Anadolu Medical Center
Specialist in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases with extensive training at top Turkish hospitals. Currently practices at Gaziantep Özel Defa Life Hospital.
The doctor is a highly qualified specialist in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, holding a medical degree from Hacettepe University. With extensive clinical training, the doctor completed a specialization in Internal Medicine at Ankara University followed by subspecialty training in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at Ufuk University.
The doctor has achieved significant academic and professional milestones, including an Associate Professorship in 2013 and reaching the rank of Professor in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at Istinye University in 2019. Throughout a distinguished career, the doctor has demonstrated a deep commitment to the field, contributing to both clinical practice and medical education.
Dr. Goksun Ayvaz is a professor trained in internal medicine and in endocrinology and metabolism. He earned his MD from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1983. He completed compulsory service in Nevsehir from 1983 to 1985. He worked at the Department of Internal Medicine at Gazi University in 1985 and in 1994. He completed a residency in the United States in 1990 and subspecialty training in endocrinology and metabolism in the United States in 1996.
He served as an internal medicine specialist in the Internal Medicine and Cardiology units at Ankara Numune Hospital and Ankara Bayindir Medical Center. His academic titles are Assistant Professor (1996–1997), Associate Professor (1997), and Professor (2003). In 1997, he conducted research at the Experimental Medicine Laboratory of the Université libre de Bruxelles with Prof. W. J. Malaisse on pancreatic islet isolation and static incubation.
Medical interests include Graves disease (toxic goiter), Graves orbitopathy, thyroid disease (nodules and thyroid cancer), diabetes mellitus (insulin resistance and latent diabetes), obesity, and gonadal and pituitary diseases.
Dr. Bulen Can is an endocrinology specialist at Memorial Göztepe Hospital in Istanbul. He previously served as a faculty member at Istanbul Medeniyet University. Dr. Can holds a subspecialty degree in endocrinology from the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. He treats patients at a clinic equipped with AI-supported imaging and digital PET/CT technology.
Goiter treatment in Turkey includes medication, radiofrequency ablation, and specialized surgeries like total thyroidectomy or robotic procedures. JCI-accredited centers in Istanbul use American standards for diagnosis and care. Expert endocrinologists often combine ultrasound-guided biopsies with advanced imaging to create personalized treatment plans.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish medical centers provide high clinical volume that directly correlates with safety. Anadolu Medical Center serves 65,000 patients annually and maintains an affiliation with Johns Hopkins. This patient volume allows surgeons to manage complex cases that smaller regional clinics may refer out. When choosing a clinic, prioritize those with multidisciplinary tumor boards if the goiter requires surgery.
Patient Consensus: Patients often emphasize that medication may not be enough for very large goiters causing neck pressure. Many note it is vital to select a surgeon who performs thyroid operations daily to avoid voice changes.
Specialists in Turkey diagnose goiter using physical neck exams, TSH blood tests, and high-resolution ultrasound imaging. JCI-accredited hospitals in Istanbul provide standardized protocols. These include fine-needle aspiration biopsies and radioactive iodine scintigraphy to evaluate nodules. Diagnostic results are typically available within 24 to 48 hours.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish endocrine centers like Memorial Göztepe Hospital use AI-supported 3 Tesla MRI and 512-slice CT for complex cases. These advanced tools are crucial when large goiters compress the trachea or esophagus. Choosing a facility with integrated imaging ensures a diagnosis is reached without visiting multiple locations.
Patient Consensus: Patients note the process is very efficient, with blood work and ultrasounds often completed on the first day. Many suggest bringing previous scans to prevent repeating tests and to fast-track surgical planning if needed.
Thyroid surgery in Turkey typically leaves a faint horizontal scar in a lower neck skin crease. Surgeons use meticulous closure techniques to ensure it fades within 8 to 12 months. Advanced Turkish facilities also offer robotic or endoscopic options that avoid neck incisions entirely.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many focus on scar length, clinic volume is a better indicator of cosmetic success. Medipol Mega University Hospital serves 1,000,000 patients annually and utilizes the Da Vinci Surgical System. High-volume centers often possess more experience in scar-sparing robotic techniques than smaller clinics.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that the final scar is often much smaller than they initially expected. They emphasize that following strict post-op wound care and sun protection is vital for the best results.
Plan to stay in Turkey for 7 to 10 days for surgical goiter treatment. This timeframe covers pre-operative diagnostics, the procedure, and essential follow-up care. Clinics like Anadolu Medical Center provide on-site logistics to manage this schedule efficiently for international patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Many patients overlook that top-tier facilities like Medipol Mega University Hospital serve over 1,200 patients daily. This high volume means diagnostic departments move quickly, but pathology reports for goiter tissues can still take several days. Booking a hotel within 15 minutes of the clinic, a service offered by Anadolu Medical Center, is a vital logistical strategy to reduce stress during the mandatory post-operative waiting period.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to avoid booking tight return flights because post-surgical monitoring for pain or voice issues can sometimes add a few days. They emphasize that building in a flexible buffer helps manage the administrative time required for hospital paperwork and final surgeon confirmation.
