American Head & Neck Society

Advancing Education, Research, and Quality of Care for the Head and Neck oncology patient.

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Mark Swanson – Orange CA

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Mark Swanson

University of California - Irvine

  • Head and Neck Surgeon
  • Reconstructive Head & Neck Surgery

333 City Blvd W
Suite 525
Orange, CA 92868
United States
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Mark Swanson, MD is a fellowship trained head and neck surgeon. After completing medical school at the Ohio State University, he entered a residency in Otolaryngology at University of Southern California. He continued his training with a fellowship in cancer and reconstructive surgery at the University of Miami, and returned to USC to join the faculty at Keck Medical Center. His expertise is in treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the mouth, throat, salivary glands, neck, and thyroid gland. He utilizes advanced robotic, organ preservation, and microvascular reconstructive techniques to maximize quality of life after treatment.

 

Dr. Swanson works in a multi-disciplinary team including surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and speech/swallow therapists to provide complete care for head and neck diseases.

 

In addition to treating patients, Dr. Swanson has a research interest in oncologic and quality of life outcomes in head and neck cancers. He focuses on swallowing and voice outcomes after cancer treatments, and is working to provide optimal cancer outcomes while preserving unaffected tissues.

Experience

Specialties

  • Otolaryngology
  • Head and Neck Surgery
  • Salivary Gland

Areas of Focus

Head and Neck Cancer, Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS), Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery, Paratid and Salivary Gland Disorders,  Transoral Laser Microsurgery, Conservative Laryngeal Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Thyroid and Parathyroid Diseases

Head and Neck squamous cell cancer related trials

  1. Haq F, Gurcan M, Powell K, Jackson R, Prescott J, Swanson M, Best T. Knee strength predicts loss of function and decline in physical activity in participants with osteoarthritis: A 2yr follow-up of the oai study. Osteoarthritis And Cartilage - Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 027 17. 10.1016/s1063-4584(09)60050-9, 2009.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, data collection, and manuscript editing

 

  1. Prescott JW, Priddy M, Best TM, Pennell M, Swanson MS, Haq F, Jackson RD, Gurcan MN. An automated method to detect interstitial adipose tissue in thigh muscles for patients with osteoarthritis. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 6360-3, 2009. PMID: 19964162.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, data collection, and manuscript editing

 

  1. Prescott JW, Pennell M, Best TM, Swanson MS, Haq F, Jackson R, Gurcan MN. An automated method to segment the femur for osteoarthritis research. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2009:6364-7, 2009. PMID: 19964163.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, data collection, and manuscript editing

 

  1. Prescott J, Swanson M, Hoang K, Pennell M, Haq F, Best T, Jackson R, Gurcan M. Template-based level set segmentation using anatomical information: Application to Quadriceps Muscles in MR Images from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. 24th International Symposium on Computer and Information Sciences. 1(1): 24-29, 2009.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, data collection, and manuscript editing

 

  1. Prescott J, Swanson M, Hoang K, Pennell M, Haq F, Best T, Jackson R, Gurcan M. Relationship between meniscus volume and cartilage morphology in mr images of osteoarthritis patients. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage - Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 17. 10.1016/S1063-4584(09)60054-6, 2009.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, data collection, and manuscript editing

 

  1. Prescott JW, Best TM, Swanson MS, Haq F, Jackson RD, Gurcan MN. Anatomically anchored template-based level set segmentation: application to quadriceps muscles in MR images from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. J Digit Imaging. 24(1):28-43, 2011. PMID: 20049623.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, data collection, and manuscript editing

 

  1. Swanson MS, Prescott JW, Best TM, Powell K, Jackson RD, Haq F, Gurcan MN. Semi-automated segmentation to assess the lateral meniscus in normal and osteoarthritic knees. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 18(3):344-53, 2010. PMID: 19857510.

