The program includes:
- Initial presentation in the clinic
- case history collection
- general clinical examination
- laboratory tests:
- complete blood count
- general urine analysis
- biochemical analysis of blood
- TSH-basal, fT3, fT4
- tumor markers (thyroglobulin (TG),
TG antibodies (TgAb)) - indicators of inflammation
- indicators of blood coagulation
- ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland
- thyroid scintigraphy
- radioiodine therapy
- symptomatic treatment
- cost of essential medicines
- nursing services
- stay in the hospital with full board in 2-bed room
- elaboration of further recommendations
How program is carried out
During the first visit, the doctor will conduct a clinical examination and go through the results of the available diagnostic tests. After that, you will undergo the necessary additional examination, such as the assessment of liver and kidney function, ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland and lymph nodes of the neck, thyroid scintigraphy. This will allow your doctor to assess how effective radioiodine therapy will be and how well you will tolerate it. In addition, the doctor will calculate the dosage of the drug you need.
Radioiodine therapy with I-131 includes oral administration of the drug. You will take 1 to 4 radioactive iodine capsules or drink about a teaspoon of liquid with radioactive iodine. You will take the drug in your ward, without visiting the manipulation room or operating room.
After taking radioactive iodine, you will stay in your ward for 24 to 48 hours. The next morning after the procedure, the dosimetrist will determine the amount of radiation in your body. If the amount is low, you will be allowed to leave your ward and will be discharged from the hospital. If the amount is high, then the dosimetric control will continue for another day, until a low amount of radiation in your body is detected.
The isotope I-131 can accumulate not only in the thyroid gland, but also partially in the salivary glands. This can cause dry mouth. To get rid of this side effect, you will dissolve sour candies, as this stimulates the work of salivary glands.
The drug is quickly excreted by the kidneys, and after 48 hours you will no longer pose a danger to others. After the procedure, you should drink at least 1 glass of water per hour and visit the toilet regularly. This will allow you to quickly remove radioactive iodine from the body. Food can be usual, without excess iodine in the diet.
During these 48 hours, you can read, use a mobile phone, tablet or computer. All these devices will not be a source of radiation in the future.
Control examination includes scintigraphy, which is performed 7-10 days after radioiodine therapy. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor will determine how well the cells of the thyroid gland (or cancer metastases) have accumulated radioactive iodine. In a few weeks after the procedure, you will have a control blood test for thyroid hormones. In the future, you will visit an endocrinologist regularly.
Required documents
- Medical records
- MRI/CT scan (not older than 3 months)
- Biopsy results (if available)
Service
You may also book:
About the department
The Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Memorial Bahсelievler Hospital Istanbul offers the full range of diagnostics and treatment using radionuclide drugs. The department mostly diagnoses and treats patients with cancers, diseases of the cardiovascular system, skeletal system, thyroid gland, kidneys, etc. The Chief Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Akın Yıldız.
The most popular procedures in clinical practice include scintigraphy, SPECT and PET. During the examinations, a radiopharmaceutical is injected intravenously to patients, after which the doctors use a gamma camera or PET system to make a scan. Unlike radiography, the radiation source is a radionuclide pharmaceutical drug, but not the device itself. The department has an excellent medical and technical base, as well as a brilliant professional personnel.
The department's doctors successfully perform diagnostic PET, which allows them to imagine anatomical structures, assess metabolic and physiological processes in the human body. In most cases, PET is used for the diagnostics of cancer, cardiac pathologies and diseases of the nervous system. PET uses short-lived isotopes, so the radiation exposure to a patient is equivalent to several chest x-rays. The radiopharmaceutical emits positrons at the place of accumulation in the body. They interact with electrons, after which an annihilation reaction takes place, causing the release of gamma radiation. During the examination, the patient lies on a movable table, which automatically slides out into the central opening of the scanner. The electronic equipment of the PET scanner registers the detected gamma radiation, due to which the area of accumulation of the radiopharmaceutical is imagined in the scan.
Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is also one of the most informative diagnostic examinations in modern medicine. SPECT is most often used if cancer is suspected. With the help of emission tomography, the doctor can detect the areas with impaired metabolism, which is typical for cancer cells. In especially complex clinical cases, SPECT is combined with MRI, which gives the most accurate results.
