The Department of Medical Imaging of the Clinical Center at the University of Debrecen provides the full spectrum of imaging diagnostics, delivering high-quality radiology and nuclear medicine services within an integrated framework. In addition to serving Debrecen, the Department plays a key role in the radiological care of Hajdú-Bihar County.
Radiological services are organized in an integrated system that covers not only Debrecen but the entire county. Patient examinations are performed at the Nagyerdei and Kenézy Campuses, the Outpatient Care Center on Bethlen Street, and the Breast Diagnostic Center on Jerikó Street. The Department also provides professional supervision of radiological services at the Count István Tisza Campus in Berettyóújfalu.
In Debrecen, imaging services are supported by a comprehensive infrastructure including 14 X-ray units, 3 mammography systems, 16 ultrasound units, 6 CT scanners, 4 MRI systems, and 3 DSA units. During weekdays, approximately 50–60 board-certified radiologists and 25–30 residents provide services across around 50 outpatient clinics. Overnight, seven physicians simultaneously ensure continuous on-call diagnostic coverage, primarily focusing on emergency cases, including surgical and internal medicine emergencies, trauma cases, and the immediate imaging of stroke patients.
Overall, the Department operates with a workforce of 65 specialists, 35 residents, 220 healthcare professionals, 22 administrative staff members, and 12 additional experts (including physicists, and technical and financial specialists).
Patient pathways are aligned with levels of care and clinical profiles. The Bethlen Street Outpatient Center primarily serves referrals from primary care, while the Breast Diagnostic Center is responsible for county-level breast cancer screening and comprehensive breast diagnostics. The Kenézy Campus mainly serves county-level patients, whereas the Nagyerdei Campus focuses on patients from Debrecen and its surrounding region.
A key strength of the Department is the uniform professional approach across all sites, supported by standardized protocols and continuous quality improvement.
Among the most prominent services in radiology are advanced cardiac CT and MRI examinations, as well as a 24/7 interventional radiology service available seven days a week. This includes not only stroke interventions but also urgent neurosurgical and oncological interventional procedures, as well as the management of acute vascular occlusions requiring immediate treatment. MRI systems also support imaging required for neurosurgical and radiosurgical planning.
Pediatric imaging represents another priority area, as the Clinical Center provides regional—and for certain conditions, national-level—care in pediatric oncology, neurology, and neurosurgery.
One of the greatest challenges is ensuring continuous imaging diagnostics for oncology patients. In these cases, accurate staging and assessment rely primarily on CT and MRI, complemented by PET imaging when necessary, alongside laboratory and pathological findings. CT and MRI examinations are performed within 14 days in accordance with legal requirements; however, maintaining this standard requires continuous weekend operation.
In the field of nuclear medicine, patient care has been outsourced since 2006 and is currently provided by Scanomed Ltd.
A particularly important component of the Nuclear Medicine Unit is the Radiochemistry Laboratory, which is responsible for the production of tracer molecules essential for positron emission tomography (PET). These tracers enable visualization of glucose metabolism, protein metabolism, specific receptors, and other tissue characteristics, playing a crucial role in oncological diagnostics.