Prof. Dr. Erkin Arıbal

Prof. Dr. Erkin Arıbal is a radiologist at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul, where he works in the Radiology unit with a subspecialty in Interventional Radiology. His practice covers diagnostic imaging, including ultrasound imaging, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and mammography, together with image-guided procedures, with a particular interest in breast diseases. He has more than 40 years of experience in medicine.

Dr. Arıbal graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1986 and completed his radiology training at Türkiye Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital in 1991. From 1991 to 1996 he worked as a radiodiagnostics specialist at Ankara Oncology Hospital. In 1996 he joined the Department of Radiology at Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, where he remained until 2017. During this period he served as Head of Breast Radiology (1997–2017), Head of Interventional Radiology (1998–2011) and Head of Musculoskeletal Radiology (2013–2017), was Head of Pediatric Radiology and Head of Radiology Internship from 1996 to 1998, and was responsible for orbital radiology (Orbita Radyolojisi Sorumlusu) from 1996 to 2017. In 2017 he joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services. He is a member of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe, the European Society of Breast Imaging, the Radiologic Society of North America and the European Radiology Society, serves as a Memeder Board Member, and chaired the Turkish Radiology Association Breast Radiology Group from 2011 to 2013.

Clinical focus

Dr. Arıbal’s clinical work centers on the imaging and image-guided assessment of breast diseases. This includes mammography, breast ultrasound and breast magnetic resonance imaging, as well as ultrasound-guided biopsy of breast lesions. His published work has addressed topics such as the use of volume navigation techniques to combine real-time ultrasound with contrast-enhanced MRI for locating breast lesions detected only at MRI, diffusion-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging in the differentiation of breast lesions, multiparametric breast MRI at 3T, and the radiologic findings of cancers detected in an organized population-based screening mammography program in Turkey.

Beyond breast imaging, his areas of expertise include computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and interventional radiology more broadly. His publications also cover thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy and MRI evaluation of the sacroiliac joint. Imaging findings are interpreted in the context of each patient’s history and clinical presentation, and further steps, including any image-guided procedure, are considered together with the referring physicians.

How Dr. Arıbal works with international patients

Dr. Arıbal speaks 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 mammography, ultrasound, MRI or CT reports, laboratory and pathology results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and 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 who wish to discuss their case before or instead of traveling.