The results of the ACRIN DMIST study were published in September 2005. EWBC is proud to have been one of the centers which helped accrue exams and information for this study.

Primary Finding

The Digital Mammographic Screening Trial (DMIST) showed that, for the entire population of women studied, digital and film mammography had very similar screening accuracy. However, some women who fit within a very specific category would benefit from having their mammograms performed with a digital imaging method.

• Who would benefit from digital screening mammograms? Women who fit ANY of these three categories: ·
  • under age 50 (no matter what level of breast tissue density they had)
  • of any age with heterogeneously (very dense) or extremely dense breasts
  • pre- or perimenopausal women of any age (defined as women who had a last menstrual period within 12 months of their mammograms).
• Who would not benefit from digital screening mammography? Women who fit ALL of the following three categories: ·
• over age 50
• those who do not have dense or heterogeneously (very dense) breast tissue
• those who are not still menstruating.

The American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) http://www.acrin.org/index.html

Digital Mammography Screening Trial (DMIST) http://www.acrin.org/dmist_fastfacts.html