 

  1. Swanson MS, Sinha UK. Diagnosis and management of merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck: current trends and controversies. Cancers (Basel). 27;6(3):1256-66, 2014. PMID: 24978433

 

  1. Radhakrishnan V, Swanson MS, Sinha U. Monoclonal Antibodies as Treatment Modalities in Head and Neck Cancers. AIMS Medical Science. 2. 347-359. 10.3934/medsci.2015.4.347, 2015.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I contributed for manuscript editing and clinical expertise

 

  1. Swanson MS, Hudson RL, Bhandari N, Sinha UK, Maceri DR, Kokot N. Use of Octreotide for the Management of Chyle Fistula Following Neck Dissection. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 141(8):723-7, 2015. PMID: 26135979.

 

  1. Ouyoung LM, Swanson MS, Villegas BC, Damodar D, Kokot N, Sinha UK. ABCLOVE: Voice therapy outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 38 Suppl 1:E1810-3, 2016. PMID: 26689974.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with data analysis and writing of the manuscript

 

  1. Bertelsen C*, King KG, Swanson M, Duddalwar V, Pepper JP. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound with perflubutane for sentinel lymph node mapping in cutaneous melanoma: A pilot study. Laryngoscope. 129(5):1117-1122, 2019. PMID: 30284307.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I contributed for and manuscript editing and clinical expertise

 

  1. Sinha UK, Swanson MS, Villegas BC, Ouyoung LM, Kokot N. Outcomes of Self-Esophageal Dilation for Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 28(3):1060-1066, 2019. PMID: 31112391.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, manuscript editing

 

  1. Yu AJ, Choi JS, Swanson MS, Kokot NC, Brown TN, Yan G, Sinha UK. Association of Race/Ethnicity, Stage, and Survival in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A SEER Study. OTO Open. 3(4):2473974X19891126, 2019. PMID: 31840132.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, manuscript editing

 

  1. Bertelsen C*, Hur K*, Nurimba M*, Choi J*, Acevedo JR*, Jackanich A, Sinha UK, Kochhar A, Kokot N, Swanson M. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery-Based Perioperative Protocol for Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction. OTO Open. 4(2):2473974X20931037, 2020. PMID: 32537554.

 

  1. Choi JS, Tang L, Yu AJ, Swanson MS, Chambers TN, Kokot NC, Sinha UK. Prevalence of oral human papillomavirus infections by race in the United States: An association with sexual behavior. Oral Dis. 26(5):930-940, 2020. PMID: 32011771.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, manuscript editing, clinical expertise

 

  1. Itamura K*, Kokot N, Sinha U, Swanson M. Association of insurance type with time course of care in head and neck cancer management. Laryngoscope. 130(11):E587-E592, 2020. PMID: 31756005.

 

  1. Nurimba M*, Hines W*, Sinha U, Mathew A, Kokot N, Swanson M. Evaluation of lymph node ratio and lymph node yield as prognosticators of locoregional recurrence in p16-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Head Neck. 42(10):2811-2820, 2020. PMID: 32542889.

 

  1. Clark BS*, Swanson M, Widjaja W, Cameron B, Yu V, Ershova K, Wu FM*, Vanstrum EB*, Ulloa R*, Heng A, Nurimba M*, Kokot N, Kochhar A, Sinha UK, Kim MP, Dickerson, S. ERAS for Head and Neck Tissue Transfer Reduces Opioid Usage, Peak Pain Scores, and Blood Utilization. Laryngoscope. 131(3):E792-E799, 2021. PMID: 32516508.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, manuscript editing, data analysis, data collection, clinical protocol implementation, patient care, and clinical expertise

 

  1. In GK, Vaidya P, Filkins A, Hermel DJ, King KG, Ragab O, Tseng WW, Swanson M, Kokot N, Lang JE, Menendez L, DeClerck B, Kim G, Hu JC, Terando A, Jadvar H, Ricker C, Miller KA, Peng DH, Wysong A. PD-1 inhibition therapy for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective analysis from the University of Southern California. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 147(6):1803-1811, 2021. PMID: 33210210.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with manuscript editing and clinical expertise

 

  1. Liu D*, Pickering T, Kokot N, Crookes P, Sinha UK, Swanson MS. Outcomes of Combined Antegrade-Retrograde Dilations for Radiation-Induced Esophageal Strictures in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Dysphagia. 36(6):1040-1047, 2021. PMID: 33386998.

