M.D. Mehtap Baştugral

As a 72-year-old retired botanist, I discovered an unusual growth on my tongue while examining plant specimens. Dr. Baştugral didn't just analyze the biopsy; she spent thirty minutes discussing how my decades of handling rare tropical plants might relate to the pathology. Her cross-disciplinary approach led to a diagnosis of an exceptionally rare fungal-associated lesion she'd only seen in literature. Her detailed report guided my ENT specialist perfectly.

Our 8-year-old daughter's recurring fevers baffled multiple pediatricians. Dr. Baştugral examined her bone marrow slides and noticed a subtle pattern others missed. She personally called us to explain, in gentle terms a child could understand, what her 'blood factories' were doing. Her diagnosis of a rare periodic fever syndrome changed our treatment approach completely.

After my motorcycle accident, emergency surgeons removed what they thought was damaged tissue from my abdomen. Dr. Baştugral's pathology report revealed it was actually a previously undetected desmoid tumor that the trauma had exposed. Her urgent call to the surgical team prevented what would have been incomplete resection. She found the silver lining in my trauma.

As a 45-year-old competitive freediver, I worried a lymph node biopsy might end my career. Dr. Baştugral, understanding the pressure concerns, developed a specialized analysis protocol to minimize tissue sampling while maximizing diagnostic accuracy. Her innovative approach confirmed benign reactive changes while preserving my physical integrity for diving.