim 163, wherein said irradiating the prostate is by an irradiation system comprising at least one of a radioactive source, an X-ray tube, a synchrotron light source, an X-ray beam guide connected to an external X-ray source or a miniature plasma X-ray generator.

189. The method of claim 163, wherein said irradiation system is coupled to a monochromatizing element so as to provide a radiation with a substantially accurate energy.

190. The method of claim 189, wherein said monochromatizing element is selected from the group consisting of a crystal monochromator and a plurality of different absorbing films each characterized by a different absorption coefficient.

191. The method of claim 163, further comprising using said probe for performing a biopsy procedure.

192. The method of claim 163, further comprising using said probe for injection of a drug or a contrast agent into the prostate.

193. The method of claim 163, further comprising using said probe for illuminating the prostate with light.

194. The method of claim 163, farther comprising a normalizing measurement of said emitted radiation according to a normalizing measurement of a reference element.

195. The method of claim 194, wherein said normalizing is according to an amount of Compton scattered radiation of radiation emitted by said irradiation system

196. The method of claim 163, further comprising collimating and focusing said exciting radiation and said emitted radiation.

197. The method of claim 163, further comprising imaging the prostate using a transrectal ultrasound probe.

198. The method of claim 166, further comprising cooling said radiation detector to have improved energy resolution.

199. The method of claim 198, wherein said cooling said radiation detector is by a thermoelectric cooling system, adapted for being located within said probe.

200. The method of claim 163, further comprising discriminating between radiation emitted by said chemical element being present in the prostate and radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues surrounding said prostate, thereby to map the prostate.

201. The method of claim 163, further collimating said emitted radiation in a manner that radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues other than tissues of the prostate is absorbed.

202. The method of claim 163, further comprising simultaneously detecting said emitted radiation from a plurality of depth inside the prostate.

203. The method of claim 163, further comprising collimating radiation emitted from different depths inside the prostate into different locations of a radiation detector or different radiation detectors.

204. A system for mapping a prostate of a subject, the system comprising:

(a) at least one mapping device;

(b) an irradiation system capable of exciting a chemical element in the prostate to emit radiation to form emitted radiation;

(c) an endoscopic probe for detecting said chemical element, said endoscopic probe comprises a radiation detector capable of detecting said emitted radiation and suitable for mapping said emitted radiation; and

(d) a data processor for mapping the prostate according to information collected from said at least one mapping device and said endoscopic probe.

205. The apparatus of claim 204, wherein said emitted radiation comprises fluorescent X-ray radiation.

206. The system of claim 204, wherein said irradiation system is capable of delivering exciting radiation through said probe to the prostate.

207. The system of claim 204, wherein said at least one mapping device is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic device, a magnetic-resonance-imaging device and a computer tomography device.

208. The system of claim 204, wherein said at least one mapping device is endoscopic.

209. The system of claim 204, wherein said data processor comprises a signal recording, processing and displaying system for mapping the level of said chemical element in the prostate of the subject at a plurality of different points in the prostate according to said mapping of said emitted radiation.

210. The system of claim 204, wherein said radiation detector comprises at least one of a high energy-resolution solid state detector and a high energy-resolution gaseous detector.

211. The system of claim 204, wherein said radiation detector is selected from the group consisting of a radiation detector having a single element, a radiation detector having a pixelized array and a radiation detector having an array assembled of a plurality of individual elements.

212. The system of claim 204, wherein said radiation detector comprises at least one of a stationary detector, a scanning detector, a position-sensitive detector or an array of detectors or a combination thereof.

213. The system of claim 210, wherein said high energy-resolution gaseous detector is selected from the group consisting of a gas proportional detector and gas scintillation detector.

214. The system of claim 210, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of Silicon radiation detector, Germanium radiation detector, Silicon-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Germanium-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Mercury Iodide radiation detector and Cadmium-Zinc Telluride radiation detector.

215. The system of claim 214, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of a PIN diode, a surface barrier diode, a drift diode, a micro-strip detector, a drift chamber, a multi-pixel detector and a multi-strip detector.