Turkey is a leading destination for thyroid goiter treatment due to high surgical volumes and JCI-accredited facilities. Expert endocrinologists like Dr. Kubilay Ukinc handle complex cases using advanced diagnostics. Patients benefit from modern surgical systems like Da Vinci and integrated care in multidisciplinary centers.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish endocrine centers demonstrate high clinical maturity through academic affiliations, such as Anadolu Medical Center's partnership with Johns Hopkins. Data shows top-tier facilities handle over 60,000 patients annually. This volume allows specialists to refine techniques for nerve preservation and vocal cord safety during complex goiter removals.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to confirm the surgeon's personal volume of thyroid operations rather than just clinic reputation. Fast scheduling and bundled services make the process easier for international travelers.
Turkey offers thyroid goitre treatments including thyroidectomy, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and radioiodine therapy. Patients access minimally invasive endocrine surgery at JCI-accredited facilities. Leading specialists like Prof. Dr Erhan Ayşan at Yeditepe University Hospitals provide scarless options that preserve normal thyroid function.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish endocrinology departments often combine diagnostic speed with surgical volume. For instance, Medipol Mega University Hospital serves 1,000,000 patients annually. This high patient flow means surgical teams handle complex goitre cases daily. They use intraoperative nerve monitoring as a standard to protect vocal cords.
Patient Consensus: Patients find that modern Turkish hospitals prioritise minimally invasive options like ablation for cystic nodules. They emphasise that patients start with a thyroid ultrasound in Turkey. The ultrasound confirms if medication or surgery is needed.
Verify clinical safety by checking for Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation and Turkish Ministry of Health authorisation. Australian patients should prioritise university-affiliated hospitals, such as Anadolu Medical Center or Medipol Mega University Hospital. These centres maintain rigorous quality standards and use international medical protocols.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Quality often follows scale in Turkish healthcare. Leading centres like Medipol Mega University Hospital serve 1,000,000 patients annually. This massive volume allows departments to specialise deeply in endocrine surgery. This leads to higher success rates for complex thyroid goitre cases compared to smaller clinics.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasise checking official health ministry listings rather than just social media. They note that clear communication before surgery is the best test of clinic quality in Turkey.
Thyroid goiter surgery in Turkey carries minor risks of voice changes and scarring. However, experienced surgeons maintain high safety standards. Temporary hoarseness affects some patients due to swelling or nerve irritation. Permanent vocal nerve injury occurs in less than 2% of routine cases in JCI-accredited facilities.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many focus on general hospitals, choosing a centre with a dedicated multidisciplinary tumour board, like Memorial Göztepe Hospital, means complex goiters are assessed by multiple specialists. This collaborative approach significantly reduces the risk of nerve damage during the removal of large or difficult masses.
Patient Consensus: Patients note their voices often sound raspy or weak like a cold initially but improve steadily. They recommend using silicone tape and sun protection to help neck scars fade into faint lines over several months.
Daily medication depends on the specific procedure. Total thyroidectomy requires lifelong hormone replacement. Partial removals or radiofrequency ablation often allow the remaining gland to function normally. Specialists in Istanbul use thyroid function tests. These help decide if supplementation is necessary after surgery or radioiodine therapy.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish endocrinology departments often provide multidisciplinary care that reduces medication dependency. At clinics like Memorial Göztepe, surgeons use AI-supported imaging and robotic systems. This helps them perform precise partial removals. Prof. Dr Erhan Ayşan specialises in these minimally invasive endocrine techniques. This precision often preserves enough healthy tissue to avoid permanent daily medication.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that dose adjustments are common in the first months after treatment in Turkey. They emphasise that regular blood tests are vital until thyroid levels finally stabilise.
Patients typically need 7 to 10 days in Turkey for thyroid goitre surgery. This timeframe allows for pre-operative blood tests, ultrasounds, and biopsies. It also covers 1 to 2 nights in hospital. It includes a week of post-operative monitoring before flying back to Australia.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While surgery is the standard, Turkish professors like Prof. Erhan Ayşan at Yeditepe University specialise in radiofrequency ablation. This technique can significantly reduce on-the-ground time compared to traditional thyroidectomy. Patients should confirm if their goitre type is suitable for ablation. This could potentially shorten their trip.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that the procedures are often quick. However, the true recovery of thyroid levels takes weeks. Most recommend staying the full 10 days in Turkey. This allows all drain removals and wound checks to be completed by the surgeon.