Ministry to Update Mammography Equipment

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, in consultation with Cancer Care Ontario (CCO), has announced a province wide plan to transition all mammography with digital computed radiography (CR) to digital direct radiography (DR).

The decision reflects the findings of an independent study conducted by CCO and published in the journal Radiology, which found that DR and screen film are significantly more effective than CR at detecting breast cancer.

Based on recommendations from CCO, the Ministry will fund the capital cost of replacing all CR machines in the province.

CCO has issued a public statement that emphasizes “the chance of having an undiagnosed cancer in women who have been screened with mammography using CR is extremely low.  The transition to DR is based on a commitment to continuous quality improvement.

Mrs. Barb Linkewich, Vice President of Clinical Services and Research, said, “Our mammography unit is already digital direct, so we can continue to use the machine that the SLMHC Foundation fund raised for and the community so generously gave to, to support women in their fight against breast cancer.”

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Barb Linkewich, Vice President Clinical Services & Research
Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre
Phone:  (807) 737-6539
Cell:  (807) 737-9333
blinkewich@slmhc.on.ca