Prof. Dr. Ülkü Tuncer

Prof. Dr. Ülkü Tuncer is an otorhinolaryngology specialist at Acibadem Adana Hospital in Adana, where she works in the Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) unit with a subspecialty focus on Head and Neck Surgery. With more than 37 years in medicine, her clinical work covers hearing and balance disorders, ear surgery, nasal and sinus conditions, sleep-related breathing concerns, swallowing problems, and head and neck cancers.

Dr. Tuncer graduated from Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine in 1989 and completed her specialization in Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases at Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine in 1998. Her training also includes a period at Pittsburgh University, Eye and Ear Institute (1996–1997), further training in Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases at George August University Faculty of Medicine in Germany (2002), and the Visiting Physician Program at the House Ear Institute in the United States (2009). She has been part of Acıbadem Healthcare Services since 2018. Her published work, in journals such as Auris Nasus Larynx, J Int Adv Otol and Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, includes studies on cochlear implantation and its effect on vestibular function, endoscopic versus microscopic stapes surgery, surgical and medical management of complications in pediatric cochlear implantation, and reviews on the pathophysiology of tinnitus, otosclerosis, and Meniere’s disease.

Clinical focus

A substantial part of Dr. Tuncer’s practice concerns the ear and hearing. She evaluates and treats patients with hearing loss, including cochlear implants in suitable candidates and the assessment of pediatric hearing loss. She also sees patients with vertigo and balance disorders, where a careful history and examination are used to guide further testing and treatment. Acoustic wave therapy is among the approaches listed in her areas of expertise.

In head and neck surgery, Dr. Tuncer manages head and neck cancers, including oral cancer and tongue and tongue-base cancer, and discusses surgical options when they are indicated. Her nose and throat work includes rhinoplasty, anosmia (loss of smell), sinus conditions such as sinusitis, tonsillectomy, and the evaluation of dysphagia (swallowing difficulty). She also assesses sleep-related breathing concerns such as snoring and sleep apnea, as well as voice complaints.

How Dr. Tuncer works with international patients

Dr. Tuncer 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, audiological and laboratory results, pathology reports, 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 available options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their case before deciding whether to travel.