 

  1. Liu DH*, Yu AJ, Ding L, Swanson MS. Association Between Insurance Type and Outcomes of Reconstructive Head and Neck Cancer Surgery. Laryngoscope. 2022 Oct;132(10):1946-1952. doi: 10.1002/lary.29966. Epub 2021 Nov 30. PMID: 34846071.

 

  1. Kim C*, Martinez E*, Kulich M*, Swanson MS. Surgeon practice patterns in transoral robotic surgery for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer. Oral Oncol. 121:105460, 2021. PMID: 34298289.

 

  1. Paik CB, Kim C, Nurimba M, Castellanos CX, Martinez E, Kokot N, Kwon D, Swanson MS,

Sinha UK. Outcomes of Microvascular Reconstruction for Head and Neck Cancer in a COVID-19 Hot Spot. Ann Clin Otolaryngol. 6(1): 1050, 2021.
Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with study design, manuscript editing, clinical expertise, and was involved in patient care for the included patients

 

  1. West JD*, Kim ME*, Lapalma DM, Vergara-Lluri M, Conti P, Chambers TN, Swanson MS. 18FDG-PET/CT Specificity for the Detection of Lymphoma Recurrence in the Tonsils. OTO Open. 2021 Nov 15;5(4):2473974X211059081. PMID: 34805720

 

  1. Inouye D, Zhou S, Clark B, Swanson M, Chambers T. Two Cases of Impaired Wound Healing Among Patients With Major Head and Neck Free-Flap Reconstruction in the Setting of COVID-19 Infection. Cureus. 2021 Dec 1;13(12):e20088. PMID: 34993036

 

  1. Pangal DJ, Cote DJ, Ruzevick J, Yarovinsky B, Kugener G, Wrobel B, Ference EH, Swanson M, Hung AJ, Donoho DA, Giannotta S, Zada G. Robotic and robot-assisted skull base neurosurgery: systematic review of current applications and future directions. Neurosurg Focus. 52(1):E15, 2022 Jan. PMID: 34973668.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with manuscript editing and clinical expertise

 

  1. Wu FM, Yu AJ, Choi JS, Swanson MS, Chambers TN, Kokot NC, Sinha UK. Human papillomavirus detection in oral rinses and history of tonsillectomy in U.S. adults. Am J Otolaryngol. 2022 Nov-Dec;43(6):103558. Epub 2022 Aug 3. PMID: 36029622.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with manuscript editing and clinical expertise

 

  1. Castellanos CX*, Ulloa R, Kim C, Tang L, Swanson M, Kokot N. Enhanced recovery after surgery: a narrative review on perioperative pain levels and opiate use following free flap reconstruction in patients with head and neck cancer. J Oral Maxillofac Anesth 2022;1:14.

Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with manuscript editing and clinical expertise

 

  1. Tang L, West J, Lee E, Kharidia K, Hasday S, Chambers T, Kokot N, Swanson M, O'Dell K. Open Bedside Tracheostomy: Safe and Cost Saving but Underutilized Nationally. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022 Apr 5:1945998221091905. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35380905.

