Etta Pisano, M.D., F.A.C.R., is a pioneer in breast imaging research, known for leading landmark clinical research trials, including the Digital Mammography Screening Trial (DMIST) and the ongoing Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST).
Dr. Pisano led the DMIST, which accrued more than 49,000 women and compared effectiveness of digital mammography to film mammography. Overall, digital and film mammography were found to have similar diagnostic accuracy. But for women under age 50, pre- or peri-menopausal women, and women with dense breasts, digital mammography was found to be superior. The results of this study drastically changed breast cancer screening guidelines and reimbursement.
Dr. Pisano serves as the Study Chair for the TMIST, which compares standard digital mammography (2-D) to digital breast tomosynthesis (3-D) to determine if digital breast tomosynthesis is more effective at reducing advanced breast cancers. The comparison of 2-D vs. 3-D imaging may clarify how breast cancer screening can be better personalized to each woman. TMIST also is creating a large collection of data, images, and biospecimens to inform future clinical research.
Dr. Pisano is the Chief Research Officer of the American College of Radiology, the first woman to hold this position. She previously served as Chief Science Officer for the American College of Radiology Center for Research and Innovation. She is Professor in Residence on the faculty at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Radiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical School.
To learn more about Dr. Pisano, read her profile here.