Sandhya Kalavacherla

University of California San Diego, UC San Diego Health System

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Sandhya Kalavacherla is a clinician-researcher whose work focuses on improving outcomes for patients with head and neck cancers, particularly those with cancers of unknown primary (CUP). Her research addresses a critical clinical challenge: identifying the hidden primary tumor in patients presenting with metastatic cervical lymph nodes. Her most cited paper, “Updates in the management of unknown primary of the head and neck” (2022, 29 citations), provides a comprehensive review of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (SCCUP), emphasizing the importance of primary site detection to guide targeted treatment and avoid unnecessary morbidity. Building on this, her 2023 study (7 citations) demonstrated that patients whose primary tumor is identified achieve significantly better functional outcomes, such as swallowing and speech, compared to those with persisting unknown primaries. Kalavacherla has also contributed to gastric cancer research, comparing minimally invasive versus open gastrectomy in Western populations (2025, 3 citations). Her work bridges oncology and functional rehabilitation, offering actionable insights for clinicians managing complex head and neck cases. With a growing citation record, she is establishing herself as a thoughtful voice in head and neck surgical oncology.