 

  1. Ziltzer RS, Millman NM, Serrano J, Swanson M, O'Dell K. Creation of an Open Bedside Tracheostomy Program at a Community Hospital With a Single Surgeon. OTO Open. 2023 Feb 17;7(1):e27. PMID: 36998547

 

  1. Castellanos CX*, Paoletti M*, Ulloa R*, Kim C, Fong M, Xepoleas M, Sinha U, Kokot N, Swanson MS. Opioid Sparing Multimodal Analgesia for Transoral Robotic Surgery: Improved Analgesia and Narcotic Use Reduction. OTO Open. 2023 Mar 14;7(1):e17. PMID: 36998552

 

  1. Bove I, Pangal DJ, Ruzevick JJ, Cheok S, Amar A, Mack W, Ference ED, Wrobel B, Swanson M, Hur K, Zada G. Anatomic Considerations Guiding Single Versus Multiportal Endoscopic Approaches for Resection of Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: Cases Series With Graded Multicorridor Resections. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2023 Aug 1;25(2):150-160. Epub 2023 May 10. PMID: 37166983.

 

  1. Swanson MS, Gantz O*, Zhou S*, Fisher L, Kezirian E, Tan MH, Zhang Y, Chambers TN, Sinha UK, Kokot N. Comparison of Free Flap Outcomes at a University Hospital versus County Hospital Setting for Head and Neck Reconstruction.  Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2023 Apr 28;27(2):e183-e190. eCollection 2023 Apr.   PMID: 37125366

 

  1. Davis RJ, Ayo-Ajibola O, Lin ME, Swanson MS, Chambers TN, Kwon DI, Kokot NC. Evaluation of Oropharyngeal Cancer Information from Revolutionary Artificial Intelligence Chatbot. Laryngoscope. 2024 May;134(5):2252-2257. PMID: 37983846.

 

  1. Hermann J*, Atay S, Swanson M. A Painless Right Anterior Neck Mass. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Feb 1;150(2):181-182. PMID: 38127334.

 

  1. Nurimba M*, Sheth M, Swanson M, Chambers T. The Impact of Race and the Affordable Care Act on Thyroid Carcinoma Outcomes: A National Cancer Database Study. Laryngoscope. 2024 Oct;134(10):4421-4430. Epub 2024 Jun 6. PMID: 38841865.

 

  1. Ayo-Ajibola O, Davis RJ, Lin ME, Vukkadala N, O'Dell K, Swanson MS, Johns MM 3rd, Shuman EA. TrachGPT: Appraisal of tracheostomy care recommendations from an artificial intelligent Chatbot. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2024 Jul 16;9(4):e1300. PMID: 39015552; PMCID: PMC11250132.

 

  1. Huang MY, Chen A, Quarshie C, Masson R, Barajas G, Kim G, DeClerck B, Swanson MS, In GK, Kokot N, Pickering TA, Hu JC. Influence of Anatomic Locations of T1b Melanomas and Patient Age on Outcomes. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024 May 1;23(5):306-310. PMID: 38709694.

 

Refereed Reviews, Chapters, and Editorials:

  1. Kokot N, Swanson MS, Weinstein GS. Management of the N3 Neck. Medscape Reference. Available at: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/850589-overview. 2014
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I contributed with writing a portion of the manuscript, updating data, literature review, and manuscript editing
  2. Swanson MS, Sinha UK. Rationale for combined blockade of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer—review of current data. Oral Oncol. 51(1):12-5, 2015. PMID: 25459157.
  3. Swanson MS, Kokot N, Sinha UK. The Role of HPV in Head and Neck Cancer Stem Cell Formation and Tumorigenesis. Cancers (Basel). 8(2):24, 2016. PMID: 26907349.
  4. Swanson MS, Low G*, Sinha UK, Kokot N. Transoral surgery vs intensity-modulated radiotherapy for early supraglottic cancer: a systematic review. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 25(2):133-141, 2017. PMID: 28106658.
  5. Liu C*, Swanson MS, Kokot N. Robotic Surgery: Clinical Perceptions, Approaches and Challenges. Chapter 16: Transoral Robotic Surgery:  Treatment of Head and Neck Disease. Lazar, John F. Nova Science Publishers.  p391-407,
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I contributed with writing a portion of the chapter, clinical expertise, and manuscript editing

 

Clinical Communication: (Case Reports, letters)

