Kristen B. Pytynia, M.D., MPH
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Kristen B. Pytynia
Dr. Pytynia is a Professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center. She specializes in surgical therapy of malignant lesions of the head and neck, including skin cancers, mucosal squamous cell cancers and salivary malignancies. Dr Pytynia has her MPH and is interested in outcomes research for patients with head and neck cancer.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Head And Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Section Chief - Houston Area Locations, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2004 | The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, US, MPH in Public Health |
| 1997 | Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, US, MD |
| 1993 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, US, BS in Biochemistry & Biology |
Postgraduate Training
| 2016-2017 | Heart of Leadership, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2016-2016 | Physician in Medicine, American Association for Physician Leadership, Orlando, Florida |
| 2016-2016 | Resolving Conflict, American Association for Physician Leadership, Orlando, Florida |
| 2002-2004 | Clinical Fellowship, Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 1997-2002 | Clinical Residency, Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Board Certifications
| 2003 | American Board of Otolaryngology |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2018
Associate Professor, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2010 - 2012
Faculty, Jesse Brown VA, Chicago, IL, 2004 - 2012
Assistant Professor, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2004 - 2010
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Sugar Land Expansion Planning Meeting, 2023 - Present
Member, Cancer Network Adjunct Appointment (CNAA) Review Committee, 2022 - Present
Lead, Clinical Network Head & Neck Integration Retreat, 2021 - 2022
Member, Clinical Faculty Review Committee MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, HAL Clinical Research Steering Committee, 2018 - 2020
Member, Houston Area Locations (HAL) Regulatory Practice Committee, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - 2020
Member, Cancer Survivorship Clinical Care Committee, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - Present
Faculty Director, Head and Neck Surgery Survivorship, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - Present
Member, Faculty Senate, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - 2019
Member, Medical Records Committee, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - 2017
Member, Summit Medical Group Relationship Team, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2020
Member, Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers Secondary Pathology - Head & Neck Case Review, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015
Member, Continuity of Care Team, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - Present
Member, Cancer Network Design Innovation - Outpatient Clinic Team, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - Present
Member, CN-H Regional Marketing Advisory Committee, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - Present
Member, Design Innovation Team (new Westside Facility), MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - Present
Representative, MD Anderson at Cooper Relationship Team, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - Present
Representative, Patient History Database Ad Hoc Committee, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2015
Participant, CS&E Project - Reduction of Length of Stay Following Head & Neck Free Flap Reconstruction, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2016
Head and Neck Surgery Representative, EHR Officer, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2016
Member, Peer Support Program, University of Illinois-Chicago, 2011 - 2012
Alternative Member, UIC Medical Executive Committee, University of Illinois-Chicago, 2010 - 2011
Member, Peer Review Committee - UIC Multidisciplinary Committee to Review Moralities, University of Illinois-Chicago, 2009 - 2012
Member, The Gold Humanism Honor Society Committee, University of Illinois-Chicago, 2008 - Present
Chair, Time to Third Available Appointment, University of Illinois-Chicago, 2007 - 2008
Chair, Immediate Post-Operative Tracheostomy Care Guidelines, University of Illinois-Chicago, 2006 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2022 | Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, Press Ganey |
| 2018 - 2022 | Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) 218 TOP 1%ile Top Performer, 2021, Press Ganey |
| 2018 | Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) 2018 Top 10% Performer, Press Ganey |
| 2011 | The Maurice F. Rabb & Jose F. Pulido Award for Excellence in Medical Education in Surgery, University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine |
| 2008 - 2009 | Medical Student Teaching Award - Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Illinois |
| 2002 | Resident Travel Award, American Radium Society |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Contrera, KJ, Tam, S, Pytynia, KB, Diaz Jr, EM, Hessel, AC, Goepfert, RP, Lango, MN, Su, SY, Myers, JN, Weber, RS, Eguia, A, Pisters, PW, Adair, DK, Nair, AS, Rosenthal, D, Mayo, LL, Chronowski, G, Zafereo, M, Shah, SJ. Impact of Cancer Care Regionalization on Patient Volume. Annals of surgical oncology 30(4):2331-2338, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36581726.
- Martino, R, Fitch, MI, Fuller, C, Hope, A, Krisciunas, GP, Langmore, SE, Lazarus, CL, Macdonald, CL, McCulloch, T, Mills, G, Palma, DA, Pytynia, KB, Ringash, J, Sultanem, K, Theurer, J, Thorpe, K, Hutcheson, KA. The PRO-ACTIVE trial protocol. BMC cancer 21(1), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34645411.