216. The system of claim 204, wherein said irradiation system comprises a scanning irradiation system.

217. The system of claim 209, wherein said radiation detector is capable or detecting radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles so as to allow said signal recording, processing and displaying system to map said level of said chemical element at said plurality of different points.

218. The system of claim 209, further comprising an arrangement of radiation detectors for detecting radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles so as to allow said signal recording, processing and displaying system to map said level of said chemical element at said plurality of different points.

219. The system of claim 209, wherein said chemical element comprises zinc, wherein said radiation detector and said irradiation system are suitable for measuring the level of zinc, and wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps the level of zinc to detect a possible cancer in at least a portion of the prostate.

220. The system of claim 204, wherein said radiation detector is suitable for measuring the level of at least one radioactive substance introduced into the prostate.

221. The system of claim 219, wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps a boundary of possible cancer in the prostate.

222. The system of claim 221, wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps said boundary according to a distribution of said chemical element in at least a region of the prostate being examined.

223. The system of claim 221, wherein said boundary is at least partially determined according to a distribution of different concentrations of said chemical element within at least said region.

224. The system of claim 223, wherein said distribution of said different concentrations of said chemical element is also used for staging the cancer.

225. The system of claim 209, wherein said chemical element comprises a chemical element introduced into the prostate for a specific medical procedure, and wherein said signal recording, processing and displaying system maps the level of said chemical element to perform the specific medical procedure on at least a portion of the prostate.

226. The system of claim 225, wherein said specific medical procedure comprises a photodynamic therapy.

227. The system of claim 226, wherein the chemical element is Pd.

228. The system of claim 225, wherein said radiation detector detects X-ray fluorescence.

229. The system of claim 225, wherein said chemical element is introduced in either a quantitative or a qualitative amount.

230. The system of claim 204, wherein said chemical element to be detected comprises one or more of Zn, Fe, Ca, Br, or Pd.

231. The system of claim 204, wherein said chemical element to be detected comprises Zn.

232. The system of claim 205, wherein said chemical element to be detected emits characteristic fluorescent X-rays according to an identity of said chemical element, and wherein an intensity of said characteristic fluorescent X-rays correlates to a concentration of said chemical element, such that said radiation detector is adapted to detect at least one chemical element according to said characteristic fluorescent X-rays and to measure said intensity.

233. The system of claim 204, wherein said irradiation system comprises at least one of a radioactive source, an X-ray tube, a synchrotron light source, an X-ray begun guide connected to an external X-ray source or a miniature plasma X-ray generator.

234. The system of claim 204, wherein said irradiation system is coupled to a monochromatizing element so as to provide a radiation with a substantially accurate energy.

235. The system of claim 234, wherein said monochromatizing element is selected from the group consisting of a crystal monochromator and a plurality of different absorbing films each characterized by a different absorption coefficient.

236. The system of claim 204, further comprising a biopsy device.

237. The system of claim 204, further comprising a device for injection of a drug or a contrast agent.

238. The system of claim 204, further comprising a device for illumination of the prostate with light.

239. The system of claim 204, further comprising a normalizer for normalizing measurement of said emitted radiation according to a normalizing measurement of a reference element.

240. The system of claim 239, wherein said normalizer is operable to normalize said emitted radiation according to an amount of Compton scattered radiation of radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

241. The system of claim 204, wherein said radiation detector is characterized by geometry selected from the group consisting of planar geometry, spherical geometry cylindrical geometry and an irregular geometry.

242. The system of claim 204, further comprising an X-ray optical system, located within said probe, wherein said X-ray optical system is selected so as to collimate and/or focus radiation emitted by said irradiation system and/or radiation emitted by said chemical element.

243. The system of claim 242, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a focusing element for focusing said radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

244. The system of claim 243, wherein said focusing element is selected from the group consisting of a capillary optical device and an aperture.

245. The apparatus of claim 242, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a collimating element for collimating said radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

246. The apparatus of claim 242, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a capillary X-ray optics for focusing arid collimating said radiation emitted by said irradiation system.

