Breast Diseases & Surgery
Prof. Dr. A. Levent Alpay
Thoracic Oncology & Lung Cancer Surgery
- Surgical treatment of primary lung cancer
- Surgery for non-small cell lung cancer and selected complex lung tumours
- Lung-preserving cancer surgery
- Pulmonary wedge resection
- Anatomical segmentectomy
- Lobectomy and bilobectomy
- Pneumonectomy for advanced or centrally located lung tumours
- Sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplastic lung resections
- Surgical removal of pulmonary metastases
- Repeat lung surgery for recurrent or metastatic disease
- Mediastinal lymph-node dissection and surgical cancer staging
- Multidisciplinary evaluation of locally advanced thoracic cancers
Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
- Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery — VATS
- Uniportal and multiportal VATS procedures
- Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery — RATS
- Minimally invasive lung cancer surgery
- Thoracoscopic lobectomy and segmentectomy
- Minimally invasive mediastinal tumour surgery
- Minimally invasive pleural and diaphragmatic surgery
- Enhanced-recovery approaches following thoracic surgery
Pulmonary Nodules and Diagnostic Thoracic Surgery
- Evaluation and surgical management of suspicious pulmonary nodules
- Surgical biopsy of lung masses and deep pulmonary lesions
- Thoracoscopic wedge biopsy
- Open and minimally invasive lung biopsy
- Bronchoscopy and diagnostic airway procedures
- Mediastinoscopy and mediastinotomy
- Surgical staging of lung cancer
- Biopsy of mediastinal and pleural lesions
Complex Lung and Airway Surgery
- Tracheal tumour surgery
- Tracheal resection and reconstruction
- Bronchial resection and reconstruction
- Carinal resection and reconstruction
- Surgery for airway narrowing and tracheal stenosis
- Surgery for benign and malignant airway tumours
- Management of complex central lung tumours
- Lung-sparing bronchoplastic procedures
Mediastinal and Thymic Surgery
- Surgery for mediastinal masses and tumours
- Thymoma and thymic carcinoma surgery
- Minimally invasive and robotic thymectomy
- Surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis
- Surgery for mediastinal cysts
- Management of anterior, middle and posterior mediastinal lesions
- Resection of complex mediastinal tumours involving neighbouring structures
Pleural Diseases and Mesothelioma Surgery
- Surgical treatment of pleural tumours
- Malignant pleural mesothelioma evaluation and surgery
- Pleural biopsy
- Pleurectomy and decortication
- Surgical treatment of pleural effusion
- Management of empyema and infected pleural collections
- Thoracoscopic drainage and decortication
- Surgery for pleural thickening and trapped lung
Pneumothorax and Bullous Lung Disease
- Surgical treatment of spontaneous and recurrent pneumothorax
- Thoracoscopic bullectomy
- Blebs and bullae resection
- Pleurodesis and pleurectomy
- Surgery for giant bullous lung disease
- Surgical management of persistent air leakage
- Lung-volume-reduction procedures for selected patients with emphysema
Chest Wall and Thoracic Reconstruction
- Chest wall tumour surgery
- Resection of primary and metastatic chest wall tumours
- Rib and sternal tumour surgery
- Chest wall reconstruction using advanced surgical techniques
- Surgical treatment of chest wall infections
- Pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum surgery
- Reconstruction following extensive thoracic tumour removal
- Management of traumatic chest wall injuries and rib fractures
Diaphragm Surgery
- Surgical treatment of diaphragmatic hernias
- Diaphragm tumour resection
- Diaphragmatic repair and reconstruction
- Surgery for diaphragmatic paralysis
- Diaphragmatic plication
- Management of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries
Benign Lung Diseases and Thoracic Infections
- Surgical treatment of bronchiectasis
- Surgery for pulmonary hydatid cysts
- Surgical management of tuberculosis-related lung damage
- Treatment of lung abscesses and chronic pulmonary infections
- Surgery for congenital pulmonary abnormalities
- Resection of benign lung tumours
- Surgical management of pulmonary sequestration and congenital airway malformations
Oesophageal and Foregut Surgery
- Surgical treatment of oesophageal cancer
- Minimally invasive oesophagectomy
- Surgery for benign oesophageal tumours
- Management of oesophageal perforation
- Surgery for achalasia and selected swallowing disorders
- Hiatal and paraoesophageal hernia surgery
- Surgical treatment of complex gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
Thoracic Trauma and Emergency Surgery
- Emergency treatment of penetrating and blunt chest trauma
- Surgical management of lung and airway injuries
- Treatment of haemothorax and traumatic pneumothorax
- Rib fixation and chest wall stabilisation
- Surgical treatment of diaphragmatic rupture
- Management of postoperative thoracic complications
Additional Areas of Expertise
- Thoracic sympathectomy for severe excessive sweating — hyperhidrosis
- Surgical management of thoracic outlet syndrome
- Redo and revision thoracic surgery
- Treatment of postoperative air leaks and bronchopleural fistulas
- Complex thoracic surgery following chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Multidisciplinary treatment planning for thoracic cancers
- Second-opinion evaluation for complex lung and chest conditions
Advanced Thoracic Surgery in Istanbul, Türkiye
Our thoracic surgery specialists provide comprehensive evaluation and advanced surgical treatment for lung cancer, pulmonary nodules, mediastinal tumours, pleural diseases, airway disorders and complex chest conditions. Whenever medically appropriate, minimally invasive techniques such as VATS and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery are considered to reduce surgical trauma and support a more comfortable recovery.
