Csaba Gajdos MD, FACS, FSSO
Csaba Gajdos
MD, FACS, FSSO
Clinical Professor of Surgery, Division Chief, Surgical Oncology
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Oncology; Surgery
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDProfessional Summary:
Dr. Gajdos is the Division Chief of Surgical Oncology and a Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery, University at Buffalo.
A graduate of the University of Szeged (Hungary) Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Gajdos completed his residency at the University of Alabama Hospital and fellowship at the University of Michigan Health System. He is board certified in general surgery. Following his training, Dr. Gajdos was on the faculty at the University of Colorado, Department of Surgery for over seven years rising to the rank of Associate Professor of Surgery. He also served as Chief of Surgical Oncology at the Denver VA Medical Center. He quickly became one of the busiest surgical oncologists at UC and performed cancer surgery at both hospitals.
Dr Gajdos has joined the Department of Surgery, University at Buffalo in March of 2018. He started a complex liver surgery program at UB using minimally invasive and traditional open approaches. He is a recipient of Faculty Teaching Awards in 2019 and 2021 for General Surgery Resident education. He was promoted to Clinical Professor of Surgery in July of 2022.
Dr. Gajdos has extensive experience in the surgical treatment of gastrointestinal cancers (esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, colorectal) gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), sarcomas, complex skin cancers, melanoma, peritoneal surface malignancies and chronic pancreatitis.
Dr Gajdos remains very active in cancer research. He has published over 80 scientific papers in prestigious medical and surgical journals. He has presented several studies at various national and international meetings. He is also the recipient of faculty teaching awards for general surgery resident education at the University of Colorado, University at Buffalo and Stamford Health.
He serves as Editorial Board Member for major surgical journals: Annals of Surgical Oncology, Journal of Surgical Oncology and Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. He also serves as an Editor for the Society of Surgical Oncology Surgical Council on Resident Education Curriculum.
Education and Training:
- Northwestern University Medical School (2002)
- Clinical Cancer Research, Mount Sinai School of Medicine (2000)
- Residency, Surgery, Geza Hetenyi County Hospital (1997)
- MD, University of Szeged (1995)
Employment:
- Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Denver VAMC (2015–2016)
- Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado (2015–2016)
- Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Denver VAMC (2009–2015)
- Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado (2007–2015)
Awards and Honors:
- Faculty Teaching Award for General Surgery Resident Education (2021)
- Faculty Teaching Award For General Surgery Resident Education (2019)
- Faculty Teaching Award for General Surgery Resident Education (2017)
- Peak Performer Award General Surgery 2014 (2014)
- Best Clinical Paper Award Finalist (2014)
- Docs Rock Awardee (2013)
- Faculty Teaching Award for General Surgery Resident Education (2013)
- Research highlights: Patients with ESRD are at increased risk of complications and death after major elective vascular surgery. (2013)
Research Expertise:
- Clinical activities: Multidisciplinary/surgical treatment of complex gastrointestinal malignancies of the esophagus stomach, small bowel, colorectum, peritoneal surface malignancies, liver pancreas bile duct disease, melanoma and other skin cancers, sarcomas
- Research: Surgical outcome research and quality improvement in surgical oncology and general surgery. My current research is focused on understanding the effect of institutional type and surgical/institutional volume on long-term survival of complex gastrointestinal malignancies, soft tissue tumors and melanomas.
Journal Articles:
- Trinh BB, Chapman BC, Gleisner A, Kwak JJ, Morgan R, McCarter MD, Gajdos C, Kounalakis N. (2018) SPECT/CT Adds Distinct Lymph Node Basins and Influences Radiologic Findings and Surgical Approach for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Head and Neck Melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol (Jun), 25(6): 1716-1722.
- Chapman BC, Gajdos C, Hosokawa P, Henderson W, Paniccia A, Overbey DM, Gleisner A, Schulick RD, McCarter MD, Edil BH. (2018) Comparison of laparoscopic to open pancreaticoduodenectomy in elderly patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Surg Endosc (May), 32(5): 2239-2248.
- Stewart CL, Gleisner A, Halpern A, Ibrahim-Zada I, Luna RA, Pearlman N, Gajdos C, Edil B, McCarter M. (2018) Implications of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Perfusion-Related Hyperglycemia. Ann Surg Oncol (Mar), 25(3): 655-659.
- Chapman BC, Gleisner A, Ibrahim-Zada I, Overbey DM, Paniccia A, Meguid C, Brauer B, Gajdos C, McCarter MD, Schulick RD, Edil BH. (2018) Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy: changing the management of ampullary neoplasms. Surg Endosc (Feb), 32(2): 915-922.
