Prof. Dr. Ziya Akar

Prof. Dr. Ziya Akar is a neurosurgeon at Acibadem Atasehir Hospital in İstanbul, where he works in the Neurosurgery unit with a subspecialty focus on Spinal Health. He has been part of Acıbadem Healthcare Services since 2001 and has more than 51 years in medicine. His clinical work covers both cranial and spinal neurosurgery, including brain aneurysms, brain tumors, hydrocephalus, peripheral nerve surgery, spinal surgery and spine and spinal cord tumors.

Dr. Akar graduated from İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine in 1981 and completed his specialty training at İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery in 1988, the same year he began working there as a lecturer. In 1993 he completed a fellowship in vascular surgery and stereotactic surgery at İllionis University Neuropsychiatry Institute. He was appointed Associate Professor at İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1994 and Professor in 2000. He is a member of the European Society of Streotaxy and Functional Neurosurgery and the Türk Nöroşirurji Association. His published work includes a series of anatomic and clinical studies on endoscopic endonasal approaches to the skull base, cavernous sinus and orbit, an article on technique and timing in peripheral nerve surgery, and experimental research on interleukin-12 treatment in a rat glioma model.

Clinical focus

In cranial neurosurgery, Dr. Akar evaluates and treats patients with brain tumors, brain aneurysms and hydrocephalus. His training in vascular and stereotactic surgery and his publications on endoscopic skull base anatomy reflect a long-standing interest in these areas. He also performs peripheral nerve surgery, where the choice of technique and the timing of intervention are assessed individually for each patient.

In spinal neurosurgery, his practice includes spinal surgery for lumbar disc herniation and cervical disc herniation, as well as the surgical management of spine and spinal cord tumors. Spine health more broadly forms part of his work in the Spinal Health subspecialty, and treatment recommendations depend on the patient’s symptoms, imaging findings and previous treatments.

How Dr. Akar works with international patients

Dr. Akar 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, 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 who wish to discuss their case before travelling, and any recommendation made remotely is reviewed again at the in-person examination.