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Elizabeth (Betty) J. Suh-Burgmann , MD

betty.suh-burgmann@kp.org

Suh-Burgmann, Betty

Elizabeth (Betty) Suh-Burgmann, MD, a gynecologic oncologist with The Permanente Medical Group, is an Adjunct Investigator with the Division of Research and a physician researcher with the Delivery Science & Applied Research Physician Researcher Program. Dr. Suh-Burgmann received her undergraduate degree at Cornell University and completed medical school and residency training at the University of California, San Francisco. She continued her training with a gynecologic oncology fellowship at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Suh-Burgmann joined The Permanente Medical Group in 2000 and became a member of the Physician Researcher Program in 2017. Her research encompasses a diverse range of topics related to women’s cancers, including cancer and precancer of the uterus, borderline tumors of the ovary, ultrasound detection of ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer screening.

Current Position(s):

  • Adjunct Investigator, Division of Research
  • Physician Researcher, Delivery Science & Applied Research Physician Researcher Program, The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG)
  • Chair of Gynecologic Oncology, TPMG
  • Chair of the Institutional Review Board, TPMG
  • Chair of the Central Research Committee, TPMG

Section Affiliations:

Primary Research Interests:

  • Cancer and precancer of the uterus
  • Borderline tumors of the ovary
  • Ultrasound detection of ovarian cancer
  • Cervical cancer screening

Studies

Standardized ultrasound-based risk stratification for detection of ovarian cancer

This project, initiated in 2014, led to the development and large-scale implementation of a system for risk stratifying ovarian abnormalities seen on ultrasound to ensure that similar abnormalities are described in a similar way by radiologists. The system also allows clinical management to be consistent from patient to patient and aligned with actual ovarian cancer risk. A 2016 study showed the reporting categories defined by the system correlate with distinct levels of ovarian cancer risk. We are currently investigating the risks associated with specific ultrasound characteristics in a low-risk community-based population and how to improve the system to ensure prompt diagnosis of ovarian cancer while avoiding unnecessary surgery for women with benign ovarian cysts.

Investigator: Suh-Burgmann, Betty

Funder: The Permanente Medical Group

Implementation of large-scale HPV self-testing for cervical cancer screening

The goal of this project is to determine the best strategy for integrating a home-testing option for cervical cancer screening. The most sensitive screening test for cervical cancer and precancer is a PCR-based test for human papilloma virus (HPV), which was adopted in June 2020 as the primary screening method for women aged 25-64.  Several large clinical trials have demonstrated the samples self-collected by patients for HPV testing are as accurate as samples collected by clinicians.  The project aims to assess the acceptability and overall effectiveness of HPV self-testing using a prospective pragmatic cluster-randomized design. The study results will inform which patients are most likely to benefit from a home-testing strategy and factors that influence uptake and completion of screening.

Investigator: Suh-Burgmann, Betty

Funder: The Permanente Medical Group

Publications

Association Between Vaccination Against COVID-19 and Postmenopausal Bleeding

Authors: Suh-Burgmann, Elizabeth J; Tierney, Cassidy; Hung, Yun-Yi; Schmittdiel, Julie A

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Dec;227(6):907-908. Epub 2022-07-12.

PubMed abstract

Ovarian Cystadenomas: Growth Rate and Reliability of Imaging Measurements

Authors: Suh-Burgmann, Elizabeth; Nakhaei, Masoud; Gupta, Sonia; Brook, Alexander; Hecht, Jonathan; Hung, Yun-Yi; Levine, Deborah

J Ultrasound Med. 2022 Sep;41(9):2157-2167. Epub 2021-11-30.

PubMed abstract

Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Identifying Ovarian Cancer in a Community-Based Setting

Authors: Lin, Ruby; Hung, Yun-Yi; Cheng, Julia; Suh-Burgmann, Elizabeth

Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2022;3(1):43-48. Epub 2022-01-31.

PubMed abstract

Ultrasound characteristics of early stage high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Authors: Suh-Burgmann, Elizabeth; Brasic, Natasha; Jha, Priyanka; Hung, Yun-Yi; Goldstein, Ruth B

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 10;225(4):409.e1-409.e8. Epub 2021-05-13.

PubMed abstract

Endometrial Cancer Detection During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Authors: Suh-Burgmann EJ; Alavi M; Schmittdiel J

Obstet Gynecol. 2020 10;136(4):842-843.

PubMed abstract

Reservations Regarding O-RADS Recommendations

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Flanagan T; Brasic N

Radiology. 2020 04;295(1):248-249. Epub 2020-02-25.

PubMed abstract

Cytological sampling of fallopian tubes using a hysteroscopic catheter: A multi-center study

Authors: Powell CB; Littell RD; Landen CN; Pramanik S; Hamilton IC; Suh-Burgmann EJ

Gynecol Oncol. 2020 03;156(3):636-640. Epub 2020-01-07.

