Dr. Virginia Litle joins University of Rochester Medical Center as an Associate Professor of Surgery. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont, with honors, and her medical degree from the Brown-Dartmouth Program in Medicine in Providence, Rhode Island.
From 1990 to 1997, Dr. Litle completed residency in general surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. She continued her training and completed fellowships in both Surgical Oncology and in Thoracic Minimally Invasive at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In 2003, Dr. Litle became a visiting Thoracic Surgery Fellow during the months of October and November at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She then went on to complete a residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Pittsburg Medical Center in 2004.
Dr. Litle has received the Piedmont Society Award for Basic Science Research at the ASCRS 100th Anniversary and Tripartite Meeting in May 1999. In addition in 2003, she won a Methods in Clinical Cancer Research award at the ASCO/AACR Workshop in Vail, Colorado.
Dr. Litle belongs to several professional memberships including Women in Thoracic Surgery where she is the website editor, the Society of Surgical Oncology, the Scoiety of Thoracic Surgeons, and the General Thoracic Surgery Club. Her interests include researching esophageal and lung cancers.

• Pennathur A, Xi L, Litle VR, Gooding WE, Krasinskas A, Landreneau RJ, Godfrey TE, Luketich JD. Gene expression profiles in esophageal adenocarcinoma predict survival after resection. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Feb; 145(2):505-13.
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• Wilshire CL, Salvador R, Sepesi B, Niebisch S, Watson TJ, Litle VR, Peyre CG, Jones CE, Peters JH. Reflux-associated oxygen desaturations: usefulness in diagnosing reflux-related respiratory symptoms. J Gastrointest Surg. 2013 Jan; 17(1):30-8.
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• Wilshire CL, Niebisch S, Watson TJ, Litle VR, Peyre CG, Jones CE, Peters JH. Dysphagia postfundoplication: More commonly hiatal outflow resistance than poor esophageal body motility. Surgery. 2012 Oct; 152(4):584-94.
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• Donington JS, Litle VR, Sesti J, Colson YL. The WTS Report on the Current Status of Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2012 Aug; 94(2):452-9.
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• Niebisch S, Fleming FJ, Galey KM, Wilshire CL, Jones CE, Litle VR, Watson TJ, Peters JH. Perioperative risk of laparoscopic fundoplication: safer than previously reported-analysis of the american college of surgeons national surgical quality improvement program 2005 to 2009. J Am Coll Surg. 2012 Jul; 215(1):61-8.
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• Bandla S, Pennathur A, Luketich JD, Beer DG, Lin L, Bass AJ, Godfrey TE, Litle VR. Comparative genomics of esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Ann Thorac Surg. 2012 Apr; 93(4):1101-6.
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• Iannuzzi J, Watson TJ, Litle VR. Emphysematous gastritis: A young diabetic's recovery. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2012; 3(4):125-7.
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• Galey KM, Wilshire CL, Watson TJ, Schneider MD, Kaul V, Jones CE, Litle VR, Ullah A, Peters JH. Endoscopic management of early esophageal neoplasia: an emerging standard. J Gastrointest Surg. 2011 Oct; 15(10):1728-35.
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• Ismail A, Bandla S, Reveiller M, Toia L, Zhou Z, Gooding WE, Kalatskaya I, Stein L, D'Souza M, Litle VR, Peters JH, Pennathur A, Luketich JD, Godfrey TE. Early G1 cyclin-dependent kinases as prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2011 Jul 1; 17(13):4513-22.
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• Galey KM, Wilshire CL, Niebisch S, Jones CE, Raymond DP, Litle VR, Watson TJ, Peters JH. Atypical variants of classic achalasia are common and currently under-recognized: a study of prevalence and clinical features. J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Jul; 213(1):155-61; discussion 162-3.
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• Feber A, Xi L, Pennathur A, Gooding WE, Bandla S, Wu M, Luketich JD, Godfrey TE, Litle VR. MicroRNA prognostic signature for nodal metastases and survival in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Ann Thorac Surg. 2011 May; 91(5):1523-30.
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• Litle VR, Rice TW. The esophagus: do sex and gender matter? Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2011; 23(2):131-6.
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• Dubecz A, Sepesi B, Salvador R, Polomsky M, Watson TJ, Raymond DP, Jones CE, Litle VR, Wisnivesky JP, Peters JH. Surgical resection for locoregional esophageal cancer is underutilized in the United States. J Am Coll Surg. 2010 Dec; 211(6):754-61.
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• Sepesi B, Watson TJ, Zhou D, Polomsky M, Litle VR, Jones CE, Raymond DP, Hu R, Qiu X, Peters JH. Are endoscopic therapies appropriate for superficial submucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma? An analysis of esophagectomy specimens. J Am Coll Surg. 2010 Apr; 210(4):418-27.
