Alptekin Arifoğlu, MD

Alptekin Arifoğlu, MD is a radiation oncologist working in the Radiation Oncology unit at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul. His clinical work centers on the planning and delivery of radiotherapy for patients with cancer, with particular interest in head and neck cancers, brain tumors, breast cancer and gastrointestinal oncology, as well as brachytherapy.

He graduated from Trakya University Faculty of Medicine in 1996 and completed his specialty training in Radiation Oncology at İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine in 2009. He has been working with Acıbadem Healthcare Services since 2017.

Clinical focus

Dr. Arifoğlu’s practice covers radiotherapy for several groups of cancer patients. He treats head and neck cancers, where radiation planning must take into account the position of the tumor in relation to surrounding structures such as the airway, salivary glands and spinal cord. He also treats brain tumors, in which radiotherapy may be used on its own or alongside surgery and drug treatment, depending on the type of tumor and the overall treatment plan agreed by the care team. In breast cancer, radiotherapy is commonly part of treatment after surgery, and Dr. Arifoğlu is involved in defining the treatment volumes and the schedule that fits the patient’s individual situation.

His areas of expertise further include gastrointestinal oncology, covering radiotherapy for cancers of the digestive tract, and brachytherapy, a form of radiation treatment in which a radioactive source is placed inside or very close to the tumor. Whether external radiotherapy, brachytherapy or a combination is appropriate depends on the diagnosis, the stage of disease, previous treatments and the patient’s general health; these questions are reviewed case by case, usually together with the other specialists involved in the patient’s cancer care.

How Dr. Arifoğlu works with international patients

Dr. Arifoğlu consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory and pathology results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and the hospital visit itself. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the radiotherapy options that may be relevant. Where a patient cannot travel for an initial discussion, a video consultation for international patients is available, which allows Dr. Arifoğlu to review the available documents and explain what further assessment or treatment planning might involve. Any recommendation remains preliminary until the full clinical picture, including recent imaging and pathology, has been examined.