The Clinical Center of SSMU strengthens the diagnostic ecosystem to combat cancer at the earliest stage.
9 December 2025
The Razumovsky State Medical University continues to strengthen the material and technical base for providing high-tech care to patients from all over the region and other regions. For example, the radionuclide diagnostic department of University Clinical Hospital No. 1 is completing work on the commissioning of a unique diagnostic complex, SPECT-CT NM/CT 860, which promises to bring early diagnosis of a range of diseases to a new level.
"The latest checks are underway, and test scans are in pilot mode. This is a standard and very important practice that allows you to debug all processes down to the smallest detail," explains Marina Velikanova, Head of the Radionuclide Diagnostics Department, radiologist. - Two aspects are fundamentally important to us: diagnostic power and safety. This complex provides information that allows oncologists, cardiologists, and neurologists to fundamentally change the management tactics of a particular person."
The new device, which uses hybrid technologies (combining SPECT and CT), allows simultaneous assessment of both the morphological structure and functional characteristics of tissues, which is key for modern noninvasive diagnostics. Its most important advantage is the ability to scan several areas or the entire body at once, detect pathological foci and metastases from five millimeters in size in just ten minutes, while ensuring minimal radiation exposure to the patient. SPECT/CT with the possibility of three-dimensional image reconstruction helps to identify molecular changes at the earliest, often asymptomatic stages of the disease.
"The development strategy of the Radionuclide Diagnostics department of the University Clinical Hospital No. 1 represents the active introduction of hybrid technologies," notes Andrey Eremin, Rector of SSMU. - The new equipment not only expands diagnostic capabilities, but also allows you to increase throughput by reducing the study time. This makes high-tech medicine more personalized and accessible to everyone."
In addition, an important distinguishing feature of the complex is the ability to conduct accurate research for people with metal implants and pacemakers. Special emphasis will be placed on cardiological studies, including those of the heart at rest and with exercise, which will allow timely referral of patients for necessary interventions, such as stenting, and prevention of heart attacks. New equipment features make it possible to diagnose oncological, cardiological, and neurological diseases at an early stage, as well as to conduct research in the fields of uronephrology, transplantology, pediatrics, gynecology, and surgery for residents of the Saratov Region and neighboring regions.
After commissioning is completed, starting in January 2026, examinations on it will become available to all patients in need at the direction of the attending physician.
"The latest checks are underway, and test scans are in pilot mode. This is a standard and very important practice that allows you to debug all processes down to the smallest detail," explains Marina Velikanova, Head of the Radionuclide Diagnostics Department, radiologist. - Two aspects are fundamentally important to us: diagnostic power and safety. This complex provides information that allows oncologists, cardiologists, and neurologists to fundamentally change the management tactics of a particular person."
The new device, which uses hybrid technologies (combining SPECT and CT), allows simultaneous assessment of both the morphological structure and functional characteristics of tissues, which is key for modern noninvasive diagnostics. Its most important advantage is the ability to scan several areas or the entire body at once, detect pathological foci and metastases from five millimeters in size in just ten minutes, while ensuring minimal radiation exposure to the patient. SPECT/CT with the possibility of three-dimensional image reconstruction helps to identify molecular changes at the earliest, often asymptomatic stages of the disease.
"The development strategy of the Radionuclide Diagnostics department of the University Clinical Hospital No. 1 represents the active introduction of hybrid technologies," notes Andrey Eremin, Rector of SSMU. - The new equipment not only expands diagnostic capabilities, but also allows you to increase throughput by reducing the study time. This makes high-tech medicine more personalized and accessible to everyone."
In addition, an important distinguishing feature of the complex is the ability to conduct accurate research for people with metal implants and pacemakers. Special emphasis will be placed on cardiological studies, including those of the heart at rest and with exercise, which will allow timely referral of patients for necessary interventions, such as stenting, and prevention of heart attacks. New equipment features make it possible to diagnose oncological, cardiological, and neurological diseases at an early stage, as well as to conduct research in the fields of uronephrology, transplantology, pediatrics, gynecology, and surgery for residents of the Saratov Region and neighboring regions.
After commissioning is completed, starting in January 2026, examinations on it will become available to all patients in need at the direction of the attending physician.
