On July 6, the 5th Azerbaijan Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Symposium was held in Baku organized by the National Center of Oncology and the Azerbaijan Nuclear Medicine Society. Specialists from various countries, including the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, and others, participated in the event alongside experts from Azerbaijan.

Discussing the current state and future prospects of nuclear medicine, along with the latest advancements in cancer prevention and treatment methods, highlights the symposium's goal of sharing knowledge and fostering innovation in oncology and nuclear medicine.

The Chief Physician of the National Center of Oncology, Azad Karimli, extended greetings on behalf of the Center's General Director, Academic Jamil Aliyev. He highlighted that nuclear medicine is among the most critical areas of modern healthcare, playing a vital role in both diagnosis and treatment.

According to him, developments in the field of healthcare haven't bypassed Azerbaijan: "The role of President Ilham Aliyev in advancing healthcare in our country should be highlighted. Establishing nuclear medicine in Azerbaijan was quite challenging. Thanks to the initiative of Academic Jamil Aliyev, Director General of the National Oncology Center, the Nuclear Medicine Center was established and inaugurated in 2016. Dazhu Yang, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also participated in the opening ceremony. This marked a significant achievement for Azerbaijan's healthcare system. Nuclear medicine represents one of the latest medical advancements, benefiting not only oncology but also the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases."

Nadir Zeynalov, the deputy minister of health, emphasized that the symposium is dedicated to the rapidly evolving field of medicine, rooted in advancements in basic sciences. He noted that the development of nuclear medicine is intricately linked to achievements in physics and chemistry: "The discovery and preparation of radionuclides occurred predominantly in the 1920s and 1930s, with their application in medicine commencing in the 1950s and 1960s. A significant breakthrough in this field occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. The integration of radionuclides with anatomical imaging methods has already yielded valuable diagnostic insights."

He mentioned that nuclear medicine encompasses both diagnostic procedures and treatments involving radionuclides. These radionuclides emit ionizing radiation, which is essential for their therapeutic and diagnostic applications. He emphasized that while these methods can impact human health, the dosage must be carefully calibrated to achieve the desired medical outcomes while minimizing harm. This delicate balance is the focus of nuclear medicine specialists, whose training requires significant time and expertise. He further stated, "Today's symposium serves as a highly successful platform for exchanging experiences and knowledge in this field."

The symposium featured distinguished participants including a leading researcher of the National Center of Oncology Professor Aziz Aliyev, President of the European Society of Nuclear Medicine and Professor of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands Rudi Dierckx, Professor Francesco Giammarile from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Professor of the Department of Oncology and Endocrinological Surgery at the University of Florida in the USA Seza Gülech, Head of the Nuclear Medicine and Radionuclide Therapy Department of the National Center of Oncology Fuad Novruzov, President of the  International Centers for Precision Oncology Foundation (ICPO) and Professor of Frankfurt University in Germany Richard Baum, Chairman of the Nuclear Medicine Society of Turkey and Professor of Hacettepe University Murat Fani Bozkurt, and others.

During the symposium, presentations covered a wide array of topics including "Oncological nuclear medicine services in Europe", "Radionuclide treatments and insurance payments in the USA", "Nuclear medicine services in Turkey", "Nuclear medicine in Azerbaijan", "The role of PET/CT in the surgery of head and neck tumors", and "Thyroid cancer treatment: a new paradigm", and etc.