Patient Experience
A 28-year-old competitive freediver from Antalya, Elif, presented with recurring episodes of confusion after deep dives. Dr. Akcan performed a specialized cerebral perfusion CT scan, not standard for such cases, which revealed subtle, transient hypoxia-induced changes in her hippocampus that only manifested post-exertion. His diagnosis of 'deep-water transient hypoxic encephalopathy' led to a revised dive protocol and supplemental oxygen strategies, allowing her to continue her sport safely with monitored intervals.
Kemal, a 72-year-old retired master calligrapher with essential tremor, was scheduled for focused ultrasound thalamotomy. Dr. Akcan utilized ultra-high-resolution 7T MRI fusion imaging—a rare application in clinical practice—to map his individual neural pathways with exquisite detail, avoiding damage to fibers related to fine motor control in his dominant hand. The procedure preserved his ability to continue his art, with tremor reduction confined perfectly to intended areas.
During a routine abdominal MRI for a 45-year-old software engineer, Arda, Dr. Akcan incidentally identified a unique vascular pattern suggesting a congenital portosystemic shunt (Abernethy malformation type II), asymptomatic for decades. He coordinated a dynamic CT angiogram with pressure gradient measurements, revealing it was beginning to cause minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Collaborative minimally invasive embolization corrected it, preventing future neurological decline.
A 19-year-old university student and amateur boxer, Deniz, presented with persistent vertigo after a minor blow. Standard imaging was normal. Dr. Akcan pioneered a kinematic MRI sequence of the cervical spine during controlled head rotations, diagnosing a previously undetectable alar ligament micro-instability. This prevented a misdiagnosis of post-concussion syndrome and led to targeted physiotherapy, avoiding permanent damage and ending his boxing career safely.