The department's range of medical services includes:
- Diagnostic procedures
- Scintigraphy
- Bone scintigraphy
- Liver scintigraphy
- Lung scintigraphy
- Parathyroid scintigraphy
- Thyroid scintigraphy
- Salivary gland scintigraphy
- Kidney scintigraphy
- Myocardial scintigraphy
- Positron emission tomography (PET).
- Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
- Scintigraphy
- Therapeutic procedures
- Radioiodine therapy for thyroid cancer, thyroid hyperfunction
- Radiosynovectomy for the treatment of chronic inflammatory processes in the joints
- Pain therapy with radioactive isotopes for bone metastases
- Other diagnostic and therapeutic services
Curriculum vitae
Professional Career
- Since 2018 Head of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Memorial Bahсelievler Hospital Istanbul.
- Since 2011 Work in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Medstar Antalya Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
- 1998 - 2011 Lecturer in Nuclear Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Istanbul, Turkey.
- 1997 Specialist in Radiology, Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
- 1992 - 1993 Specialist in Nuclear Medicine, Ankara Oncology Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Higher Education and Postgraduate Training
- 2010 Internship, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, USA.
- 1993 - 1997 Research Internship, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey.
- 1988 Research Internship, Nuclear Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.
- 1988 - 1991 Research Internship, Nuclear Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
- 1981 - 1987 Study of Human Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
Awards and Honors
- April 2015 Poster Award, 21st National Cancer Congress.
- March 2013 Best Performance Award, 8th Interventional Radiology Meeting.
- November 2013 Best Performance Award, 34th National Congress of Radiology.
- 2007 Encouraging Award, 12th National Congress of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology.
Memberships in Professional Societies
- Turkish Society of Nuclear Medicine.
- Turkish Society of Radiology.
- European Society of Radiology.
- European Association of Nuclear Medicine.
Photo of the doctor: (c) Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital
About hospital
The Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital Istanbul is an advanced multidisciplinary medical center that began its clinical practice in 2018. It is part of the world famous Memorial Healthcare Group. The hospital was designed in accordance with the very latest standards of modern architecture with the aim of providing top-class medical services in a pleasant and patient-oriented environment. It is worth noting that the interior of the medical facility is full of live plants, which have a positive impact on people and their mood. The hospital is awarded the prestigious LEED Platinum Certificate, confirming the highest level of environmental friendliness and safety of the buildings of the medical complex.
The hospital has 320 beds for patient hospitalization. The medical and technical base of the hospital is one of the best and most advanced in Turkey – modern diagnostic rooms with MRI, CT, PET-CT scanners, gamma cameras, X-ray equipment, mammography systems and other equipment, 15 operating rooms, including for robot-assisted, endoscopic and hybrid surgical interventions, intensive care units, etc. The hospital also has a high-performance state-of-the-art Elekta Versa HD SIGNATURE system for radiation therapy.
The powerful technical resources of the hospital are complemented by a highly professional medical staff, who have achieved significant success not only at the national level, but also in the international medical arena. The doctors and nursing staff of the hospital are distinguished by excellent medical qualifications, as well as humane and compassionate attitude towards each patient. They strongly support their patients on their way to recovery.
The medical center admits not only Turkish citizens for treatment, but also patients from 92 countries of the world, and therefore it boasts a wealth of experience in serving international patients with clinical cases of varying complexity.
Photo: (c) Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital, (c) depositphotos
Accommodation in hospital
Patients rooms
The patients of the Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital Istanbul live in cozy rooms with an excellent layout and modern design. The standard patient rooms are equipped with a comfortable automatically adjustable bed, a bedside table, a table and a chair, a wardrobe, a sofa for receiving visitors. The patient room also includes a TV, a telephone and Wi-Fi. Each room has an ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet. The hospital also provides patients with enhanced-comfort rooms corresponding to a five-star hotel.
Meals and Menus
The patient and the accompanying person are offered tasty and balanced three meals a day. If for some reason you do not eat all foods, you will be offered an individual menu. Please inform the medical staff about your food preferences prior to treatment.
Further details
Standard rooms include:
Accompanying person
During the inpatient program, the accompanying person can live with the patient in a patient room or a hotel of his choice. Our managers will help you choose the most suitable option.
Hotel
During an outpatient program, the patient can stay at the hotel of his choice. Our managers will help you choose the most suitable option.