Artifacts in mammography: ways to identify and overcome them.

High-quality mammography images enhance a radiologist's ability to interpret mammograms because they have greater sensitivity and specificity. Artifacts may create pseudo-lesions or mask abnormalities leading to misinterpretation. Familiarity with the numerous artifacts encountered will enable radiologists to provide accurate diagnoses. We reviewed all the artifacts in mammography encountered at our centres and classified the causes of these artifacts into four categories. They are: 1. patient-related; 2. technologist-related; 3. related to the mammographic unit; and 4. related to processing and the processor. Implementation of a well-organised quality control programme will reduce the occurrence of artifacts. Recognition of artifacts in mammography is instructive and will help to improve the mammographic diagnostic quality.