NOI Forum – Statistical mammography screening audit in practice for 2023
On October 17, we organized the 2nd NOI Forum “Statistical mammography screening audit in practice for 2023” with the participation of over 120 people in the premises of the MoH SR.
NOI Forum – Statistical mammography screening audit in practice for 2022
On October 19, 2023, there was a conference which signaled a breakthrough within cancer screening programs because it was the very first conference dedicated to cancer screenings after their initiation in the form of organized programs in 2019.
Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignant diseases of women worldwide as for incidence and mortality. According to the last published yearbook of incidence of oncological diseases, there were 2,800 new cases in Slovakia in 2011, of which almost 30% were locally advanced and metastatic. In general, there are varying recommendations for breast cancer screening. The majority of official population screening programs recommend to start a mammography screening at 50 years of age. The set recommendations for mammography screening are evidence-based and take into account the best risk-benefit ratio. This is the basis for choice of screening method and age group for an organized, controlled and coordinated population-wide mammography screening program. Certification of facilities where it is possible to undergo the screening is also part of the program. Their list is regularly updated at MoH SR website. You can find a link to it on NOI website under List of facilities. Population-wide mammography screening by invitation started in Slovakia in September 2019. The invitations were sent by health insurance companies to women aged 50 to 69 according to a precise set of criteria. The most important task at hand is to extend the network of certified facilities performing screening mammography examinations which need to adhere to a precisely determined quality specifications including regular quality assessment. It is important that women undergo their screening mammography examination at these certified facilities.
Acknowledgments
National Oncology Institute would like to thank all physicians, radiology assistants, nurses and other healthcare professionals whose daily work contributes to mammography breast cancer screening. We also thank the chief expert of the MoH SR as well as members of the Committee for Quality Assurance in Radiodiagnostics, Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine for their work and ongoing support of the screening process, Slovak Radiological Society led by Prof. Viera Lehotská, M.D., PhD., for their long-standing cooperation and support of the initiation of mammography screening, Section of Breast Imaging (SEBI) led by Assoc. Prof. Jana Slobodníková, M.D., PhD., MPH, and last but not least, the head of Expert Working Group for Quality Assurance of Mammography Facilities of the MoH SR Committee for Quality Assurance in Radiodiagnostics, Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Martina Horváthová, Ph.D., MPH.
We are grateful to MoH SR for their cooperation and support, MoH SR Committee for their help with screenings and cooperation with health insurance companies, NHIC for their support of patients’ organizations, volunteers and the public. Only a fully-fledged, high-quality and long-term cooperation in mammography screening can bring excellent results.
Population screening
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Guidelines »
- Standard Procedure for Breast Cancer Screening in High-Risk Female Population
- Standard procedure for breast cancer prevention via population-based screening method – screening mammography – 3rd review
- Standard procedure for breast cancer prevention via population-based screening method – screening mammography – 2nd review
- Standard procedure for breast cancer prevention via population-based screening method – screening mammography – 1st review
- Standard procedure for breast cancer prevention via population-based screening method – screening mammography
- MoH SR Committee for Quality Assurance in Radiodiagnostics, Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine
- Expert Working Group for Quality Assurance of Mammography Facilities of the MoH SR Committee for Quality Assurance in Radiodiagnostics, Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine
- Methodology of targeted invitation for breast cancer screening by health insurance companies
- Screening evaluation indicators
- Invitation letter
- Invitation letter – infographic
- EU Guidelines
- Annex No. 2 of Act No. 577/2004 Coll. DESCRIPTION OF ROUTINE CHECK-UPS
Screening result
Screening facilities
Specialized literature
- Communication with a mammography screening participant and information about the diagnosis at mammography screening facility
- Preventive breast ultrasound in young women. Is it of any use?
- Calculation of breast cancer risk
- Position paper on screening for breast cancer by the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) and 30 national breast radiology bodies
- EUSOBI paper on mammography
- EUSOBI paper on ultrasound
- EUSOBI paper on MRI
- Eurostat – Health care activities
Call for mammography facilities to take part in a screening program