Prof. Kutsal Turhan, MD

Prof. Kutsal Turhan, MD is a thoracic surgery specialist at Acibadem Kent Hospital (Izmir) in İzmir, Turkey, where he works in the Thoracic Surgery Department. His practice is devoted to the surgical care of conditions affecting the chest. With more than 28 years in medicine, he assesses and treats patients whose chest conditions may call for a surgical opinion, further evaluation or an operation.

Dr. Turhan graduated from Ege University Faculty of Medicine in 1998. He then completed his specialty training in Thoracic Surgery at Ege University Faculty of Medicine, finishing in 2004. He joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services in 2023 and holds the academic title of professor.

Clinical focus

Dr. Turhan’s clinical work is centered on thoracic surgery, the surgical discipline concerned with the organs and structures of the chest. This area of practice is often described together with heart surgery under the broader heading of cardiothoracic surgery. Within thoracic surgery, the question of whether an operation is appropriate, and which approach is suitable, depends on the individual diagnosis, the patient’s general health and any treatment already received. Not every patient who is assessed will be advised to have surgery; in some situations, further diagnostic evaluation or a non-surgical pathway may be considered more suitable, and the timing of any procedure is weighed against the patient’s overall condition.

A surgical opinion is formed on the basis of the information available, including existing imaging, laboratory and pathology results and reports of earlier procedures, together with a clinical examination. For this reason, complete and up-to-date records are helpful when a patient seeks an assessment. Where the available information is not sufficient to reach a conclusion, additional investigations may be recommended before any decision about treatment is made. Dr. Turhan discusses the findings and the possible options with the patient, so that care can be planned according to the individual clinical situation rather than a fixed protocol.

How Dr. Turhan works with international patients

Dr. Turhan 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, for example MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory and pathology results, operative notes and discharge summaries, arranges appointments and organises the hospital visit. 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 options. Video consultation is available for international patients, which may be useful for an initial review of records or for follow-up questions, although any decision about surgery depends on the full clinical picture and, where necessary, an in-person examination.