International patients receive coordinated support throughout their medical journey, including specialist case review, diagnostic planning, hospital arrangements, treatment coordination, interpretation services, accommodation assistance and postoperative follow-up.
Education:
- 1993 – Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine
Graduated from one of Türkiye’s established medical schools and received his medical degree.
- 1993–1996 – Compulsory Medical Service, Birecik, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
Completed his compulsory public medical service in Birecik, Şanlıurfa.
- 1996 – Süreyyapaşa Centre for Thoracic Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Istanbul
Began his specialist residency training in thoracic surgery.
- 2001 – Specialist Qualification in Thoracic Surgery
Completed his residency and qualified as a specialist in thoracic surgery.
Academic Appointments:
- 2001 – Thoracic Surgery Specialist, Süreyyapaşa Centre for Thoracic Diseases and Thoracic Surgery
Began practising as a thoracic surgeon after receiving his specialist qualification.
- 2004 – Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, United States
Undertook advanced clinical studies at Cleveland Clinic, with a particular focus on lung cancer surgery and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery — VATS.
- 2010 – Chief Assistant in Thoracic Surgery
Appointed to the position of Chief Assistant, undertaking advanced clinical, surgical and departmental responsibilities.
- 2015 – Associate Professor of Thoracic Surgery
Awarded the academic title of Associate Professor.
- 2015 – Clinical Educator in Thoracic Surgery
Appointed as a medical education officer, contributing to the specialist training and clinical education of thoracic surgery physicians.
- 2021 – Professor of Thoracic Surgery, University of Health Sciences
Appointed to a professorial position at the University of Health Sciences in Türkiye.
- 2023–2026 – Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Medicana Ataköy Hospital, Istanbul
Provided advanced diagnostic and surgical care for patients with lung, pleural, mediastinal and other thoracic conditions.
- 2026–Present – Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Medistate Çekmeköy and Medistate Kavacık Hospitals, Istanbul
Continues to provide specialist evaluation and advanced thoracic surgical treatment for local and international patients.
International Thoracic Surgery Experience
Prof. Dr. A. Levent Alpay has extensive clinical and academic experience in thoracic surgery, including advanced training in the United States. His professional background includes the surgical treatment of lung cancer, minimally invasive VATS procedures, mediastinal surgery, pleural surgery, pneumothorax treatment and pulmonary metastasectomy.
He provides thoracic surgery consultations and individualised surgical treatment planning for international patients travelling to Istanbul from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and European countries.
Selected Scientific Publications in Thoracic Surgery and Lung Cancer
Prof. Dr. A. Levent Alpay has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed medical studies in thoracic surgery, including research on minimally invasive VATS procedures, lung cancer surgery, pulmonary hydatid disease, bronchiectasis, pneumothorax, thoracic oncology, pleural diseases and complex pulmonary resections. His scientific work has been published in internationally recognised medical journals indexed in SCI and SCI-Expanded databases.
Alpay L, Lacin T, Atinkaya C, Kiral H, Demir M, Baysungur V, Okur E, Yalcinkaya I. Video-assisted thoracoscopic removal of pulmonary hydatid cysts. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. 2012;42(6):971–975. doi:10.1093/ejcts/ezs338.
Alpay L, Lacin T, Kanbur S, Kiral H, Ersoz E, Bayram S, Dogruyol T, Baysungur V, Yalcinkaya I. Are the ^18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings in bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors different than expected? Hellenic Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 2013;16:213–217.
Kosar A, Kapicibasi HO, Alpay AL, Misirlioglu AK, Sonmez H, Iskender I, Demirhan R. The experimental use of N-butyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive in pulmonary wedge resections. Heart, Lung and Circulation. 2012;21(11):711–714. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2012.06.020.