247. The system of claim 242, wherein said X-ray optical system comprises a collimator for collimating said radiation emitted by said chemical element into said radiation detector.

248. The system of claim 247, wherein said collimator is characterized by geometry selected from the group consisting of planar geometry, spherical geometry cylindrical geometry and an irregular geometry.

249. The system of claim 204, further comprising electronic circuitry, adapted for being located within said probe, wherein said electronic circuitry is designed and constructed for transmitting signals from said radiation detector to said signal recording, processing and displaying system.

250. The system of claim 204, further comprising a thermoelectric cooling system, adapted for being located within said probe, wherein said thermoelectric cooling system is designed and constructed for cooling said radiation detector to have improved energy resolution.

251. The system of claim 204, wherein said radiation detector is capable of discriminating between radiation emitted by said chemical element being present in the prostate and radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues surrounding said prostate, thereby to map the prostate.

252. The system of claim 204, further comprising a collimator for collimating said emitted radiation in a manner that radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues other than tissues of the prostate is absorbed by said collimator.

253. The system of claim 252, wherein said collimator is made of a substrate having a plurality predetermined radiation paths, wherein said plurality of predetermined radiation paths is selected from the group consisting of radiation paths directing radiation emitted from the chemical element in a single location to a plurality of locations on said radiation detector, radiation paths directing the radiation emitted from the chemical element in a plurality of locations to a plurality of locations on said radiation detector, and radiation paths directing the radiation emitted from the chemical element in a plurality of locations to a plurality of detector-elements.

254. The system of claim 253, wherein each of said plurality of predetermined radiation paths is selected from the group consisting of a thin aperture, a thin capillary and an X-ray optical element.

255. The system of claim 204, wherein said radiation detector is capable of simultaneously detecting said emitted radiation from a plurality of depth inside the prostate.

256. The system of claim 204, further comprising an arrangement of radiation detectors and a collimator, wherein said collimator is capable of collimating radiation emitted from different depths inside the prostate into different locations of said radiation detector or different radiation detectors.

257. A method of mapping a prostate of a subject, the method comprising:

endoscopically insetting a probe into the subject;

using said probe for irradiating the prostate by exciting radiation thereby exciting said chemical element to emit radiation to form emitted radiation;

using said probe for detecting and mapping said emitted radiation;

mapping the prostate using at least one additional mapping device; and

collecting information from said at least one additional mapping device and said probe, so as to map the prostate.

258. The method of claim 257, wherein said emitted radiation comprises fluorescent X-ray radiation.

259. The method of claim 257, wherein said at least one additional mapping device is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic device, a magnetic-resonance-imaging device and a computer tomography device.

260. The method of claim 257, wherein said at least one additional mapping device is endoscopic.

261. The method of claim 257, wherein said endoscopically insetting said probe is into the rectum or the urethra of the subject.

262. The method of claim 257, wherein said detecting said emitted radiation is by a radiation detector which comprises at least one of a stationary detector, a scanning detector, a position-sensitive detector or an array of detectors or a combination thereof.

263. The method of claim 262, wherein said radiation detector is selected from the group consisting of a radiation detector having a single element, a radiation detector having a pixelized array and a radiation detector having an array assembled of a plurality of individual elements.

264. The method of claim 262, wherein said radiation detector comprises at least one of a high energy-resolution solid state detector and a high energy-resolution gaseous detector.

265. The method of claim 264, wherein said high energy-resolution gaseous detector is selected from the group consisting of a gas proportional detector and gas scintillation detector.

266. The method of claim 262, where said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of Silicon radiation detector, Germanium radiation detector, Silicon-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Germanium-Lithium-drifted radiation detector, Mercury Iodide radiation detector and Cadmium-Zinc Telluride radiation detector.

267. The method of claim 266, wherein said high energy-resolution solid state detector is selected from the group consisting of a PIN diode, a surface barrier diode, a drift diode, a micro-strip detector, a drift chamber, a multi-pixel detector and a multi-strip detector.