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• Wu M, Gordon RE, Herbert R, Padilla M, Moline J, Mendelson D, Litle V, Travis WD, Gil J. Case report: Lung disease in World Trade Center responders exposed to dust and smoke: carbon nanotubes found in the lungs of World Trade Center patients and dust samples. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Apr; 118(4):499-504.
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• Polomsky M, Hu R, Sepesi B, O'Connor M, Qui X, Raymond DP, Litle VR, Jones CE, Watson TJ, Peters JH. A population-based analysis of emergent vs. elective hospital admissions for an intrathoracic stomach. Surg Endosc. 2010 Jun; 24(6):1250-5.
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• Polomsky M, Jones CE, Sepesi B, O'Connor M, Matousek A, Hu R, Raymond DP, Litle VR, Watson TJ, Peters JH. Should elective repair of intrathoracic stomach be encouraged? J Gastrointest Surg. 2010 Feb; 14(2):203-10.
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• Sepesi B, Raymond DP, Polomsky M, Watson TJ, Litle VR, Jones CE, Hu R, Qiu X, Peters JH. Does the value of PET-CT extend beyond pretreatment staging? An analysis of survival in surgical patients with esophageal cancer. J Gastrointest Surg. 2009 Dec; 13(12):2121-7.
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• Morrow DJ, Avissar NE, Toia L, Redmond EM, Watson TJ, Jones C, Raymond DP, Litle V, Peters JH. Pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus: bile acids inhibit the Notch signaling pathway with induction of CDX2 gene expression in human esophageal cells. Surgery. 2009 Oct; 146(4):714-21; discussion 721-2.
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• Watson TJ, Jones CE, Litle VR. Benign diseases of the esophagus. Curr Probl Surg. 2009 Mar; 46(3):195-259.
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• Watson TJ, Jones CE, Litle VR. Benign diseases of the esophagus. In brief. Curr Probl Surg. 2009 Mar; 46(3):190-3.
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• Pashinsky YY, Jaffin BW, Litle VR. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Mt Sinai J Med. 2009 Feb; 76(1):24-9.
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• Padilla ML, Litle VR. Advanced lung disease: meeting the challenges. Mt Sinai J Med. 2009 Feb; 76(1):1.
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• Liptay MJ, D'amico TA, Nwogu C, Demmy TL, Wang XF, Gu L, Litle VR, Swanson SJ, Kohman LJ. Intraoperative sentinel node mapping with technitium-99 in lung cancer: results of CALGB 140203 multicenter phase II trial. J Thorac Oncol. 2009 Feb; 4(2):198-202.
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• Shapiro M, Vidal C, Lipskar AM, Gil J, Litle VR. Placental transmogrification of the lung presenting as emphysema and a lung mass. Ann Thorac Surg. 2009 Feb; 87(2):615-6.
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• Xi L, Feber A, Gupta V, Wu M, Bergemann AD, Landreneau RJ, Litle VR, Pennathur A, Luketich JD, Godfrey TE. Whole genome exon arrays identify differential expression of alternatively spliced, cancer-related genes in lung cancer. Nucleic Acids Res. 2008 Nov; 36(20):6535-47.
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• Greenstein AJ, Wisnivesky JP, Litle VR. Effect of local therapy for the treatment of superficial esophageal cancer in non-operative candidates. Dis Esophagus. 2008; 21(8):673-8.
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• Greenstein AJ, Litle VR, Swanson SJ, Divino CM, Packer S, Wisnivesky JP. Effect of the number of lymph nodes sampled on postoperative survival of lymph node-negative esophageal cancer. Cancer. 2008 Mar 15; 112(6):1239-46.
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• Nicastri DG, Wisnivesky JP, Litle VR, Yun J, Chin C, Dembitzer FR, Swanson SJ. Thoracoscopic lobectomy: report on safety, discharge independence, pain, and chemotherapy tolerance. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 Mar; 135(3):642-7.
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• Litle VR. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia: a review of the controversies. Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Feb; 85(2):S743-6.
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• Chin CS, Litle V, Yun J, Weiser T, Swanson SJ. Airway stents. Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Feb; 85(2):S792-6.
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• Shaw JP, Dembitzer FR, Wisnivesky JP, Litle VR, Weiser TS, Yun J, Chin C, Swanson SJ. Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy: state of the art and future directions. Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Feb; 85(2):S705-9.
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• Weiser TS, Hyman K, Yun J, Litle V, Chin C, Swanson SJ. Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy: a surgeon's perspective. Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Feb; 85(2):S797-801.
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• Feber A, Xi L, Luketich JD, Pennathur A, Landreneau RJ, Wu M, Swanson SJ, Godfrey TE, Litle VR. MicroRNA expression profiles of esophageal cancer. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 Feb; 135(2):255-60; discussion 260.
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• Greenstein AJ, Litle VR, Swanson SJ, Divino CM, Packer S, Wisnivesky JP. Prognostic significance of the number of lymph node metastases in esophageal cancer. J Am Coll Surg. 2008 Feb; 206(2):239-46.
