Assoc. Prof. M.D. Dilek Hacer Çeşme

A 72-year-old retired ship captain from Istanbul's historic Galata district presented with unexplained weight loss and abdominal discomfort. Dr. Çeşme performed a multiphase CT scan that revealed a rare neuroendocrine tumor in the pancreatic tail, masquerading as a benign cyst on prior ultrasounds. The precise vascular mapping she provided allowed surgeons to perform a successful spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. The patient, who had sailed the Mediterranean for decades, called her 'my lighthouse in the fog' during his six-month follow-up scan showing no recurrence.

A 19-year-old nationally-ranked rhythmic gymnast arrived with sudden-onset chest pain during training. Initial ECGs were inconclusive. Dr. Çeşme conducted a cardiac MRI with stress perfusion imaging, identifying a previously undiagnosed anomalous coronary artery origin—a condition that had tragically claimed other young athletes. Her detailed 3D reconstruction guided a minimally invasive surgical correction. The athlete returned to competition within nine months, dedicating her next gold medal to the imaging team.

A 34-year-old Syrian refugee and mother of three, working in a textile workshop, presented with progressive headaches and vision changes. Limited by language barriers and fragmented medical history, Dr. Çeşme performed a contrast-enhanced MRI that revealed a large meningioma compressing the optic chiasm. She coordinated with social services to arrange treatment funding and used simplified visual aids to explain the procedure. Post-operative imaging confirmed complete resection, with the patient's vision gradually improving over twelve weeks.

A 58-year-old celebrated ceramic artist from Cappadocia was referred after a routine mammogram showed architectural distortion. Dr. Çeşme performed tomosynthesis-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy, diagnosing a low-grade DCIS. Rather than immediate surgery, she recommended active surveillance with six-month follow-up MRI, respecting the patient's desire to complete an international exhibition. Two years later, the lesion remains stable, allowing the artist to continue her work while monitored.