Breast cancer screening in Canada 20xx-20xx

Modalities for breast cancer screening

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Mammography is commonly used as an entry level screening test for breast cancer and is the screening modality recommended by the CTFPHC.7 All provinces and territories, with the exception of NU, perform mammography screening within organized screening programs. Currently, no provinces or territories recommend clinical breast examinations.

All provinces and territories have transitioned from using analog mammography and are currently using digital radiography (DR) equipment to screen individuals in their programs. In addition, QC and NB are using computed radiography (CR).

Most mammography screening is occurring in hospital settings. Other locations where screening is taking place are in mobile units, community clinics, screening centres, and private clinics.

Primary breast screening modalities in Canada

Jurisdiction Digital radiography (DR) Computed radiography (CR) Location: Hospital Location: Screening centre Location: Private clinic Location: Community clinic

Location: Mobile unit
YT ✓ ✓
NT ✓ ✓
NU* ✓ ✓
BC ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
AB ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
SK ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
MB ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
ON ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
QC ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
NB ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
NS ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
PE ✓ ✓
NL ✓ ✓

*Information for NU in this publication refers to opportunistic breast screening.
^Digital mammography: mammography images are captured and manipulated electronically and includes digital radiography (DR) and computed radiography (CR) systems.

Locations of mammography services

Mobile breast cancer screening

Placeholder text describing data in the table

Jurisdiction Mobile Screening Available? (✓) Locations of mobile screening Frequency of mobile unit availability Primary populations served If your jurisdiction does not have mobile screening, do you have plans to implement mobile screening? (Please describe)
YT
NT
NU
BC ✓
AB ✓
SK ✓
MB ✓
ON ✓
QC ✓
NB
NS ✓
PE
NL

Other breast screening modalities in Canada

Other modalities used in Canada to screen individuals for breast cancer are tomosynthesis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, and their use may be dependent on a person’s risk level. Tomosynthesis is being used in BC and AB. ON screens individuals at high risk for breast cancer using MRI or ultrasound through the High-Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program. AB, NS, and PE also use supplemental MRI or ultrasound screening for high risk individuals.

Jurisdiction 3D tomosynthesis: High risk 3D tomosynthesis: Average risk Use of tomosynthesis Plan to implement tomosynthesis MRI: High risk MRI: Average risk Ultrasound: High risk Ultrasound: Low risk
YT
NT ✓
(Tomosynthesis is being considered when equipment is due for replacement in 2021.)
NU*
BC ✓
(research setting only)		 Only used at two sites that are participating in national TMIST trial        
 		  
AB ✓ Tomosynthesis used widely with some sites on every screen and others on dense breasts only.  Province has modifier billing code. ✓ ✓
(Some sites use as supplemental for dense breasts or if patient cannot tolerate MRI)
SK
MB
ON Not currently recommended. Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) continues to monitor the evidence. However, for sites with digital breast tomosynthesis, this technology can be used as an add-on to the 2D Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) screen as per the site’s protocols and with consent from the participant. ✓ ✓
(if MRI is not medically appropriate)
QC Not recommended for screening. Used in diagnostic imaging.
NB          
NS Tomosynthesis is currently used in diagnostic imaging at 1 diagnostic centre.
No plans to implement		 ✓
PE ✓
NL

*Information for NU in this publication refers to opportunistic breast screening.
^Tomosynthesis (also known 3D mammography): emerging technology that allows the breast to be viewed three-dimensionally
-No information was provided at the time the data were collected.

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