- Karpinets, T, Mitani, Y, Liu, B, Zhang, J, Pytynia, KB, Sellen, LD, Karagiannis, DT, Ferrarotto, R, Futreal, A, El-Naggar, AK. Whole-genome sequencing of common Salivary Gland carcinomas. Clinical Cancer Research 27(14):3960-3969, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34011559.
- Lee, DY, Brayer, KJ, Mitani, Y, Burns, EA, Rao, P, Bell, D, Williams, MD, Ferrarotto, R, Pytynia, KB, El-Naggar, AK, Ness, SA. Oncogenic orphan nuclear receptor NR4A3 interacts and cooperates with MYB in acinic cell carcinoma. Cancers 12(9):1-20, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32867110.
- Townes, TG, Navuluri, S, Pytynia, KB, Gunn, GB, Jomaa, M, Gilmore, K, Chapman, PH, Bell, KV, Fournier, DM, Janik, MA, Joseph, LM, Zendehdel, S, Hutcheson, KA, Goepfert, RP. Assessing patient-reported symptom burden of long-term head and neck cancer survivors at annual surveillance in survivorship clinic. Head and Neck 42(8):1919-1927, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32112621.
- Maniakas, A, Jozaghi, Y, Zafereo, M, Sturgis, EM, Su, SY, Gillenwater, AM, Gidley, PW, Lewis, CM, Diaz Jr, EM, Goepfert, RP, Kupferman, ME, Gross, N, Hessel, AC, Pytynia, KB, Nader, M, Wang, RJ, Lango, MN, Kiong, KL, Guo, T, Zhao, X, Yao, CM, Appelbaum, EN, Alpard, J, Garcia, JA, Terry, S, Flynn, JE, Bauer, S, Fournier, DM, Burgess, CG, Wideman, C, Johnston, M, You, C, De Luna, R, Chambers, MS, Hofstede, TM, Cardoso, R, Aponte Wesson, R, Won, AM, Otun, AO, Gombos, DS, Al-Zubidi, NS, Hutcheson, KA, Gunn, GB, Rosenthal, D, Gillison, M, Ferrarotto, R, Weber, RS, Hanna, EY, Myers, JN, Lai, SY. Head and neck surgical oncology in the time of a pandemic. Head and Neck 42(6):1194-1201, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32342541.
- Saluja, K, Ravishankar, S, Ferrarotto, R, Zhu, H, Pytynia, KB, El-Naggar, AK. Ectopic ACTH Production and Cushing’s Syndrome in a Patient with Parotid Acinic Cell Carcinoma with High-Grade Transformation. Head and Neck Pathology 14(2):562-569, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31363907.
- Mitani, Y, Lin, S, Pytynia, KB, Ferrarotto, R, El-Naggar, AK. Reciprocal and autonomous glucocorticoid and androgen receptor activation in salivary duct carcinoma. Clinical Cancer Research 26(5):1175-1184, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31772120.
- Saintigny, P, Mitani, Y, Pytynia, KB, Ferrarotto, R, Roberts, DB, Weber, RS, Kies, MS, Maity, S, Lin, S, El-Naggar, AK. Frequent PTEN loss and differential HER2/PI3K signaling pathway alterations in salivary duct carcinoma. Cancer 124(18):3693-3705, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30289966.
- Rito, M, Mitani, Y, Bell, D, Mariano, FV, Almalki, ST, Pytynia, KB, Fonseca, I, El-Naggar, AK. Frequent and differential mutations of the CYLD gene in basal cell salivary neoplasms. Modern Pathology 31(7):1064-1072, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29463883.
- Saluja, K, Butler, RT, Pytynia, KB, Zhao, B, Karni, RJ, Weber, RS, El-Naggar, AK. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma post−radioactive iodine treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Human Pathology 68:189-192, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28499545.
- Lieberman, ED, Thambi, R, Pytynia, KB. Methylene blue and parathyroid adenoma localization. Ear, Nose and Throat Journal 95(2):70-72, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26930332.
- Kolokythas, A, Park, S, Schlieve, T, Pytynia, KB, Cox, D. Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 44(9):1069-1074, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26055524.
- Vance, KK, Pytynia, KB, Antony, AK, Krunic, AL. Mohs moat. Australasian Journal of Dermatology 55(3):198-200, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 23866002.
- Kolokythas, A, Bosman, MJ, Pytynia, KB, Panda, S, Sroussi, HY, Dai, Y, Schwartz, JL, Adami, GR. A prototype tobacco-associated oral squamous cell carcinoma classifier using RNA from brush cytology. Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine 42(9):663-669, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23590359.
