Prof. M.D. Arzu Akçay

A 24-year-old competitive freediver from Antalya presented with recurrent episodes of confusion and headaches after deep dives. Initial neurological workup was normal. Dr. Akçay received a temporal artery biopsy showing unexpected cholesterol emboli and microscopic arterial dissection, not typical decompression sickness. Her diagnosis of a rare connective tissue variant affecting arterial integrity under extreme pressure led to the diver's retirement from competition but prevented a potential stroke.

An 82-year-old retired history professor, an avid collector of antique painted toys, was admitted with progressive neurological decline and anemia. Multiple specialists suspected late-onset dementia. Dr. Akçay examined a bone marrow biopsy and identified lead inclusion bodies in erythroid precursors, connecting it to his habit of restoring old toys with traditional lead-based paints. Chelation therapy halted his decline, though some cognitive deficits remained.

A 7-year-old girl from a rural village presented with a mysterious abdominal mass. The surgical specimen sent to Dr. Akçay contained a well-formed teratoma. Within it, she identified not just typical tissues, but organized dental structures matching a supernumerary tooth pattern and pancreatic acinar cells, suggesting a highly unusual developmental pathway. Her detailed report guided genetic counseling for the family regarding recurrence risks.

A 38-year-old immigrant construction worker from Syria, with limited Turkish, had a persistent non-healing skin lesion on his forearm. Initial biopsies elsewhere suggested a reactive process. Dr. Akçay reviewed deeper sections and performed special stains, identifying the causative fungal hyphae of Chromoblastomycosis, a tropical infection likely acquired in his homeland. Targeted antifungal therapy finally promoted healing after 18 months.