- Chapman BC, Gleisner A, Rigg D, Meguid C, Goodman K, Brauer B, Gajdos C, Schulick RD, Edil BH, McCarter MD. (2018) Perioperative outcomes and survival following neoadjuvant stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) versus intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. J Surg Oncol (Feb).
- Scott AJ, Song EK, Bagby S, Purkey A, McCarter M, Gajdos C, Quackenbush KS, Cross B, Pitts TM, Tan AC, Eckhardt SG, Fenton H, Arcaroli J, Messersmith WA. (2017) Evaluation of the efficacy of dasatinib, a Src/Abl inhibitor, in colorectal cancer cell lines and explant mouse model. PLoS One (Nov), 12(11): 0187173-0187173.
- Chapman BC, Hosokawa P, Henderson W, Paniccia A, Overbey DM, Messersmith W, Lieu C, Stiegmann GV, Schulick RD, Gajdos C. (2017) Impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation on perioperative outcomes in patients with rectal cancer. J Surg Oncol (Jun), 115(8): 1033-1044.
- Stewart CL, Gleisner A, Kwak J, Chapman B, Pearlman N, Gajdos C, McCarter M, Kounalakis N. (2017) Implications of Sentinel Lymph Node Drainage to Multiple Basins in Head and Neck Melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol (May), 24(5): 1386-1391.
- Stewart CL, Wilson L, Hamm A, Bartsch C, Boniface M, Gleisner A, Mitchell JD, Weyant MJ, Meguid R, Gajdos C, Edil BH, McCarter M. (2017) Is Chemical Pyloroplasty Necessary for Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy?. Ann Surg Oncol (May), 24(5): 1414-1418.
- Chapman BC, Paniccia A, Hosokawa PW, Henderson WG, Overbey DM, Messersmith W, McCarter MD, Gleisner A, Edil BH, Schulick RD, Gajdos C. (2017) Impact of Facility Type and Surgical Volume on 10-Year Survival in Patients Undergoing Hepatic Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Am Coll Surg (Mar), 224(3): 362-372.
- Meguid C, Schulick RD, Schefter TE, Lieu CH, Boniface M, Williams N, Vogel JD, Gajdos C, McCarter M, Edil BH. (2016) The Multidisciplinary Approach to GI Cancer Results in Change of Diagnosis and Management of Patients. Multidisciplinary Care Impacts Diagnosis and Management of Patients. Ann Surg Oncol (Nov), 23(12): 3986-3990.
- Chapman BC, Gleisner A, Kwak JJ, Hosokawa P, Paniccia A, Merkow JS, Koo PJ, Gajdos C, Pearlman NW, McCarter MD, Kounalakis N. (2016) SPECT/CT Improves Detection of Metastatic Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Patients with Head and Neck Melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol (Aug), 23(8): 2652-2657.
- Merkow J, Paniccia A, Jones E, Jones T, Hodges M, Stovall R, Kounalakis N, Gajdos C, Lewis K, Robinson W, Gonzalez R, Pearlman N, McCarter M. (2016) Association of sentinel lymph node diameter with melanoma metastasis. Am J Surg (Aug), 212(2): 315-320.
- Paniccia A, Hosokawa PW, Schulick RD, Henderson W, Kaplan J, Gajdos C. (2016) A matched-cohort analysis of 192 pancreatic anaplastic carcinomas and 960 pancreatic adenocarcinomas: A 13-year North American experience using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Surgery (Jan), 160(2): 281-292.
- Ge PS, Gaddam S, Keach JW, Mullady D, Fukami N, Edmundowicz SA, Azar RR, Shah RJ, Murad FM, Kushnir VM, Ghassemi KF, Sedarat A, Watson RR, Amateau SK, Brauer BC, Yen RD, Hosford L, Hollander T, Donahue TR, Schulick RD, Edil BH, McCarter MD, Gajdos C, Attwell AR, Muthusamy VR, Early DS, Wani S. (2016) Predictors for Surgical Referral in Patients With Pancreatic Cystic Lesions Undergoing Endoscopic Ultrasound: Results From a Large Multicenter Cohort Study. Pancreas (Jan), 45(1): 51-57.
- Meguid C, Ryan CE, Edil BH, Schulick RD, Gajdos C, Boniface M, Schefter TE, Purcell WT, McCarter M. (2015) Establishing a framework for building multidisciplinary programs. J Multidiscip Healthc (Dec), 8: 519-526.