- Kolokythas, A, Schwartz, JL, Pytynia, KB, Panda, S, Yao, M, Homann, B, Sroussi, HY, Epstein, JB, Gordon, SC, Adami, GR. Analysis of RNA from brush cytology detects changes in B2M, CYP1B1 and KRT17 levels with OSCC in tobacco users. Oral Oncology 47(6):532-536, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21549635.
- Rubinstein, PG, Lindgren, V, Setty, S, Yao, M, Pytynia, KB, Radosevich, JA, Kadkol, SS, Feldman, LE. Durable complete remission induced by cetuximab monotherapy in a patient infected with HIV and diagnosed with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Journal of Clinical Oncology 29(9):e222-e225, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21189379.
- Lugakingira, M, Pytynia, KB, Kolokythas, A, Miloro, M. Primary intraosseous carcinoma of the mandible. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 68(10):2623-2629, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20598418.
- Williamson, RA, Pytynia, KB, Oghalai, JS, Vrabec, JT. Auditory performance after cochlear implantation in late septuagenarians and octogenarians. Otology and Neurotology 30(7):916-920, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19672204.
- Chen, LM, Li, G, Reitzel, LR, Pytynia, KB, Zafereo, M, Wei, Q, Sturgis, EM. Matched-pair analysis of race or ethnicity in outcomes of head and neck cancer patients receiving similar multidisciplinary care. Cancer Prevention Research 2(9):782-791, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19737985.
- Pytynia, KB, Warso, M. Treatment of the parotid gland in cutaneous melanoma. Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 19(4):230-233, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Mohyuddin, N, Langerman, A, LeHew, C, Kaste, L, Pytynia, KB. Knowledge of head and neck cancer among medical students at 2 Chicago Universities. Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 134(12):1294-1298, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 19075125.
- Marin, VP, Pytynia, KB, Langstein, HN, Dahlstrom, KR, Wei, Q, Sturgis, EM. Serum cotinine concentration and wound complications in head and neck reconstruction. Plastic and reconstructive surgery 121(2):451-457, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18300961.
- Rehl, RM, Kajdacsy-Balla, A, Cabay, RJ, Hearp, ML, Pytynia, KB, Joe, SA. Mucosal remodeling in chronic rhinosinusitis. American Journal of Rhinology 21(6):651-657, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 18201442.
- Pytynia, KB, Grant, JR, Etzel, CJ, Roberts, DB, Wei, Q, Sturgis, EM. Matched analysis of survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck diagnosed before and after 40 years of age. Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 130(7):869-873, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15262765.
- Pytynia, KB, Grant, JR, Etzel, CJ, Roberts, DB, Wei, Q, Sturgis, EM. Matched-pair analysis of survival of never smokers and ever smokers with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Journal of Clinical Oncology 22(19):3981-3988, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15459221.
- Nithipatikom, K, Borscheid, CL, Kajdacsy-Balla, A, Kaul, S, Lindholm, PF, Pytynia, KB, Campbell, WB. Determination of cyclooxygenase and arachidonic acid metabolites in invasive human prostate cancer cells. Advances in experimental medicine and biology 507:269-274, 2002. e-Pub 2002. PMID: 12664596.
- Millikan, KW, Pytynia, KB. Repair of tracheal defect with Goretex graft during resection of carcinoma of the esophagus. Journal of surgical oncology 66(2):134-137, 1997. e-Pub 1997. PMID: 9354171.
Other Articles
- Pytynia, KB Why Participate in Peer Review as a Journal Manuscript Reviewer. Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (United States) 156(6):976-977, 2017. PMID: 27677597.
- Pytynia, KB, Dahlstrom, KR, Sturgis, EM Epidemiology of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. Oral Oncology 50(5):380-386, 2014. PMID: 24461628.
- Pytynia, KB, Dahlstrom, KR, Sturgis, EM Clinical management of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. Future Oncology 9(10):1413-1416, 2013. PMID: 23777275.
- Alaraj, A, Pytynia, KB, Carlson, AP, Hari Krishna, P, Charbel, FT, Amin-Hanjani, S, Aletich, V Combined preoperative ONYX embolization and protective internal carotid artery covered stent placement for treatment of glomus vagale tumor. Neurological Research 34(6):523-529, 2012. PMID: 22642870.
- Hoff, SR, Apushkin, M, Pytynia, KB Clear cell carcinoma of the larynx. Laryngoscope 121(SUPPL. 5):S284, 2011.
- Yao, M, Epstein, JB, Modi, BJ, Pytynia, KB, Mundt, A, Feldman, LE Current surgical treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Oral Oncology 43(3):213-223, 2007. PMID: 16978911.
