HTA Details
Ultrasound as an Adjunct to Mammography for Breast Cancer Screening
- Publication date
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2016-July-01
- Status
- Final
- Topic Area
- Cancer
- Recommendation
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Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Recommendations:
- The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends publicly funding screening breast ultrasound as an adjunct to screening mammography for high-risk women in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is contraindicated
- The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends against publicly funding screening breast ultrasound as an adjunct to screening mammography in women at average risk for breast cancer
- Ministry Response
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The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has accepted this recommendation.
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To read the full OHTAC Recommendation Report for this topic, contact our Health Innovation team using the contact form to request a digital copy.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian women. Screening for breast cancer is the process of looking for the disease before symptoms arise so it can be treated early.
In Ontario, mammography (a low-dose x-ray) is used to screen women at average risk for breast cancer. Women at high risk for breast cancer should be offered an adjunct (additional) test with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Ultrasound is an imaging method that uses sound waves and can be used to look for breast cancer missed by mammography. Although ultrasound might detect more potentially harmful cancers, it might also increase the frequency of false-positive test results (test results that incorrectly indicate that a particular condition is present). False-positive test results can lead to anxiety and unnecessary follow-up testing.
Ontario Health examined the impact of ultrasound as an adjunct test to mammography for breast cancer screening in women at average risk and at high risk for breast cancer. We also researched patient experiences of inaccurate breast cancer screening results.
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
