Breast Cancer: Screening With Digital Mammography (DMIST)

The American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) coordinated the well-known Digital Mammography Screening Trial (DMIST), which compared the diagnostic performance of digital mammography versus conventional film mammography in a large cohort of asymptomatic, prospectively enrolled women. Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, ACRIN is a network of physicians, scientists, and medical institutions conducting clinical trials of new medical imaging technologies. Image Metrix is a subsidiary of the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The main objective was to compare the diagnostic performance of digital and conventional film mammography in a prospectively enrolled, screening cohort of asymptomatic women, across all digital mammography machine types.

DMIST also sought to assess how certain patient characteristics and technical parameters affect the diagnostic accuracy of digital mammography; to evaluate the image quality and breast radiation dose of digital versus film mammography; and to assess the cost-effectiveness of digital versus film mammography. Furthermore, reader studies were planned to analyze reader accuracy in relation to breast cancer prevalence; to compare soft-copy vs. printed film display for digital mammography; to analyze the effect of breast tissue density on diagnostic accuracy.