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• Greenstein AJ, Litle VR, Swanson SJ, Divino CM, Packer S, McGinn TG, Wisnivesky JP. Racial disparities in esophageal cancer treatment and outcomes. Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Mar; 15(3):881-8.
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• Litle VR, Swanson SJ. Postoperative bleeding: coagulopathy, bleeding, hemothorax. Thorac Surg Clin. 2006 Aug; 16(3):203-7, v.
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• Xi L, Coello MC, Litle VR, Raja S, Gooding WE, Yousem SA, El-Hefnawy T, Landreneau RJ, Luketich JD, Godfrey TE. A combination of molecular markers accurately detects lymph node metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Clin Cancer Res. 2006 Apr 15; 12(8):2484-91.
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• de Hoyos A, Litle VR, Luketich JD. Minimally invasive esophagectomy. Surg Clin North Am. 2005 Jun; 85(3):631-47.
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• Xi L, Luketich JD, Raja S, Gooding WE, Litle VR, Coello MC, Finkelstein SD, Chestney ML, Landreneau RJ, Hughes SJ, Godfrey TE. Molecular staging of lymph nodes from patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Feb 1; 11(3):1099-109.
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• Fernando HC, Hoyos AD, Litle V, Belani CP, Luketich JD. Radiofrequency ablation: identification of the ideal patient. Clin Lung Cancer. 2004 Nov; 6(3):149-53.
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• Coello MC, Luketich JD, Litle VR, Godfrey TE. Prognostic significance of micrometastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer. Clin Lung Cancer. 2004 Jan; 5(4):214-25.
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• Litle VR, Luketich JD, Christie NA, Buenaventura PO, Alvelo-Rivera M, McCaughan JS, Nguyen NT, Fernando HC. Photodynamic therapy as palliation for esophageal cancer: experience in 215 patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003 Nov; 76(5):1687-92; discussion 1692-3.
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• Luketich JD, Alvelo-Rivera M, Buenaventura PO, Christie NA, McCaughan JS, Litle VR, Schauer PR, Close JM, Fernando HC. Minimally invasive esophagectomy: outcomes in 222 patients. Ann Surg. 2003 Oct; 238(4):486-94; discussion 494-5.
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• Litle VR, Christie NA, Fernando HC, Buenaventura PO, Ferson PF, Luketich JD. Photodynamic therapy for endobronchial metastases from nonbronchogenic primaries. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003 Aug; 76(2):370-5; discussion 375.
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• Pierre AF, Luketich JD, Fernando HC, Christie NA, Buenaventura PO, Litle VR, Schauer PR. Results of laparoscopic repair of giant paraesophageal hernias: 200 consecutive patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002 Dec; 74(6):1909-15; discussion 1915-6.
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• Litle VR, Buenaventura PO, Luketich JD. Minimally invasive resection for esophageal cancer. Surg Clin North Am. 2002 Aug; 82(4):711-28.
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• Litle VR, Buenaventura PO, Luketich JD. Laparoscopic repair of giant paraesophageal hernia. Adv Surg. 2001; 35:21-38.
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• Litle VR, Leavenworth JD, Darragh TM, Kosinski LA, Moore DH, Smith-McCune KK, Warren RS, Palefsky JM, Welton ML. Angiogenesis, proliferation, and apoptosis in anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Dis Colon Rectum. 2000 Mar; 43(3):346-52.
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• Litle VR, Barbour S, Schrock TR, Welton ML. The continent ileostomy: long-term durability and patient satisfaction. J Gastrointest Surg. 1999 Nov-Dec; 3(6):625-32.
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• Litle VR, Warren RS, Moore D, Pallavicini MG. Molecular cytogenetic analysis of cytokeratin 20-labeled cells in primary tumors and bone marrow aspirates from colorectal carcinoma patients. Cancer. 1997 May 1; 79(9):1664-70.
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• Litle VR, Reilly LM, Ramos TK. Preoperative embolization of carotid body tumors: when is it appropriate? Ann Vasc Surg. 1996 Sep; 10(5):464-8.
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• Litle VR, Lockett SJ, Pallavicini MG. Genotype/phenotype analyses of low frequency tumor cells using computerize image microscopy. Cytometry. 1996 Apr 1; 23(4):344-9.
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• Weinstock MA, Bogaars HA, Ashley M, Litle V, Bilodeau E, Kimmel S. Inaccuracies in certification of nonmelanoma skin cancer deaths. Am J Public Health. 1992 Feb; 82(2):278-81.
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• Weinstock MA, Bogaars HA, Ashley M, Litle V, Bilodeau E, Kimmel S. Nonmelanoma skin cancer mortality. A population-based study. Arch Dermatol. 1991 Aug; 127(8):1194-7.
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