Effect of deodorants on mammographic films

Occasional report 02/05: Effect of deodorants on mammographic films (.doc 4.25Mb).

Screening centres advise women not to wear deodorants when attending for screening or assessment mammography. This is because it has been found that these can sometimes appear as artefacts (specks) on mammographic films. There is therefore concern that these artefacts may affect the film readers' judgement adversely. However the NHSBSP National Co-ordinating Group for Radiographic QA expressed concern that this policy was making radiographers' working environment unpleasant and questioned whether such guidance was really necessary. The National Co-ordinating Centre for Mammography was asked to investigate the following aspects.

  • Can deodorants and anti-perspirants cause artefacts?
  • Are there differences between brands and types that might enable more specific guidance to be provided?

Here are the conclusions and recommendations of the investigation:

It has been shown that deodorants and anti-perspirants do have sufficient contrast to be visible on mammograms and can potentially be a source of artefacts. Aluminium compounds appear to be the main cause of this although even solid deodorants with no aluminium showed low levels of contrast which may be visible on films. Only the one liquid deodorant with no aluminium could be ruled out as a possible source of artefacts.

Modes of advice given to the women attending for mammography depend partly on whether radiologists and other film readers can properly differentiate between artefacts caused by deodorants and clinically relevant features. Options for the advice include:-

  • Women attending for mammography should avoid using deodorants and anti-perspirants close to their breasts immediately before their visit (as at present)
  • Women attending for mammography should not use deodorants close to their breasts unless they are aluminium free liquids
  • Women attending for mammography should not use deodorants close to their breasts unless they are aluminium free
  • Women attending for mammography may use deodorants but the application should be kept to a minimum and preferably be an aluminium free liquid

The decision concerning which of these modes of advice to offer will be left to individual breast screening units.

A hard copy of the full research report is available from the National Office on request.

Back to key research in breast screening.