PubMed abstract

Outcomes of Robotic Hysterectomy for Treatment of Benign Conditions: Influence of Patient Complexity

Authors: Herrinton LJ; Raine-Bennett T; Liu L; Alexeeff SE; Ramos W; Suh-Burgmann B

Perm J. 2020;24. Epub 2019-12-18.

PubMed abstract

Detection of early stage ovarian cancer in a large community cohort

Authors: Suh-Burgmann EJ; Alavi M

Cancer Med. 2019 11;8(16):7133-7140. Epub 2019-09-30.

PubMed abstract

Simple Adnexal Cysts: SRU Consensus Conference Update on Follow-up and Reporting.

Authors: Levine D; Suh-Burgmann EJ; Brown DL; et al.

Radiology. 2019 Nov;293(2):359-371. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2019191354. Epub 2019 Sep 24.

PubMed abstract

Lack of Standardized Terminology in Ultrasound Reports for Ovarian Cysts

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Herrinton L

JAMA Intern Med. 2019 06 01;179(6):847-848.

PubMed abstract

Prospective Validation of a Standardized Ultrasonography-Based Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment System

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Flanagan T; Osinski T; Alavi M; Herrinton L

Obstet Gynecol. 2018 11;132(5):1101-1111.

PubMed abstract

Large-Scale Implementation of Structured Reporting of Adnexal Masses on Ultrasound

Authors: Suh-Burgmann EJ; Flanagan T; Lee N; Osinski T; Sweet C; Lynch M; Caponigro M; Mehta J; Alavi M; Herrinton LJ

J Am Coll Radiol. 2018 May;15(5):755-761. Epub 2018-03-20.

PubMed abstract

Prospective Case-Control Study of Abnormal Bleeding after Outpatient Corticosteroid Injection

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Liu JY

Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2016 Nov 23.

PubMed abstract

The Value of Ultrasound Monitoring of Adnexal Masses for Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Kinney W

Front Oncol. 2016;6:25. Epub 2016-02-10.

PubMed abstract

Potential harms outweigh benefits of indefinite monitoring of stable adnexal masses

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Kinney W

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Dec;213(6):816.e1-4. Epub 2015-09-09.

PubMed abstract

Outcomes from ultrasound follow-up of small complex adnexal masses in women over 50

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Hung YY; Kinney W

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Dec;211(6):623.e1-7. Epub 2014-07-25.

PubMed abstract

Abnormal vaginal bleeding after epidural steroid injection: a paired observation cohort study

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Hung YY; Mura J

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Sep;209(3):206.e1-6. Epub 2013 Jun 28.

PubMed abstract

The value of additional pathology comments indicating suspicion of adenocarcinoma among women diagnosed preoperatively with complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Hung YY; Armstrong MA

Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2012 May;31(3):222-6.

PubMed abstract

Preservation of fertility after partial resection of bilateral ovarian cystadenofibromas: a case report

Authors: Ewing TL; Suh-Burgmann B

J Reprod Med. 2011 Jul-Aug;56(7-8):364-5.

PubMed abstract

Complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia: the risk of unrecognized adenocarcinoma and value of preoperative dilation and curettage

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Hung YY; Armstrong MA

Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Sep;114(3):523-9.

PubMed abstract

Cytoreductive surgery for gynecologic malignancies–new standards of care

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Powell CB

Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2007 Jul;16(3):667-82, x-xi.

PubMed abstract

Long-term outcomes following conservative surgery for borderline tumor of the ovary: a large population-based study

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E

Gynecol Oncol. 2006 Dec;103(3):841-7. Epub 2006 Jun 21.

PubMed abstract

On maintaining the balance

Authors: Suh-Burgmann B; Kinney W

J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2006 Apr;10(2):109-10.

PubMed abstract

Long-term administration of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone on regression of low-grade cervical dysplasia–a pilot study

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Sivret J; Duska LR; Del Carmen M; Seiden MV

Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2003;55(1):25-31.

PubMed abstract

Risk factors for cervical stenosis after loop electrocautery excision procedure.

Authors: Suh-Burgmann EJ; Whall-Strojwas D; Chang Y; Hundley D; Goodman A

Obstet Gynecol. 2000 Nov;96(5 Pt 1):657-60.

PubMed abstract

Surveillance for endometrial cancer in women receiving tamoxifen.

Authors: Suh-Burgmann EJ; Goodman A

Ann Intern Med. 1999 Jul 20;131(2):127-35. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-131-2-199907200-00009.

PubMed abstract

Expression of the HPV E7 oncoprotein mimics but does not evoke a p53-dependent cellular DNA damage response pathway.

Authors: Jones DL; Thompson DA; Suh-Burgmann E; Grace M; Munger K

Virology. 1999 Jun 5;258(2):406-14. doi: 10.1006/viro.1999.9733.

PubMed abstract

Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance: management patterns at an academic medical center.

Authors: Suh-Burgmann E; Darragh T; Smith-McCune K

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1998 May;178(5):991-5. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(98)70537-x.

PubMed abstract

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