50,000 Women to Participate in Digital Mammography Trial

Almost 50,000 women are expected to participate in a $26.5 million study due to start October 15th to determine if digital mammography using computers is as effective in screening for breast cancer as standard film mammograms.

The National Cancer Institute has awarded a grant to a consortium of researchers at 19 institutions in the U.S. and Canada to conduct the study titled the Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial.

Digital mammography uses a computer and special detectors to produce a digital image of the breast that is displayed on a high-resolution monitor.

"What we have is a well-proven technology and one that is in its infancy and not as well studied yet so we have to be very careful," said Dr. Etta D. Pisano, professor of radiology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and co-leader of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center's breast program.

"Before it is widely used, we want to make sure that digital mammography is at least as good as standard mammography at finding early breast cancers."

Digital machines cost up to $400,000, which is about four to five times the cost of traditional mammography equipment, but more screenings can be done per day on the digital machines and there is no storage cost for film.

Because the digital screening is done on a computer, women can have access to their mammogram using a compact disk and or can easily get a second opinion by sending the digital image to another expert via email, said Pisano.

Digital mammography may find cancers in women with dense breast tissue better because of improved contrast resolution, said Pisano. It may also reduce the number of callbacks of women for additional screening as a result of fewer false positives.

"Although the equipment for digital mammography costs more, fewer callbacks and extra office visits could save money and lessen patients' concerns," said Pisano. "As part of this study, we also plan to study cost effectiveness and the impact of false positives on women's quality of life."

The study begins on October 15th at most sites and ends 18 months later. Patients will receive both conventional and digital mammography under identical conditions and be followed for several years.

Other Sources: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill