ghp June 2015

8 | ghp June 2015 Oncology Institute at European Medical Centre in Moscow Opens PET Diagnostics and High-Accuracy Radiotherapy Departments Group of Companies European Medical Centre (GEMC, www.emcmos. ru/en) became the first private clinic in Russia to open a Positron Emis- sion Tomography (PET-CT) Department with its own production of phar- maceuticals, and a Radiation Cancer Therapy Department featuring two linear accelerators. GEMC has thus created an unprecedented Institute of Oncology among private clinics in Russia, imple- menting a comprehensive oncologic protocol – from screening and high-accuracy diagnostics (MRI, PET/ CT, pathomorphology, immunohistochemistry, genetic testing) to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, da Vinci robot-assisted surgery, provision of psychological support for patients and their families, palliative care and pain treatment. “The project received over ten favourable decisions and permits on security from regulatory bodies and expert organizations. All facilities are equipped with modern radiometric and radiation-monitoring equip- ment certified in Russia according to national and international standards,” – stated Leonid Shayman, GEMC Board Member responsible for the creation of the PET-CT and the Radiation Therapy Departments. “The main advantage of the equipment is its ability to apply more intense radiation exposure in less time, greatly increasing the effectiveness of treatment, while reducing the length and number of sessions. The department provides round-the-clock emer- gency radiotherapy for oncologic emergencies, and radiation treatment of cancer in children over three,” – added Shayman. The PET-CT and Radiotherapy Centre is located at the multifunctional GEMC hospital on Shchepkin street 35 in Moscow. The total amount invested is 1.35 billion rubles. The annual capacity of PET-CT Diagnostics Centre is 6,000 patients, of the radiation therapy department – 25,000 patients. The Department of Radionuclide Diagnostics is equipped with PET-CT and CT systems Philips Gemini (USA) and the single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system Philips Brightview XCT (USA). The department features a cyclotron by IBA that produces its own PET-CT radiopharmaceuticals. The extended quality control laboratory, equipped with the most modern equipment, is operational. A research technique on sentinel lymph node for breast cancer and melanoma is applied. An expansion of radiopharmaceutical production choline and tyrosine applied in oncourology and neurosurgery is planned in autumn 2015. The Department of Radiotherapy is equipped with TrueBeam and Trilogy linear accelerators by Varian (USA). Treatment is performed by highly-skilled professionals trained in radiation therapy in leading clinics in Israel and the USA Leading world experts participated in the project, including: Professor Eyal Mishani, Head, Cyclotron Radiochemistry Unit, Hadassah University Hospital (Israel); Professor Pablo Ros, Head, Department of Radiology, University Clinic of Ohio (USA); Professor Gustav von Schulthess, Chairman of Nuclear Medi- cine Clinic at University Hospital, Zurich (Switzerland), among other renowned specialists. The opening of the PET-CT Diagnostics and Radi- otherapy Departments represents the final stage in forming a system of full cycle medical treatment of on- cologic patients at GEMC – clinics with a 25-year-old history of practice in line with international standards. The GEMC Oncology Institute combines several specialized clinics and diagnostic units led by highly-qualified professionals, including clinics of on- cology and hematology, neurosurgery, gynecological oncology, urogynecology, and the centre for breast cancer treatment. news