- Gaddam S, Ge PS, Keach JW, Mullady D, Fukami N, Edmundowicz SA, Azar RR, Shah RJ, Murad FM, Kushnir VM, Watson RR, Ghassemi KF, Sedarat A, Komanduri S, Jaiyeola DM, Brauer BC, Yen RD, Amateau SK, Hosford L, Hollander T, Donahue TR, Schulick RD, Edil BH, McCarter M, Gajdos C, Attwell A, Muthusamy VR, Early DS, Wani S. (2015) Suboptimal accuracy of carcinoembryonic antigen in differentiation of mucinous and nonmucinous pancreatic cysts: results of a large multicenter study. Gastrointest Endosc (Dec), 82(6): 1060-1069.
- Paniccia A, Hosokawa P, Henderson W, Schulick RD, Edil BH, McCarter MD, Gajdos C. (2015) Characteristics of 10-Year Survivors of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. JAMA Surg (Aug), 150(8): 701-710.
- Heelan Gladden AA, Wohlauer M, McManus MC, Gajdos C. (2015) A primary retroperitoneal mucinous tumor. Case Rep Surg (Mar), 2015: 157613-157613.
- Gajdos C, Kile D, Hawn MT, Finlayson E, Henderson WG, Robinson TN. (2015) The significance of preoperative impaired sensorium on surgical outcomes in nonemergent general surgical operations. JAMA Surg (Jan), 150(1): 30-36.
- Paniccia A, Edil BH, Schulick RD, Byers JT, Meguid C, Gajdos C, McCarter MD. (2014) Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX application in borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a retrospective cohort study. Medicine (Baltimore) (Dec), 93(27): 198-198.
- Overbey D, Govekar H, Gajdos C. (2014) Surgical management of colonic perforation due to ulcerative colitis during pregnancy: Report of a case. World J Gastrointest Surg (Oct), 6(10): 201-203.
- Mckenna LR, Jones EL, Jones TS, Nydam T, Gajdos C. (2014) Recurrent intravenous leiomyosarcoma of the uterus in the retrohepatic vena cava. J Surg Case Rep (Sep), 2014(9).
- Chapman BC, Jones T, McManus MC, Shah R, Gajdos C. (2014) Metastatic papillary gallbladder carcinoma with a unique presentation and clinical course. JOP (Sep), 15(5): 515-519.
- Lopez JP, Gajdos C, Elias A. (2014) Trabectedin: novel insights in the treatment of advanced sarcoma. Curr Oncol Rep (Jun), 16(6): 387-387.
- Robinson TN, Wu DS, Sauaia A, Dunn CL, Stevens-Lapsley JE, Moss M, Stiegmann GV, Gajdos C, Cleveland JC, Inouye SK. (2013) Slower walking speed forecasts increased postoperative morbidity and 1-year mortality across surgical specialties. Ann Surg (Oct), 258(4): 582-588.
- Jones EL, Gajdos C, Wani S. (2013) Peutz-jeghers: a hamartomatous polyposis syndrome. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol (Sep), 11(9): 26-26.
- Gajdos C, Kile D, Hawn MT, Finlayson E, Henderson WG, Robinson TN. (2013) Advancing age and 30-day adverse outcomes after nonemergent general surgeries. J Am Geriatr Soc (Sep), 61(9): 1608-1614.
- Jones TS, Jones EL, McManus M, Shah R, Gajdos C. (2013) Multifocal anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma requiring neoadjuvant chemotherapy and total pancreatectomy: report of a case. JOP (May), 14(3): 289-291.
- Jones EL, Jones TS, Pearlman NW, Gao D, Stovall R, Gajdos C, Kounalakis N, Gonzalez R, Lewis KD, Robinson WA, McCarter MD. (2013) Long-term follow-up and survival of patients following a recurrence of melanoma after a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy result. JAMA Surg (May), 148(5): 456-461.
- Gajdos C, Hawn MT, Kile D, Henderson WG, Robinson T, McCarter M, Nehler M. (2013) The risk of major elective vascular surgical procedures in patients with end-stage renal disease. Ann Surg (Apr), 257(4): 766-773.
- Gajdos C, Hawn MT, Kile D, Robinson TN, Henderson WG. (2013) Risk of major nonemergent inpatient general surgical procedures in patients on long-term dialysis. JAMA Surg (Feb), 148(2): 137-143.
- Ripley RT, Gajdos C, Reppert AE, Macdermott T, McCarter MD, Pearlman NW. (2013) Sequential radiofrequency ablation and surgical debulking for unresectable colorectal carcinoma: thermo-surgical ablation. J Surg Oncol (Feb), 107(2): 144-147.
- Wohlauer MV, McManus M, Fukami N, Gajdos C. (2013) Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm of the pancreas: report of a case requiring completion pancreatectomy. JOP (Jan), 14(1): 77-80.