Misirlioglu AK, Alpay L, Kanbur S, Oztas S, Kiral H, Dogruyol T, Baysungur V, Yalcinkaya I. Pleural solitary fibrous tumors: an analysis of 11 cases. Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2014;22(2):376–381. doi:10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2014.8332.
Okur E, Kir A, Halezeroglu S, Alpay AL, Atasalihi A. Pleural tenting following upper lobectomies or bilobectomies of the lung to prevent residual air space and prolonged air leak. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. 2001;20(5):1012–1015. doi:10.1016/S1010-7940(01)00947-2.
Arinc S, Alpay L, Okur E, Koksal C, Sogukpinar O, Kosif A, Halezeroglu S, Atasalihi A. Recurrent pulmonary hydatid disease: analysis of ten cases. Surgery Today. 2008;38:983–986. doi:10.1007/s00595-008-3759-x.
Arinc S, Kosif A, Ertugrul M, Arpag H, Alpay L, Unal O, Devran O, Atasalihi A. Evaluation of pulmonary hydatid cyst cases. International Journal of Surgery. 2009;7:192–195.
Kiral H, Tezel C, Ocakcioglu I, Vayvada M, Bayram S, Urek S, Alpay L. One-port videothoracoscopic surgical intervention. Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy & Percutaneous Techniques. 2015;25(1):40–42. doi:10.1097/SLE.0000000000000013.
Alpay L, Lacin T, Kanbur S, Dogruyol T, Baysungur V, Yalcinkaya I. Congenital broncho-esophageal fistulas in adult patients. Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology. 2014;25(5):578–579. doi:10.5152/tjg.2014.4884.
Alpay L, Lacin T, Kosar A, Misirlioglu AK, Oztas S, Sonmez H, Cosgun T, Baysungur V, Yalcinkaya I. Diagnostic algorithm in patients with superior vena cava syndrome and efficacy of cervical mediastinoscopy. Acta Chirurgica Belgica. 2014;114(5):309–312.
Alpay L, Lacin T, Teker D, Okur E, Baysungur V, Kanbur S, Misirlioglu AK, Sonmez H, Yalcinkaya I, Kiyak M. A comparative cost analysis study of lobectomy performed via video-assisted thoracic surgery versus thoracotomy in Turkey. Videosurgery and Other Miniinvasive Techniques. 2014.
Kiral H, Evman S, Tezel C, Alpay L, Lacin T, Baysungur V, Yalcinkaya I. Pulmonary resection in the treatment of life-threatening hemoptysis. Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2015;21(2):125–131. doi:10.5761/atcs.oa.14-00164.
Ersoz E, Evman S, Alpay L, Akyil M, Vayvada M, Gurer D, Bayram S, Tezel C. Chondrosarcoma of the anterior chest wall: surgical resection and reconstruction with titanium mesh. Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2014;6(10):E230–E233. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2014.09.30.
Icmeli OS, Alpay LA, Gundogmus B, Turker H, Sen A. Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: a rare tumor of the lung. European Clinical Respiratory Journal. 2014;1:25390. doi:10.3402/ecrj.v1.25390.
Alpay L, Evman S, Dogruyol T, Kiral H, Lacin T, Vayvada M, Baysungur V, Yalcinkaya I. Survival in adenosquamous cancer of the lung: is it really so unfavorable? Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2015;23(4):690–694. doi:10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2015.10823.
Ocakcioglu I, Alpay L, Demir M, Kiral H, Akyil M, Dogruyol T, Tezel C, Baysungur V, Yalcinkaya I. Is single port enough in minimally invasive surgery for pneumothorax? Surgical Endoscopy. 2016;30(1):59–64. doi:10.1007/s00464-015-4161-6.
Baysungur V, Dogruyol T, Ocakcioglu I, Misirlioglu A, Evman S, Kanbur S, Alpay L, Tezel C. The feasibility of thoracoscopic resection in bronchiectasis. Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy & Percutaneous Techniques. 2017;27(3):194–196.
Evman S, Alpay L, Metin S, Kiral H, Demir M, Yalcinsoy M, Baysungur V, Yalcinkaya I. The efficacy and economical benefits of blood patch pleurodesis in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax patients. Polish Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. 2016;13(1):21–25.
Evman S, Baysungur V, Alpay L, Uskul B, Misirlioglu AK, Kanbur S, Dogruyol T. Management and surgical outcomes of concurrent tuberculosis and lung cancer. Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon. 2017;65(7):542–545. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1583167.
Tezel C, Dogruyol T, Alpay L, Akyil M, Evman S, Metin S, Baysungur V, Yalcinkaya I. Prognostic importance of the lymph node factor in surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer. Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon. 2020;68(2):183–189. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1675345.