BAJRAMI, Ismet and SPAHIU, Fakir and MIFTARI, Rame and ABDULLAHU, Luljeta and BAJQINCA PAÇARIZI, Aferdita and KRASNIQI, Bajram and KAÇIU, Ylli and JASHARI, Armend (2026) THE EVOLUTION OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO: FROM PLANAR GAMMA CAMERA IMAGING TO SPECT/CT AND PET/CT—INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS, AND FUTURE CLINICAL PERSPECTIVES. In: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “FROM RESEARCH TO APPLICATION”, 20 May, 2026.
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Abstract
Nuclear medicine in the Republic of Kosovo has evolved over recent decades from conventional radionuclide techniques into an increasingly relevant diagnostic and clinical discipline. Since its establishment in 1987, the service has contributed to the implementation of functional imaging in Kosovo, particularly in the assessment of thyroid disorders, renal function, skeletal pathology, and other radionuclide-based clinical applications. In its early phase, nuclear medicine practice was based on conventional equipment, including linear scanning systems, renal functional assessment devices, gamma counting technology, and later planar gamma camera imaging. These modalities enabled the introduction of routine procedures such as thyroid scintigraphy, liver and spleen scintigraphy, renal radionuclide examinations, and thyroid-related laboratory assessments. Over time, the service became an important national reference point for thyroid diagnostics and contributed to undergraduate, postgraduate, and specialist medical education. Following the post-war reorganization of healthcare services, nuclear medicine continued to develop within the University Clinical Center of Kosovo. The introduction of gamma camera technology expanded diagnostic capacity and allowed broader use of planar scintigraphy in endocrine, renal, skeletal, cardiologic, and oncologic indications. Subsequent modernization with a dual-head gamma camera system further strengthened routine diagnostic practice and supported the standardization of imaging procedures. The acquisition of PET/CT in 2024, followed by the installation of a triple-head SPECT/CT system in 2025, represented a defining stage in the technological advancement of nuclear medicine in Kosovo. This transition from planar functional imaging to hybrid imaging has improved anatomical localization, diagnostic confidence, and clinical interpretation. SPECT/CT is particularly valuable in parathyroid disease, skeletal pathology, thyroid-related disorders, and other conditions requiring precise anatomical correlation. PET/CT has expanded oncologic imaging by supporting disease staging, treatment planning, response assessment, follow-up, and multidisciplinary decision-making. Although considerable progress has been achieved, several practical and institutional limitations persist. These include the need for continuous professional training, protocol standardization, quality assurance, reliable radiopharmaceutical supply, infrastructure development, and stronger integration of nuclear medicine into national diagnostic and therapeutic pathways. Future development should therefore be directed toward establishing a dedicated PET/CT center and introducing theranostic services, including Gallium-68 PSMA PET/CT and Lutetium-177–based radionuclide therapy, with the aim of advancing personalized oncologic care in Kosovo.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > Q Science (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email zshi@unite.edu.mk |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Sep 2026 13:02 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Sep 2026 13:02 |
| URI: | http://eprints.unite.edu.mk/id/eprint/2397 |
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