- Wohlauer MV, McManus MC, Brauer B, Hedges J, Gajdos C. (2012) Synchronous presentation of ampullary adenocarcinoma and common bile duct cancer: report of a case and review of literature. JOP (Sep), 13(5): 536-539.
- Gajdos C, Hawn MT, Campagna EJ, Henderson WG, Singh JA, Houston T. (2012) Adverse effects of smoking on postoperative outcomes in cancer patients. Ann Surg Oncol (May), 19(5): 1430-1438.
- Cheng SS, Nordenholz K, Matero D, Pearlman N, McCarter M, Gajdos C, Hamiel C, Baer A, Luzier E, Tran ZV, Olson T, Queensland K, Lutz R, Wischmeyer P. (2012) Standard subcutaneous dosing of unfractionated heparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in surgical ICU patients leads to subtherapeutic factor Xa inhibition. Intensive Care Med (Apr), 38(4): 642-648.
- Gajdos C, McCarter MD. (2011) Debulking surgery in advanced melanoma. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther (Nov), 11(11): 1703-1712.
- Gajdos C, Macdermott T, McCarter MD, Pearlman NW. (2011) Combined thermal-surgical ablation of locally advanced abdominopelvic malignancies. Ann Surg Oncol (May), 18(5): 1267-1273.
- Gajdos C, Elias A. (2011) Trabectedin: safety and efficacy in the treatment of advanced sarcoma. Clin Med Insights Oncol (Mar), 5: 35-43.
- Gajdos C, Griffith KA, Wong SL, Johnson TM, Chang AE, Cimmino VM, Lowe L, Bradford CR, Rees RS, Sabel MS. (2009) Is there a benefit to sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with T4 melanoma?. Cancer (Dec), 115(24): 5752-5760.
- Chen B, Gajdos C, Dardes R, Kidwai N, Johnston SR, Dowsett M, Jordan VC. (2005) Potential of endogenous estrogen receptor beta to influence the selective ER modulator ERbeta complex. Int J Oncol (Aug), 27(2): 327-335.
- Osipo C, Gajdos C, Cheng D, Jordan VC. (2005) Reversal of tamoxifen resistant breast cancer by low dose estrogen therapy. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol (Feb), 93(2-5): 249-256.
- Osipo C, Gajdos C, Liu H, Chen B, Jordan VC. (2003) Paradoxical action of fulvestrant in estradiol-induced regression of tamoxifen-stimulated breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst (Nov), 95(21): 1597-1608.
- Liu H, Lee ES, Gajdos C, Pearce ST, Chen B, Osipo C, Loweth J, McKian K, De Los Reyes A, Wing L, Jordan VC. (2003) Apoptotic action of 17beta-estradiol in raloxifene-resistant MCF-7 cells in vitro and in vivo. J Natl Cancer Inst (Nov), 95(21): 1586-1597.
- Schafer JM, Bentrem DJ, Takei H, Gajdos C, Badve S, Jordan VC. (2002) A mechanism of drug resistance to tamoxifen in breast cancer. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol (Dec), 83(1-5): 75-83.
- Tartter PI, Gajdos C, Rosenbaum Smith S, Estabrook A, Rademaker AW. (2002) The prognostic significance of Gail model risk factors for women with breast cancer. Am J Surg (Jul), 184(1): 11-15.
- Dardes RC, O'Regan RM, Gajdos C, Robinson SP, Bentrem D, De Los Reyes A, Jordan VC. (2002) Effects of a new clinically relevant antiestrogen (GW5638) related to tamoxifen on breast and endometrial cancer growth in vivo. Clin Cancer Res (Jun), 8(6): 1995-2001.
- Gajdos C, Tartter PI, Estabrook A, Gistrak MA, Jaffer S, Bleiweiss IJ. (2002) Relationship of clinical and pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and outcome of locally advanced breast cancer. J Surg Oncol (May), 80(1): 4-11.
- O'Regan RM, Gajdos C, Dardes RC, De Los Reyes A, Park W, Rademaker AW, Jordan VC. (2002) Effects of raloxifene after tamoxifen on breast and endometrial tumor growth in athymic mice. J Natl Cancer Inst (Feb), 94(4): 274-283.
- Gajdos C, Tartter PI, Bleiweiss IJ, Hermann G, de Csepel J, Estabrook A, Rademaker AW. (2002) Mammographic appearance of nonpalpable breast cancer reflects pathologic characteristics. Ann Surg (Feb), 235(2): 246-251.
