Rapidly Increasing Despite Worldwide Pandemic
More than 62,000 women are now enrolled in the Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST). The fastest growing National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored trial of the COVID-19 era, TMIST enrollment has nearly doubled in the past 12 months alone.
“A testament to the fact that the TMIST study question remains unanswered, and that participating sites are effectively communicating with women in their communities, TMIST continues to grow,” said TMIST Study Chair Etta Pisano, MD, FACR. “I urge practices with tomosynthesis and digital mammography to visit acr.org/TMIST, read this card, watch this video and contact TMIST staff to find out how and why to take part in TMIST.”
TMIST provides payment for each woman enrolled and each screening exam performed. Sites can even apply for a funding advance to help hire a TMIST-dedicated research coordinator. In addition, TMIST pays for mammography screening for women who qualify for charity care at participating sites, enabling screening of more women from underserved groups and areas.
Dr. Pisano encourages eligible sites to take part in this uniquely accessible, yet landmark, clinical trial.
Enrolled at 118 study sites in the United States and abroad, the TMIST study population is one of the most racially diverse of any NCI trial. Currently, more than 20% of U.S. women in the study are Black — nearly triple the average Black cohort in U.S. clinical trials (8%). Hispanics make up 40% of TMIST participants.
Only 44% of accredited mammography scanners are DBT units, and 20% of U.S. imaging facilities do not have DBT scanners. Many of these sites may be in underserved areas. A Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR®) study shows Black women are far less likely to be screened with DBT than white or Asian women.
TMIST is the first randomized, controlled trial to identify women in which digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) may outperform two-dimensional (2D) digital mammography in reducing advanced breast cancer development. The study is also creating the world’s largest curated dataset of breast cancer screening clinical data, images and biospecimens to help researchers tailor future screening to a woman’s individual risk.
Email TMIST@acr.org with any questions regarding TMIST participation.