23:11, 05 February 2026

AI-Assisted X-Ray Imaging Is Helping Doctors in Russia’s Kuzbass Treat Blood Cancer Patients

Physicians in Novokuznetsk are combining advanced radiology and artificial intelligence to improve care for oncology patients.

Doctors at Novokuznetsk City Clinical Hospital No. 29 named after A. A. Lutsik are successfully using advanced imaging techniques to treat patients with blood cancers.

Modern spiral computed tomography (SCT) has become a mandatory standard in hematological diagnostics, the Kuzbass regional health ministry said.

The Doctor Sees Everything

Patients at the hospital undergo comprehensive SCT scans, covering areas from the chest to the pelvis, often with contrast enhancement. This approach produces highly detailed images, making it possible to detect enlarged lymph nodes, damage to internal organs, bones, and soft tissues. As a result, physicians can accurately determine the stage of the disease.

The method is indispensable both for initial diagnosis and for monitoring the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Doctors can see whether a tumor has shrunk and decide on the next course of treatment.

Clinicians and diagnostic specialists work in close coordination, an approach that has already proven effective.

“For example, during a recent follow-up SCT scan of a patient with lymphoma, we detected extranodal involvement — tumor spread beyond the lymph nodes — affecting soft tissues and bones. That information allowed us to revise the therapy by adding targeted drugs, making the treatment more effective,” said Yulia Dolgushina, a hematologist in the hospital’s hematology and chemotherapy department.

Clearer Images, Lower Radiation

The ministry noted that modern multislice CT scanners outperform older single-slice models. They offer faster scanning speeds, reduced radiation exposure, clearer images, and 3D visualization capabilities.

“Lower radiation doses while maintaining image clarity are achieved through the use of intelligent systems. The scan itself is carried out fairly quickly, which is especially important for patients in serious condition,” said radiologist Yuri Olistratenko.

He added that specialists at Novokuznetsk’s Hospital No. 29 also use AI-based systems for preliminary analysis of imaging results.

“AI has become a reliable assistant for us, but the final decision and responsibility always remain with the physician. Our experience is now helping train the algorithms, making them more accurate. We expect that in the future this will allow doctors to devote even more attention to complex cases and help clinicians adjust therapy in a timely manner,” Olistratenko said.

Earlier, we reported that participants in the Moscow Innovation Cluster, the Innovators Academy program, and the Moscow Innovator Award are developing advanced technological solutions for cancer prevention and treatment.

Medicine and healthcare