PET Scans in Canada

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a type of advanced medical scanning which takes a 3-dimensional image of the body. Most commonly, a tracer molecule such as FDG (which contains glucose, or sugar) is used. The PET scan then detects areas of substantial "pickup," or accumulation, of FDG in the body. Because tumours tend to actively take up glucose, they can be more easily spotted on the scan. Today some centres operate combined PET/CT machines, which produce a composite image using both PET technology and CT (X-ray) technology.

Availability of PET scans, unfortunately, is one of many elements of healthcare that varies between provinces in terms of public funding and availability. For instance, Quebec performs about 21,000 PET scans per year, while Ontario performs only 2000 PET scans per year. Ontario's public funding for PET scans is very limited, although coverage has recently been expanded to several new conditions, including (in certain cases) lymphoma.

The following list is under perpetual construction will be regularly updated. If you are aware of changes, please contact Northoma or leave a comment.


Alberta -- Three PET/CT machines are active, in Edmonton (the Cross Cancer Institute and the University of Alberta Hospital) and in Calgary (Foothills Hospital).


British Columbia -- The BC Cancer Agency has one PET/CT scan machine and is about to bring a second online in 2011. A private PET-CT clinic, the Center for Advanced Diagnostics (owned by Premier Diagnostic), operates in Vancouver as of August 2010. Its predecessor, the Vancouver PETSCAN Centre, has closed, but used to charge $2850 per scan.


Manitoba -- One PET/CT machine is present at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.


New Brunswick -- A PET/CT machine is present at Saint John Regional Hospital.


Newfoundland -- A PET/CT machine should be online within several years.


Nova Scotia -- A PET/CT machine is present at Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax.


Ontario (see PET Scans in Ontario) -- PET scans are publicly funded in Ontario, but only for certain limited conditions. OHIP has identified eight conditions which qualify for a public PET scan, one of which is post-chemotherapy (not previously untreated) lymphoma. On a case-by-case basis, physicians may also be able to obtain publicly funded PET scans under a clinical trial or the PET Access Program. According to the Ontario government, there are currently no wait lists for PET scans.

There are nine PET/CT machines and three PET machines, active in Hamilton (2), London (1), Ottawa (2), Thunder Bay (1), and Toronto (5). Note that two scanners at Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health are for research only. A private clinic, Care Imaging, operates in Toronto as of December 2010. It currently charges about $2350 for one scan.

Prince Edward Island -- There are no PET scanning machines on PEI. Residents must travel out of province to obtain a scan.


Quebec -- There are 11 public PET/CT machines in Quebec, stationed in Chicoutimi (1), Gatineau (1), Montreal (5), Quebec City (1), Rimouski (1), Sherbrooke (1), and Trois-Rivieres (1). Private clinics operate in Montreal (Ville Marie PET/CT Centre) and Quebec City. These cost about $2500 per scan.

Saskatchewan -- There are no PET machines in Saskatchewan. However, several hundred patients per year are sent out-of-province to receive PET scans in Alberta, Manitoba, and British Columbia.

United States -- For patients with money, of course, a trip to the United States can also be an option for advanced medical care. In the meantime, more public investment is needed in the Canadian healthcare system, which theoretically guarantees universal care to all citizens.