- Modi, BJ, Knab, B, Feldman, LE, Mundt, A, Yao, M, Pytynia, KB, Epstein, JB Review of current treatment practices for carcinoma of the head and neck. Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy 6(7):1143-1155, 2005. PMID: 15957968.
- Sturgis, EM, Pytynia, KB After the smoke clears. Cancer Journal 11(2):96-103, 2005. PMID: 15969982.
- Poetker, DM, Pytynia, KB, Meyer, GA, Wackym, PA Complication rate of transtemporal hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasties. Otology and Neurotology 25(4):604-609, 2004. PMID: 15241242.
Abstracts
- Hamdan J, Pytynia KB, Feldman L. SEER Database Analysis of Survival in Patients With Advanced Tongue Cancer by Treatment. American Radium Society Annual Meeting, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Hoff S, Apushkin M, Pytynia, KB. Clear Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx: A Report of a Rare Case and Review of the Literature. Laryngoscope 121 (S5):S284, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Williams RA, Pytynia KB, Oghalai JS, Vraebec JT. Auditory Performance after Cochlear Implantation in Late Septuagenarians and Octogenarians. Combined Otolaryngological Spring Meetings, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Chen LM, Li G, Reitzel LR, Pytynia KB, Zafereo ME, Wei Q, Sturgis EM. No evidence of racial survival disparities when head and neck cancer patients receive similar multidisciplinary directed cancer care: Results of a matched pair analysis. Oncology 23(4S2):22-23, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Epstein JB, Wilkie DJ, Villines D, Yo K, Yao M, Pytynia KB. Pain in head and neck cancer patients during radiation therapy. Final Program Abstracts, 7th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer 2008:272, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Patel SH, Feldman L, Minn A, Pytynia KB. Treating Advanced Oral Cavity Carcinoma with Chemoradiotherpy: Should Non-Traditional treatments be revisited?. Abstracts, 7th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer 2008:237, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Marin VP, Pytynia KB, Langstein HN, Dahlstrom KR, Wei Q, Sturgis EM. Serum Cotinine Concentration and Wound Complications in Head and Neck Reconstruction. Plastic Reconstruction Surgery 121:451-7, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Marin VP, Langstein HN, Pytynia KB, Dahlstrom KR, Wei Q, Sturgis, EM. Serum Cotinine As A Predictor of Flap Complications in Head and Neck Reconstruction. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, 2003. e-Pub 2003.
Book Chapters
- Pytynia, KB, Dahlstrom, KR, Sturgis, EM. Epidemiology of head and neck carcinoma, 27-33, 2018.
- Pytynia, KB, Dahlstrom, KR, Sturgis, EM. EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEAD AND NECK CARCINOMA, 27-33, 2018.
- Maclachlan, A, Ferson, D, Pytynia, KB, Diaz Jr, EM, Nguyen, N, Botnick, W. Perioperative Care of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer, 309-319, 2005.
Letters to the Editor
- Marin, VP, Pytynia, KB, Langstein, HN, Dahlstrom, KR, Wei, Q, Sturgis, EM. Reply. Plastic and reconstructive surgery 122: 1588-1589, 2008.
Selected Presentations & Talks
Formal Peers
- 2013. HPV and Oropharyngeal Carcinoma. Invited. Milwaukee, WI, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2018 - Present |
| Title: | PRO-ACTIVE: Comparing the Effectiveness of PROphy|ACTic Swallow InerVEntion for Patients Receiving for Head and Neck Cancer |
| Funding Source: | PCORI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | PRO-ACTIVE: Comparing the Effectiveness of PROphy|ACTic Swallow InerVEntion for Patients Receiving for Head and Neck Cancer |
| Date: | 2011 - 2013 |
| Title: | A Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase 2 Safety Study of Cetuximab, Using Different Manufacturing Processes, in Combination with Cisplatin or Carboplatin and 5-Fluorouracil in the First-Line Treatment of Patients with Locoregionally Recurrent and/or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Investigator |
| ID: | NCT01081041 |
| Date: | 2004 - 2012 |
| Title: | Radionecrosis after Treating Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal SCC, Path Positive Specimens in Post Chemoradiation Neck Dissections, Knowledge of Head and Neck Cancer Among Medical Students at Two Chicago Universities |
| Funding Source: | College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | PRO-ACTIVE: Comparing the Effectiveness of Prophylactic Swallow Intervention for Patients Receiving Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer |
| Funding Source: | United Health Network (Canada) |
| Role: | Investigator |
| Title: | Use It or Lose It: A Randomized Phase II Trial of High and Low Intensity Preventive Swallowing Therapy During Head and Neck Cancer |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Investigator |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified May 16, 2025