The Department of “Nuclear Medicine, Metabolic Therapy, and Radiotherapy" was established as an independent structure in November 2023, after separating from the Department of “Imaging Diagnostics and Interventional Radiology," and is headed by Prof. Dr. Anelia Klisarova, DSc. The department includes two academic sectors: the Nuclear Medicine Sector, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhivka Dancheva Mezan, and the Radiotherapy Sector, led by Prof. Dr. Elitsa Encheva-Mitsova, DMSc.
A historical review shows that the original Department of “Roentgenology and Radiology" was founded in 1962. It was based in the radiology department of the Regional Hospital in Varna and, since 1987, in the Therapeutic Hospital, Varna. The radioisotope diagnostics sector was established in 1969 by Dr. Al. Maistorski. In 1970, Dr. G. Tranulov and Dr. S. Stoilova were appointed as assistants. Others who worked in the sector include Dr. E. Georgieva (resident), Asen Grigorov (physicist), and in 1980, engineer-chemist T. Ruseva, who led the newly founded radioimmunology laboratory. This lab was used to measure levels of peptide, steroid, pancreatic, vasoactive, and thyroid hormones, as well as tumor markers and other biologically active substances. In 1986, Dr. Anelia Klisarova joined the newly created Nuclear Medicine Department as an assistant. A Radiotherapy Sector was also founded in 1969.
Since 1987, the department has been based in the University Hospital “St. Marina" – Varna. It utilizes the facilities and equipment of the Department of Imaging Diagnostics, Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy at “St. Marina" University Hospital.
Heads of the Department of “X-ray and Radiology" over the years include:
- Prof. Dr. Dyanko Popmihaylov (1962–1976)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aleksi Maistorski (1976–1992)
- Prof. Dr. Luka Pranchev (1992–1999)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stefan Kovachev (1999–2004)
- Prof. Dr. Boyan Balev (2004–2020)
- Prof. Dr. Anelia Klisarova (2020–2023)
The history of the three academic disciplines using ionizing radiation for diagnosis and treatment is closely interrelated both scientifically and practically. The introduction of modern equipment for radiotherapy and diagnostics—PET/CT and SPECT/CT—along with the rapid development in nuclear medicine and radiotherapy and increased personnel demands, led to the creation of a separate department dedicated to these fields. The newly established Department of “Nuclear Medicine, Metabolic Therapy, and Radiotherapy" is headed by Prof. Dr. Anelia Klisarova, DMSc. She was Vice-Rector for Research at MU-Varna (2000–2004) and Rector from 2004 to 2012. Her scientific interests in nuclear medicine include the maxillofacial area, neurology, and psychiatry. She holds two doctoral degrees:
- “Nuclear Medicine Methods in Salivary Gland Diseases" (2004)
- “Perfusion Scintigraphy (Tc-99m-HMPAO-SPECT) in Certain CNS Diseases" (2008)
From 1996–2004, thanks to her efforts, MU-Varna was involved in numerous international imaging and nuclear medicine projects with institutions in Switzerland, Greece, and Germany. She coordinated the project to create the Bulgarian-Swiss School for Radiologic Technologists at Varna's Medical College. Prof. Klisarova also served as Minister of Education and Science in the government of Plamen Oresharski (2013–2014).
Between 1969 and 2025, numerous faculty members have defended dissertations or achieved academic habilitation, including: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Al. Maistorski (1976), Assoc. Eng. L. Petrov, PhD (1987), Assoc. Prof. Dr. G. Tranulov (1990), Prof. Dr. A. Klisarova, DMSc, Prof. Dr. Borislav Chaushev, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Dr. P. Bochev, PhD, Prof. Dr. Elitsa Encheva, PhD,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zh. Dancheva Mezan, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nina Georgieva, PhD,
Physicist Y. Baneva, PhD, Assist. Prof. Dr. Tsvetelina Yordanova, PhD, Assist. Prof. Dr. Marina Dyankova, PhD, Assist. Prof. Dr. Tanya Stoeva, PhD, Assist. Dr. Sofia Chausheva, Dr. Teodora Guggleva, PhD, Dr. Temenuzhka Radeva-Petkova, PhD.
Since 2005, the department organizes the annual national meeting of the Bulgarian Society of Nuclear Medicine – the Varna Days of Nuclear Medicine – which facilitates the exchange of ideas and experiences across all nuclear medicine clinics in Bulgaria. In 2000, the radioisotope diagnostics section hosted a European Nuclear Medicine course by the International Atomic Energy Agency. In 2005, 2008, and 2016, the department hosted sessions of the European School of Nuclear Medicine (ESNM).
Faculty are actively engaged in national and international scientific forums, publishing papers and presenting plenary lectures and posters in nuclear medicine and radiotherapy.
The Clinic of Nuclear Medicine and Metabolic Therapy is equipped with state-of-the-art and unique-for-Bulgaria devices. In 2009, PET/CT scanning was introduced for the first time in the country. In 2013, a cyclotron complex for producing fluorine-18 labeled glucose ([18F]FDG) became operational—again, first in Bulgaria. In 2019, Ga-68-labeled PET/CT imaging was introduced for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and somatostatin receptor analogs (DOTA-analogs), both firsts in Bulgaria. Since February 2020, the clinic has also operated a modern tomographic gamma camera – SPECT/CT. All types of nuclear medicine scans available in Bulgaria are performed there, including some unique to the Balkans and parts of Europe. These include conventional imaging of the thyroid, kidneys, salivary glands, and advanced SPECT/CT imaging of the heart, brain, parathyroid glands, and lymphatic system. PET/CT studies are conducted daily for cancer diagnosis, staging, restaging, and treatment monitoring. Radioiodine therapy is also routinely applied for benign and malignant thyroid diseases and palliative treatment of bone metastases.
The Radiotherapy Sector, headed by Prof. Dr. Elitsa Encheva-Mitsova, PhD, is housed in the Radiotherapy Clinic at St. Marina University Hospital, Varna—the largest high-tech radiotherapy center in the country. It is the only facility equipped with three linear accelerators, offering all advanced precision radiotherapy techniques:
- 3D conformal radiotherapy
- Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)
- Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)
- Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT)
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS and SBRT)
- Deep-inspiration breath-hold irradiation
Prof. Encheva and her team were the first in Bulgaria to introduce concurrent radiochemotherapy and hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy for lung cancer, PET/CT-based radiotherapy planning for various tumors, and breath-hold controlled irradiation for cancers of the breast, lung, liver, and others. The clinic includes a CT scanner and dosimetry equipment. It treats adults and children with both oncologic and non-oncologic conditions, including under anesthesia. The clinic was made possible through long-term efforts by St. Marina's leadership and implementation of an EU Regional Development Program (2007–2013). It officially opened in April 2015. Its successful start was the result of the dedicated work of the entire team led by Prof. Dr. Elitsa Encheva, DM. The clinic serves as a training base for students in Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Radiologic Technology, including English-language students at MU-Varna.
