Hair artifact

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 5 Mar 2023

Hair artifact and hair-product artifacts are artifacts produced by the presence of the patient's hair, hair accessories (e.g. hair clip) and hair products (e.g. shampoo) within the field of view during acquisition of an image, which can affect all modalities to varying degrees. For example, in mammography, hair may appear as curvilinear white lines or may simulate calcifications, especially on the craniocaudal projection 2

Radiographic features

A repeat image will show complete resolution of the artifact following moving the hair away from the field of view as far as possible, removing hair-clips or getting rid of hair products by washing hair with clear water.

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Cases and figures

  • Case 1: pony tail
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  • Case 2
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  • Case 3: mammogram
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  • Case 4: CT
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  • Case 5: MRI susceptibility artifact - hair shampoo
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  • Case 6: hair band artifact (CT scout)
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  • Case 7: pony tail
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  • Case 8: on right upper lobe
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  • Case 9: on left upper lobe
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  • Case 10
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  • Case 11: hair braid artifact
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