Notification of ultrasonographic breast examination
for health insurance companies, healthcare providers, professional and general public
The amendment shall enter into force on 1 July 2025. Act No. 577/2004 Coll. on the scope of health care paid on the basis of public health insurance and reimbursements for health care services, as amended, which modify the extent of preventive gynaecological examination and discontinue preventive ultrasound examination of breasts in healthy women without symptoms.
Reference: https://www.slov-lex.sk/epiles/legal-regulations/EN/ZZ/2004/577/20250701.html
Ultrasonographic breast examination is not an appropriate method for asymptomatic non-symptomed women in breast preventive and breast screening. Mamography is recommended as the most effective preventive method for capturing breast cancer in a symptomless group of women.
Ultrasonographic breast examination an additional screening method for breast cancer, breast disease with symptoms or breast disease is appropriate. Ultrasonic examination may be of relevance in the diagnostic treatment of mammographically dense glands, or established mammographic abnormalities, or in women with symptoms of mammogram gland disease.
Mamographic screening is by all available clinical data the most effective detection tool for early capture of breast cancer.
Mamographic screening increases availability for women aged 45 to 75; so far 50 to 69 years old.
The European Radiological Society (ESR) and the European Breast Imaging Society (EUSOBI) in view of the results of long-term, evidence-based application practice does not strongly recommend the use of ultrasonographic examination itself as a preventive breast cancer investigation method.
Preventive gynaecological survey continue to be performed at an interval of one year, which includes breast palpation. If the doctor detects changes in the breast, he or she will indicate an age and health test for another diagnosis, breast density and other physiological symptoms on the breast.
The change in the area of preventive ultrasonographic breast examination in healthy women without symptoms is a modernization of Slovak health according to international standards and scientific evidence, which aims at more effective and safer prevention of breast cancer.