Yakup Kordan — Koç University Hospital, Istanbul

More about the doctor

Yakup Kordan is a professor of urology and a urologic oncologist whose clinical interests, according to the hospital, include cancers of the prostate, kidney, bladder and testis, adrenal tumors, and robotic and laparoscopic surgery. He sees patients at Koç University Hospital in Istanbul. According to the hospital, he has practiced urology since 2003, when he completed his residency.

According to the hospital, Kordan trained in urologic oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the USA in 2008–2009. He joined Koç University School of Medicine in 2017 and has been a full professor since 2019.

When prostate cancer is suspected, he performs MRI-ultrasound fusion biopsy, a targeted biopsy that overlays MRI images on live ultrasound to sample the suspicious area. According to the hospital, his practice also includes kidney stone procedures, laser surgery for benign prostate enlargement and treatment of urinary incontinence. He is part of the hospital's organ transplant team and takes part in kidney transplantation.

His recent research, co-authored with colleagues, covers robotic prostate surgery and PSMA PET/CT in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Urologic oncology with Yakup Kordan in Turkey

Yakup Kordan's clinical interests at Koç University Hospital in Istanbul include prostate, kidney, bladder and testicular cancer and adrenal tumors. According to the hospital, robotic and laparoscopic surgery is one of his main specialties, performed through several small incisions rather than one large cut. Urology and robotic surgery are grouped in its ARIES center (Advanced Robotic, Invasive Endoscopic Surgery Center).

Prostate cancer: from biopsy to surgery

According to the hospital, Kordan performs MRI-ultrasound fusion biopsy of the prostate, a targeted biopsy that overlays MRI images on live ultrasound to sample the suspicious area. When cancer is confirmed, one of the options he discusses with the patient is robotic radical prostatectomy, the removal of the prostate gland. His PubMed publications cover this field, including fluorescence-guided extended pelvic lymph node removal during robotic radical prostatectomy (Journal of Robotic Surgery, 2023) and the role of PSMA PET/CT in predicting tumor grade after biopsy (World Journal of Urology, 2024).

Kidney stones and enlarged prostate

Outside oncology, the hospital lists three stone treatments in his practice: RIRS, removal of a stone with a flexible scope passed through the urinary tract with no incision; PNL, removal of a large stone through a small puncture in the back; and ESWL, breaking a stone with shock waves from outside the body. For benign prostate enlargement he uses HoLEP, holmium laser enucleation, and GreenLight laser vaporization of prostate tissue. He also co-authored a systematic review of robotic-assisted simple prostatectomy (Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2020).

Traveling abroad makes most sense for treatment that depends on surgical experience and equipment. Shock wave lithotripsy for a small stone is widely available, so a trip for it alone is not always justified.

Urinary incontinence and kidney transplant

According to the hospital, his clinical interests include treatment of urinary incontinence and kidney transplantation. According to the hospital, Kordan is part of the team at the Prof. Dr. Münci Kalayoğlu Organ Transplant Center, where kidney transplants are also performed robotically, on the da Vinci Xi system.

Training and experience

According to the hospital, Kordan graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Hacettepe University in 1996 and completed his urology residency at Gazi University in 2003; he has practiced urology since then. From 2003 to 2017 he worked at Uludağ University, trained in urologic oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (USA) in 2008–2009, and has been at Koç University since 2017. The full timeline is in the Education and career section.

How to prepare for a consultation

For a prostate cancer consultation, have ready your PSA results with dates, the prostate MRI report and image files, the biopsy pathology report with the Gleason score if a biopsy has been done, and a list of current medications. For kidney or bladder cancer, bring CT or MRI scans with the report and a discharge summary; for stones, a kidney CT and a urine test.

Worth asking the hospital: which approach, robotic or laparoscopic, is proposed in your case, how many days you need in Istanbul before and after surgery, and when you can fly home.

Questions and answers

What does Yakup Kordan specialize in?

Yakup Kordan is a urologist and urologic oncologist. According to the hospital, his clinical interests include prostate, kidney, bladder and testicular cancer and adrenal tumors; his practice also includes procedures for kidney stones, benign prostate enlargement and urinary incontinence, and kidney transplantation.

Where does Yakup Kordan see patients?

At Koç University Hospital in the Topkapı area of Istanbul. He has worked at Koç University School of Medicine since 2017.

Does Yakup Kordan perform robotic surgery?

Yes. According to the hospital, robotic and laparoscopic surgery is one of his main specialties.

How experienced is Yakup Kordan?

According to the hospital, he has practiced urology since 2003, when he completed his residency. He trained in urologic oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (USA) in 2008–2009 and has been a professor at Koç University since 2019.

What language is the consultation in?

Public sources do not list the languages he speaks. According to the hospital, interpreters are available for international patients; the consultation language is confirmed when booking.

What documents are needed for a prostate cancer consultation?

PSA results with dates, the prostate MRI report and image files, the biopsy result with the Gleason score if a biopsy has been done, and a list of current medications.