268. The method of claim 257, wherein said irradiating comprises scanning the prostate so as to excite said chemical element to emit said radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles.

269. The method of claim 257, wherein said detecting said emitted radiation is by scanning the prostate so as to detect said emitted radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles.

270. The method of claim 257, wherein said detecting said emitted radiation is by an arrangement of radiation detectors arranged so as to detect said emitted radiation from a plurality of predetermined angles.

271. The method of claim 257, wherein said chemical element comprises zinc, and wherein the level of zinc is used for detecting a possible cancer in at least a portion of the prostate.

272. The method of claim 257, further comprising introducing at least one radioactive substance into the prostate and measuring the level of said at least one radioactive substance in the prostate.

273. The method of claim 271, further comprising mapping a boundary of said possible cancer in the prostate.

274. The method of claim 273, wherein said mapping said boundary is according to a distribution of said chemical element in at least a region of the prostate being examined.

275. The method of claim 273, wherein said boundary is at least partially determined according to a distribution of different concentrations of said chemical element within at least said region.

276. The method of claim 275, further comprising using said distribution of said different concentrations of said chemical element for staging the cancer.

277. The method of claim 257, wherein said chemical element comprises a chemical element introduced into the prostate for a specific medical procedure, and wherein said mapping the level of said chemical element is used for performing the specific medical procedure on at least a portion of the prostate.

278. The method of claim 277, wherein said specific medical procedure comprises a photodynamic therapy.

279. The method of claim 278, wherein the chemical element is Pd.

280. The method of claim 277, wherein said chemical element is introduced in either a quantitative or a qualitative amount.

281. The method of claim 257, wherein said chemical element to be detected comprises one or more of Zn, Fe, Ca, Br, or Pd.

282. The method of claim 257, wherein said chemical element to be detected comprises Zn.

283. The method of claim 258, wherein said chemical element to be detected emits characteristic fluorescent X-rays according to an identity of said chemical element, and wherein an intensity of said characteristic fluorescent X-rays correlates to a concentration of said chemical element, such that said radiation detector is adapted to detect at least one chemical element according to said characteristic fluorescent X-rays and to measure said intensity.

284. The method of claim 257, wherein said irradiating the prostate is by an irradiation system comprising at least one of a radioactive source, an X-ray tube, a synchrotron light source, an X-ray beam guide connected to an external X-ray source or a miniature plasma X-ray generator.

285. The method of claim 257, wherein said irradiation system is coupled to a monochromatizing element so as to provide a radiation with a substantially accurate energy.

286. The method of claim 285, wherein said monochromatizing element is selected from the group consisting of a crystal monochromator and a plurality of different absorbing films each characterized by a different absorption coefficient.

287. The method of claim 257, further comprising using said probe for performing a biopsy procedure.

288. The method of claim 257, further comprising using said probe for injection of a drug or a contrast agent into the prostate.

289. The method of claim 257, further comprising using said probe for illuminating the prostate with light.

290. The method of claim 257, further comprising a normalizing measurement of said emitted radiation according to a normalizing measurement of a reference element.

291. The system of claim 290, wherein said normalizing is according to an amount of Compton scattered radiation of radiation emitted by said irradiation system

292. The method of claim 257, further comprising collimating and focusing said exciting radiation and said emitted radiation.

293. The method of claim 262, further comprising cooling said radiation detector to have improved energy resolution.

294. The method of claim 293, wherein said cooling said radiation detector is by a thermoelectric cooling system, adapted for being located within said probe.

295. The method of claim 257, further comprising discriminating between radiation emitted by said chemical element being present in the prostate and radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues surrounding said prostate, thereby to map the prostate.

296. The method of claim 257, further collimating said emitted radiation in a manner that radiation emitted by chemical elements being present in tissues other than tissues of the prostate is absorbed.

297. The method of claim 257, further comprising simultaneously detecting said emitted radiation from a plurality of depth inside the prostate.

298. The method of claim 257, further comprising collimating radiation emitted from different depths inside the prostate into different locations of a radiation detector or different radiation detectors.