ACATS codes are diagnosis-based and a number of the codes are used for cancer surgery.  In 2019, a significant review of the ACATS code set was implemented to identify every patient waiting for, or having cancer-related scheduled surgery.

There are currently five sub-categories relating to cancer:

1. Cancer – Patients where cancer is confirmed.
2. Cancer Suspected – if cancer is suspected, ongoing investigations to figure out the type and severity of the cancer
3. Cancer Prevent – Patients who are at risk to develop future cancer (genetic predisposition, medical conditions) and have surgery/procedures to minimize the risk of future cancer.
4. Cancer Post – Patients who require surgery to return to normal body function following a cancer removal surgery.
5. None or Benign – surgery that does not fit any of the above 4 sub-categories; patient with no cancer diagnosis

Cancer reporting provincially will migrate towards common definitions and assumptions for constancy. This includes AHS site/zone/provincial reporting, CIHI cancer reporting and with Alberta Health.

Note: Cancer terminology will be revised for the next code release, to be replaced by Neoplasm as defined by the IMO (Intelligent Medical Objects) enterprise platform terminology dictionaries as part of the clinical information system / Connect Care program.