The TMIST Breast Screening Trial, A Conversation with Rita Freimanis, MD

2D and 3D digital mammography – which is better for breast cancer screening? The tomosynthesis mammographic imaging screening trial (TMIST), sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, aims to see which technology performs best in women who have no symptoms. The trial also aims to end the controversy of how often women should be screened – whether every year, or every 2 years, and from what age – 50 or earlier. Rita Freimanis, MD, professor in the UC San Francisco Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, has been the site PI here since enrollment started in July 2019.

“TMIST is aimed at breast cancer control and outcomes through analyzing how 2D compares with 3D mammography, and relating that to bio-markers,” says Dr. Freimanis. “We already know that 3D mammography finds more cancers sooner, but we do not yet know exactly what difference that makes. Are more lives…