- Gajdos C, Jordan VC. (2002) Selective estrogen receptor modulators as a new therapeutic drug group: concept to reality in a decade. Clin Breast Cancer (Jan), 2(4): 272-281.
- Rosenfeld I, Tartter PI, Gajdos C, Hermann G, Bleiweiss I. (2001) The significance of malignancies incidental to microcalcifications in breast spot localization biopsy specimens. Am J Surg (Jul), 182(1): 1-5.
- Gajdos C, Bleiweiss IJ, Drossman S, Tartter PI. (2001) Breast cancer in an intramammary sentinel node. Breast J (Jul), 7(4): 260-262.
- Gajdos C, Tartter PI, Bleiweiss IJ, Lopchinsky RA, Bernstein JL. (2001) The consequence of undertreating breast cancer in the elderly. J Am Coll Surg (Jun), 192(6): 698-707.
- Gajdos C, Tartter PI, Bleiweiss IJ. (2000) Subareolar breast cancers. Am J Surg (Sep), 180(3): 167-170.
- de Csepel J, Tartter PI, Gajdos C. (2000) When not to give radiation therapy after breast conservation surgery for breast cancer. J Surg Oncol (Aug), 74(4): 273-277.
- Gajdos C, Nierman DM, Moqtaderi FF, Brower ST, Lento P, Bleiweiss IJ. (2000) Microscopic Pulmonary Tumor Emboli: An Unusual Presentation of Breast Cancer. Breast J (Jul), 6(4): 273-275.
- Gajdos C, Tartter PI, Bleiweiss IJ, Bodian C, Brower ST. (2000) Stage 0 to stage III breast cancer in young women. J Am Coll Surg (May), 190(5): 523-529.
- Gajdos C, Tartter PI, Babinszki A. (2000) Breast cancer diagnosed during hormone replacement therapy. Obstet Gynecol (Apr), 95(4): 513-518.
- Tartter PI, Kaplan J, Bleiweiss I, Gajdos C, Kong A, Ahmed S, Zapetti D. (2000) Lumpectomy margins, reexcision, and local recurrence of breast cancer. Am J Surg (Feb), 179(2): 81-85.
- Gajdos C, Tartter PI, Bleiweiss IJ. (1999) Lymphatic invasion, tumor size, and age are independent predictors of axillary lymph node metastases in women with T1 breast cancers. Ann Surg (Nov), 230(5): 692-696.
- Gajdos C, Levy M, Herman Z, Herman G, Bleiweiss IJ, Tartter PI. (1999) Complete removal of nonpalpable breast malignancies with a stereotactic percutaneous vacuum-assisted biopsy instrument. J Am Coll Surg (Sep), 189(3): 237-240.
- Gajdos C, Cseh G, Krasznai G. (1997) [Metastasis in metastasis]. Orv Hetil (Jul), 138(30): 1911-1912.
Service Activities:
- Chief of General Surgery Buffalo VA Medical Center; Director (2018–present)
- Quality Research and Simulation Committee Department of Surgery Stamford Health; Advisor (2017–2018)
- Cancer Committee for the Cancer Program at the Bennett Cancer Center Accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC ); Advisor (2016–2018)
- Cancer Liaison Physician for the Cancer Program at the Bennett Cancer Center Accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC); Director (2016–2018)
- Department of Surgery Quality Improvement Initiative (UTI) University of Colorado Physician-in-charge; Chair (2014–2016)
- Department of Surgery Quality Council University of Colorado; General Surgery representative; Advisor (2014–2016)
- Chief of Surgical Oncology Denver VAMC; Director (2014–2016)
- Assistant Surgical Director; Surgical Outcomes and Applied Research (SOAR) University of Colorado, Department of Surgery; Co-Director (2014–2016)
- Cancer Liaison Physician Cancer Program at the University of Colorado accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC); Professional Committee (2013–2016)
- General Surgery Residency Program Core Faculty Member University of Colorado; Advisor (2013–2016)
- Surgical Count Task Force Committee University of Colorado; Advisor (2013–2016)
- Master’s of Medical Science an Anesthesiology Advisory Committee, University of Colorado; Advisor (2013–2016)
- Procedures and Sedation Committee University of Colorado; Advisor (2013–2016)
- American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Steering Committee, University of Colorado, Department of Surgery; Advisor (2013–2016)
- Scientific Reviewer Annals of Oncology Annals of Surgical Oncology European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology JAMA Surgery Journal of Surgical Oncology Journal of Pancreas American Journal of Surgery Saudi Medical Journal Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology International Journal for Quality in Health Care Journal of Gastro-Intestinal Surgery; Reviewer (2007–2018)