Kristen B. Pytynia, M.D., MPH
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Pytynia
Dr. Pytynia is a professor in the division of Head and Neck Surgery and Section Chief, Head and Neck Surgery Houston area locations at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She specializes in surgical therapy of malignant lesions of the head and neck, including skin cancers, mucosal squamous cell cancers, salivary malignancies and thyroid cancer. Dr Pytynia has her MPH and is interested in outcomes research for patients with head and neck cancer.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Section Chief - Houston Area Locations, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of 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, TX, USA, MPH, Public Health |
| 1997 | Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA, MD, Medicine |
| 1993 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA, BS, Biochemistry & Biology |
Postgraduate Training
| 2002-2004 | Clinical Fellowship, Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 1997-2002 | Clinical Residency, Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2018
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Kolokythas A, Park S, Schlieve T, Pytynia KB, Cox D. Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue: histopathological parameters associated with outcome. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 44(9):1069-74, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26055524.
- Vance KK, Pytynia KB, Antony AK, Krunic AL. Mohs moat: Peripheral cutaneous margin clearance in a collaborative approach for aggressive and deeply invasive basal cell carcinoma. Australas J Dermatol 55(3):198-200, 2014. e-Pub 2013. 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. J Oral Pathol Med 42(9):663-9, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23590359.
- Alaraj A, Pytynia KB, Carlson AP, Krishna PH, 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: review of literature and illustrative case. Neurol Res 34(6):523-9, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22642870.
- 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 Oncol 47(6):532-6, 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. J Clin Oncol 29(9):e222-5, 2011. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 21189379.
- Lugakingira M, Pytynia KB, Kolokythas A, Miloro M. Primary intraosseous carcinoma of the mandible: case report and review of the literature. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 68(10):2623-9, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20598418.
- Williamson RA, Pytynia KB, Oghalai JS, Vrabec JT. Auditory performance after cochlear implantation in late septuagenarians and octogenarians. Otol Neurotol 30(7):916-20, 2009. PMID: 19672204.
- Chen LM, Li G, Reitzel LR, Pytynia KB, Zafereo ME, Wei Q, Sturgis EM. Matched-pair analysis of race or ethnicity in outcomes of head and neck cancer patients receiving similar multidisciplinary care. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2(9):782-91, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19737985.
- Mohyuddin N, Langerman A, LeHew C, Kaste L, Pytynia K. Knowledge of head and neck cancer among medical students at 2 Chicago universities. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 134(12):1294-8, 2008. PMID: 19075125.
- Pytynia KB, Warso M. Treatment of the parotid gland in cutaneous melanoma. Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 19(4):230-33, 2008.
- Marin VP, Pytynia KB, Langstein HN, Dahlstrom KR, Wei Q, Sturgis EM. Serum cotinine concentration and wound complications in head and neck reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 121(2):451-7, 2008. PMID: 18300961.
- Rehl RM, Balla AA, Cabay RJ, Hearp ML, Pytynia KB, Joe SA. Mucosal remodeling in chronic rhinosinusitis. Am J Rhinol 21(6):651-7, 2007. PMID: 18201442.
- 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. J Clin Oncol 22(19):3981-8, 2004. PMID: 15459221.
Invited Articles
- Pytynia KB, Dahlstrom KR, Sturgis EM. Epidemiology of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. Oral Oncol 50(5):380-6, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24461628.
- Yao M, Epstein JB, Modi BJ, Pytynia KB, Mundt AJ, Feldman LE. Current surgical treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Oral Oncol 43(3):213-23, 2007. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16978911.
- Modi BJ, Knab B, Feldman LE, Mundt AJ, Yao M, Pytynia KB, Epstein J. Review of current treatment practices for carcinoma of the head and neck. Expert Opin Pharmacother 6(7):1143-55, 2005. PMID: 15957968.
- Sturgis EM, Pytynia KB. After the smoke clears: environmental and occupational risks for carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. Cancer J 11(2):96-103, 2005. PMID: 15969982.