Final answer:
Patients are asked to remove deodorants before mammography to prevent substances in the deodorant from appearing as white spots on the images, which could be mistaken for malignant calcifications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients are advised to remove deodorant before mammography because certain types of deodorants and antiperspirants contain substances that can appear on mammograms as small, white spots. These spots can mimic the appearance of malignant calcifications, leading to potential misinterpretation of the images. It is crucial for the accuracy of the mammogram that these artifacts are not confused with actual abnormalities in the breast tissue. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: A. Deodorant can mimic malignant calcifications. Mammography is a key tool in the early detection of breast cancer, and it is vital that the images produced are as clear and accurate as possible.