He studied medicine at the University of Athens, trained in Lyon and Paris. In 1941 he was elected full professor of pathology at the University of Thessaloniki, but resigned due to the German occupation. He came to Athens and took over the direction of the Pathology Clinic of the Athens General State Hospital. In 1947 he was elected Associate Professor of Pathology.

He was involved in laboratory and experimental research. In 1935 he described a new disease of the glands which was eventually registered as Petzetakis Disease. He also worked on leukaemia and his research was awarded a prize by the Paris Academy in 1951. He was funded by the Pasteur Institute and studied Hodgkin’s disease. He was also involved in research on cancer. He was awarded many international prizes and the French Legion of Honor.