Işık Sözen

Işık Sözen


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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14 March 2025 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GŞGÖZDE ŞAHİN
GÖZDE ŞAHİN
AHAyşe Hazırbulan
Ayşe Hazırbulan
ISIşık Sözen
Işık Sözen
NCNilufer CETINKAYA
Nilufer CETINKAYA
İAİsmet Alkış
İsmet Alkış
HAHİLAL SERAP ARSLAN
HİLAL SERAP ARSLAN
Background: Accurate and timely diagnosis of endometrial cancer is crucial for guiding effective treatment and improving patient survival. Endometrial cancer diagnosis, staging, metastasis detection, and treatment planning utilize endometrial biopsy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning as crucial diagnostic modalities. Aggressive subtypes such as serous, mixed cell, clear cell, and grade 3 endometrioid carcinomas present considerable diagnostic and therapeutic obstacles given their unfavorable prognosis, underscoring the importance of accurate preoperative evaluation. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from seventy patients diagnosed with serous, mixed cell, clear cell, or grade 3 endometrioid endometrial cancer, who received surgical treatment from 2020 to 2023. To assess the diagnostic capabilities of each modality in determining final pathology and disease staging, a comparison was performed using results from preoperative endometrial biopsy, MRI, PET/CT, and postoperative histopathology. Cohen’s kappa coefficient was employed to determine the level of agreement observed between pre- and postoperative results. Results: Endometrial biopsy demonstrated moderate yet statistically significant concordance with definitive histopathological diagnoses (κ = 0.537, p < 0.001); however, diagnostic errors were observed, especially in instances of mixed and clear cell carcinomas. MRI demonstrated efficacy in identifying local tumor invasion, yet its capacity to detect distant metastases was demonstrably limited. PET/CT was most effective in identifying distant metastases and omental involvement in advanced-stage disease. Conclusions: Definitive pathological diagnosis and staging of endometrial carcinoma are effectively established using endometrial biopsy and MRI. The utility of PET/CT is particularly pronounced in identifying distant metastases in patients with serous carcinoma and advanced-stage disease. Integrating biopsy, MRI, and PET/CT into a multimodal diagnostic strategy enhances diagnostic accuracy and enables personalized treatment planning, particularly for aggressive tumor subtypes.

26 March 2026 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ISIşık Sözen
Işık Sözen
GŞGÖZDE ŞAHİN
GÖZDE ŞAHİN
YUYuksel Ulu
Yuksel Ulu
DYDilara Yitiz
Dilara Yitiz
BKBasak Kayan
Basak Kayan
IYIlkbal Temel Yuksel
Ilkbal Temel Yuksel
Background and Objectives: In women who are positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), abnormal cytology necessitates colposcopy and biopsy; however, cytology–histology concordance is variable and may differ by menopausal status. This study aimed to evaluate the concordance between cytologic findings and biopsy results in hrHPV-positive women with abnormal Pap tests and to compare outcomes by menopausal status. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 904 hrHPV-positive women with abnormal cytology who underwent colposcopy. Cytology findings [atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), atypical squamous cells—cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL)] were compared with histological findings [normal, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)-1, -2, -3]. Menopausal status was stratified as premenopausal (<48 years) and postmenopausal (≥48 years). Rates of cyto-histologic concordance, overestimation, and underestimation were calculated. Results: The predominant cytological result was ASC-US (61.7%), followed by LSIL (25.3%), whereas histologically, CIN was most common (66.5%; CIN-1: 42.8%, CIN-2: 11.5%, CIN-3: 12.2%). Cytology–biopsy concordance was 50.7%, with overestimation in 35.4% and underestimation in 13.9%. Overestimation was highest in ASC-US (43.9%) and ASC-H (37%), while underestimation was most frequently seen in LSIL cases (27.1%). HSIL cytology showed the highest agreement (85.7%). Conversely, LSIL cytology showed higher cyto-histologic concordance in postmenopausal women, whereas ASC-H and HSIL cytologies were more commonly overestimated in comparison to premenopausal women. Using ASC-H/HSIL as the positive cytology threshold for CIN-2+ detection, sensitivity was 41.1% and specificity was 95.8% [positive predictive value (PPV) 75.2%, negative predictive value (NPV) 84.0%; overall accuracy 82.9%]. The sensitivity and NPV were higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women (50.0% vs. 39.9%; 91.3% vs. 82.3%, respectively). Conclusions: Cytology–histology concordance is moderate among women who are hrHPV-positive with abnormal cytology, characterized by notable underestimation in low-grade cytology and strong predictive value in HSIL cases. Menopausal status influences the outcomes; in postmenopausal women, high-grade lesions are less frequent, and diagnostic accuracy for detecting CIN-2+ is higher. These findings highlight the need for age- and menopause-sensitive diagnostic approaches.

