Department of Radiology

ABOUT

The main objective of the activity – the application of modern, scientifically based methods of radiation diagnostics to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

TASKS

• The search for the most optimal modern methods of radiological diagnosis by identifying individual pathological changes.
• Research and application of new diagnostic methods in clinical practice would be based on scientific evidence.
• Discussion and presentation of innovations and opportunities in radiology science in the study process.
• Continuous improvement of the provision of radiological assistance, improvement of qualification of radiology doctors and radiology technicians. 

HISTORY

The purposeful development of radiography – radiology science is related to the Department of Roentgenology and Radiology established at the Kaunas Medical Institute at the time. This department was established in 1956. The heads of the Department were: P. Jašinskas (1956-1972), E. Keleras (1972-1977), L. Gradauskas (1977-1983). Later, the name and structure of the department were changed several times. In 1983, two small departments were merged into one unit, forming the Department of Anaesthesiology, Reanimatology and Radiology, the head of which was A. Lukoševičiūtė (1983-1989), and the head of the Radiology unit – Gradauskas.
     In 1989, the Department of Radiology and Roentgenology began to provide courses in oncology, and the department was named the Department of Radiology and Oncology. The head of the department was Z. Satkevičius and of the oncology sector was S. Jarašius. This department operated until 1991. During the entire period of the existence of the department , there were employed (assistants, docents): J. Šukytė-Čaikauskienė, A. Sutkus, H. Gintautas, R. D. Bandzaitienė, V. T. Ragaišienė, J. Kiudelis, E. Juozaitytė, A. Basevičius, D. Virvičiūtė-Skorupskienė and others. Specialised diagnostic offices were established: in 1963 – consultation clinics, in 1979 – neurosurgery branch, in 1989 – endocrinology branch. Special contrast, functional, ultrasonic, interventional methods have been introduced and applied, and computer tomography and radionuclide diagnostics have been developed. Since 1991, the Department of Radiology of KMU has been established. It’s Heads –  Dr. V. Stankevičius (1991-1992), Prof. L. Gradauskas (1992-1997), Prof. Z. V. Satkevičius (1997-2002) and Prof. A. Basevičius (from 2002 to present). In the current LSMU Department of Radiology, 5 units are in operation – X-Ray (Head – Dr. E. Jonaitienė), Tomography (Head – Prof. S. Lukoševičius), Interventional Radiology (Head– Assoc. Prof. R. S. Kaupas), Nuclear Medicine (Head – Dr. G. Kuprionis) and the Radiological Diagnostics Unit located in the branch of Kaunas Clinics – Oncology Hospital (Head – Dr. I. Gineikienė). In 2012, a new Radiology Diagnostic Centre was opened, adapted for clinical diagnostic and educational work, where the most complex Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) and other nuclear medicine studies are carried out. The Centre has 7 specialised units: neuroradiology, abdominal and pelvic radiology, thoracic radiology, skeletal and soft tissue radiology, facial-neck radiology, cardiovascular radiology and special radiology. Currently, the Department of Radiology employs over 250 people, including over 100 radiology doctors and echoscopy specialists, more than 50 residents, more than 80 radiology technicians and other nursing personnel. The Department of Radiology is the largest department of radiology diagnostics in Lithuania, where modern radiology diagnostic equipment is concentrated – digital X-ray and mammography equipment and offices, 10 ultra-sound diagnostic devices, 4 computed tomography devices, 3 magnetic resonance imaging devices, 3 gamma cameras, angiography and bone densitometry (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)) device, one of two in Lithuania – PET (positron emission tomography) device. Radiological examinations are carried out at any time of the day, as 3 radiology doctors and 3 resident radiology doctors are constantly on duty. If necessary, at any time of the day, not only diagnostic, but also therapeutic procedures of interventional radiology can be performed. The number of radiological examinations and procedures performed is constantly increasing. In 2017, more than 300,000 general X-ray scans were carried out, about 30,000 mammographic scans, about 30,000 bone densimetry (DEXA) scans, more than 60,000 UG scans, over 30,000 scans, over 8,000 MRI scans, more than 14,000 nuclear medicine tests (including more than 800 PET tests), more than 4,000 diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of interventional radiology. In the Department of Radiology, the only one in Lithuania, specialised cardiovascular CT (320 slice scanner) tests, MRI examinations of pregnant women suspected of foetal malformations, highly specialised functional MRI and CT (perfusion) and a whole number of other studies are performed.