CT Report

Canadian Medical Imaging Inventory

What Is CT?

Doctor showing ct scan to patient

CT is a versatile and widely applied imaging technique. This imaging technique uses X-rays, sensitive radiation detectors, and computer analysis to produce cross-sectional images to identify internal structures of the body and detect any possible abnormalities.

CT is primarily used in oncology (24%) as well as in neurology (16.5%) and hepatobiliary (14%). Applications for CT continue to expand to new clinical indications and therapeutic areas. 

Doctor showing ct scan to patient

Key Findings From the Survey

  • There were 560 CT units identified by the CMII in its 2022–2023 national survey, with all provinces and territories reporting CT capacity. Most sites were publicly funded hospitals located in urban settings.
  • Canada has an average of 14 CT units per million people. The greatest density of units per million people is in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and the territories.
  • Canada is positioned in the bottom 15% of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in units per million population and in the top 45% of OECD countries for average volume of publicly funded CT exams per 1,000 population.