18 September 2025 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GŞGÖZDE ŞAHİN
GÖZDE ŞAHİN
AHAyşe Hazırbulan
Ayşe Hazırbulan
HAHatice Argun Atalmış
Hatice Argun Atalmış
IYIlkbal Temel Yuksel
Ilkbal Temel Yuksel
ISIşık Sözen
Işık Sözen
İAİsmet Alkış
İsmet Alkış
Background: Adnexal masses are common in women across different age and hormonal states: pregnancy, premenopause, and postmenopause. Ovarian carcinoma, a malignancy arising in the adnexa, poses significant health risks. While malignancy risk increases with age and postmenopausal status, current methods for stratifying borderline cases remain inadequate, potentially leading to over- or undertreatment that may affect fertility or survival. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted with 318 adult women who were diagnosed with adnexal masses and underwent surgery at a university hospital between 2020 and November 2023. Patient data were retrieved from the hospital’s electronic medical record system. Routinely measured preoperative serologic parameters—carbohydrate antigen (CA)125, CA19-9, CA15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) levels—were analyzed alongside final histopathological results. No procedures outside routine clinical practice were performed. Diagnostic performance of each marker was evaluated using receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. Results: A total of 318 patients with adnexal masses were analyzed. The FAR levels were significantly elevated in malignant compared to borderline and benign groups (p < 0.001), and FAR alone showed 47% sensitivity and 91% specificity for borderline tumors, whereas CA125 showed 70% sensitivity and 85% specificity. Multivariate models combining FAR, CA125, and CA15-3 achieved the highest diagnostic accuracy, with superior AUCs compared to single biomarkers. Conclusions: FAR is a simple, accessible inflammatory marker that complements CA125 by enhancing specificity. Combination of multiple markers with the highest sensitivity and specificity, together with FAR, may reduce the risk of both false negatives, offering a more balanced and accurate diagnostic tool for preoperative stratification of borderline tumor cases.

14 July 2026 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ISIşık Sözen
Işık Sözen
ZBZeliha Fusun Baba
Zeliha Fusun Baba
IAIlayda Aksoy
Ilayda Aksoy
GTGokce Nur Esen Topal
Gokce Nur Esen Topal
GŞGÖZDE ŞAHİN
GÖZDE ŞAHİN
IYIlkbal Temel Yuksel
Ilkbal Temel Yuksel
Background/Objectives: Borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) is an ovarian neoplasm of low malignant potential that lacks stromal invasion. The aim of this study was to compare intraoperative frozen section analysis (IFSA) findings with final pathology results in patients diagnosed with BOT on frozen sections and to identify risk factors associated with cancer. Methods: This study included data from patients who underwent surgery for an ovarian mass between 2020 and 2024 and were diagnosed with BOT on IFSA. Demographic, obstetric, and clinical characteristics, as well as frozen section and final pathology findings, were recorded. The CAR, NLR, and PNI scores were calculated. Patients were grouped as premenopausal or postmenopausal and compared. Based on the final pathology report, patients were also classified as having BOT or cancer and compared. Results: A total of 92 patients were included in the study, and 53 (57.6%) were postmenopausal. The prevalence of cancer was significantly higher in the postmenopausal group (p = 0.022). Final pathology revealed cancer in 11 patients (11.9%). Age group > 45 years (OR = 12.50) and serous subtype on IFSA (OR = 10.77) were significant risk factors for cancer detection. Cutoff values for distinguishing carcinoma from BOT were identified for CAR (≥1.75), NLR (≥2.64), and PNI (≤48.64). Conclusions: In this study, the rate of invasive carcinoma on final pathology among patients diagnosed with BOT on IFSA was 11.9%. Age group > 45 years and serous subtype on IFSA were independent risk factors. The cutoff values for CAR, NLR, and PNI may support risk stratification for carcinoma.

5 December 2025 in Bagcilar Medical Bulletin
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ISIşık Sözen
Işık Sözen
CŞCihat Şen
Cihat Şen
The Effect of Prenatal Screening Tests on Maternal Anxiety Levels - Bagcilar Medical Bulletin

29 September 2026 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BKBasak Kayan
Basak Kayan
IOIpek Ozturk
Ipek Ozturk
YOYahya Ozgun Oner
Yahya Ozgun Oner
BABurcu Esen Akkas
Burcu Esen Akkas
MKMeryem Kaya
Meryem Kaya
IYIlkbal Temel Yuksel
Ilkbal Temel Yuksel
Background/Objectives: To evaluate whether complete metabolic response (CMR) on 18F-FDG PET/CT after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is associated with complete cytoreduction at interval debulking surgery (IDS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced high-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma. Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort included 87 patients with FIGO stage III–IV high-grade serous carcinoma undergoing 18F-FDG PET/CT before and after NACT. Metabolic response was classified as CMR or non-CMR using criteria adapted from PERCIST. The primary outcome, complete cytoreduction (R0), was assessed using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, FIGO stage, and number of NACT cycles. PFS and OS were analyzed from the interval debulking surgery (IDS) landmark using the Kaplan–Meier method, and PFS was further evaluated with Cox regression. Results: CMR was observed in 34 patients (39.1%). Complete cytoreduction was achieved in 62 (71.3%) and was more frequent with CMR (85.3% vs. 62.3%; p = 0.025). CMR was independently associated with R0 (adjusted OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.18–10.75; p = 0.024; sensitivity 46.8%, specificity 80.0%, PPV 85.3%). In the IDS-landmark analysis, median PFS was longer in the CMR group (12.9 vs. 9.1 months; p = 0.027), but this association was attenuated and no longer significant after adjustment for R0. OS did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.259). Conclusions: Post-NACT CMR was independently associated with complete cytoreduction and may support preoperative risk stratification. However, given its limited sensitivity, CMR should not be used as the sole determinant for IDS.