  1. Swanson MS, Brown, T. Laryngotracheal giant cell tumor: case report and literature review. Case Reports in Clinical Pathology. 2. 10.5430/crcp.v2n2p12, 2014.
  2. Itamura K*, Swanson M. A Painless Retroauricular Mass. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.;146(1):75-76, 2020. PMID: 31670791.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I was the PI and contributed mentorship, study design, and manuscript editing.
  3. Tsai K, Liang TZ, Grant EG, Swanson MS, Barnett B. Optimal imaging modality for diagnosis of parathyroid adenoma: Case report and review of the literature. Journal of Clinical and Translational Endocrinology: Case Reports. 17. 100065. 10.1016/j.jecr.2020.100065, 2020.
    Narrative of Personal Contribution: I worked with manuscript editing, clinical expertise, and data interpretation

 

Abstracts and Presentations:

  1. Swanson MS, Prescott JW, Best TM, Powell K, Jackson RD, Haq F, Gurcan MN. Semi-Automated Segmentation to Assess the Lateral Meniscus in Normal and Osteoarthritic Knees. Poster Presentation. Ohio State University Medical Center Research Day; Columbus, OH. 2009.
  2. Swanson MS, Ho Tiffany, Fisher LM, Sinha UK, Kokot N. Oropharyngeal cancer: Outcomes for transoral robotic surgery versus traditional surgical approaches. Poster Presentation. American Head and Neck Society 9th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer, Seattle, WA. 2016.
  3. Swanson MS, Tan MH, Zhou S, Zhang Y, Brown TN, Sinha UK, Kokot N. Comparison of free flap outcomes at a university hospital versus county hospital setting. Poster Presentation. American Head and Neck Society 9th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer, Seattle, WA. 2016.Wang TV, Swanson MS, Lifton J, Wang C, Felix J, Kokot N. Comparison of HPV rates and disease outcome in OPSCC at a public versus private hospital. Poster Presentation. American Head and Neck Society 9th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer, Seattle, WA. 2016.
  4. Yu AJ, Monedero RM, Swanson MS, Kokot NC, Sinha UK. Differences in Staging Between HPV Positive and Negative Head and Neck Cancers using the SEER Database. Poster Presentation. 122nd American Academy of Otolaryngology National Conference, Atlanta, GA. 2018.
  5. Celeste Kim, Amaya, E, Kulich M, Swanson M. Transoral Robotic Surgery for HPV-related Oropharyngeal Cancer. Poster Presentation. AHNS International Conference. July 22-25, 2021 Virtual Conference.
  6. Derek H Liu, Alison J Yu, Li Ding, Mark S Swanson. Association between Insurance Type and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Reconstructive Head and Neck Cancer Surgery. Triological Society, 2021. Orlando, FL.

 

  1. Vanstrum Wu, et al. Swanson/Hapner. A community-based H&N cancer screening in an underserved Hispanic population.  Triological Society, 2021 Orlando FL.
  2. Ruben Ulloa, Mark Swanson. Neoadjuvant Treatment in Head & Neck Cancer: Associations between time to surgery and survival. COSM Poster Presentation. American Laryngological Association, Dallas, TX. 2022.
  3. Ruben Ulloa, Mark Swanson. Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment in Locally Advanced Head & Neck Squamous Cell Cancer. COSM Poster Presentation. American Laryngological Association, Dallas, TX. 2022.
  4. Carlos Castellanos, Mark Swanson. Impact of Institution Variation and Preoperative Diagnostic Staging on Positive Surgical Margins in Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Malignancies. COSM Poster Presentation. American Laryngological Association, Dallas, TX. 2022.
  5. Swathi Balaji – Qualitative Interview on Patient Perceptions of Head and Neck Cancer Treatment. Keck School of Medicine of USC - Medical Student Research Forum 2022 Podium Presentation - Swathi Balaji (Mentor: Mark Swanson) 1/13/2022.
  6. “Creation of an open bedside tracheostomy program at a community hospital with a single surgeon” Poster presentation. Ziltzer, Ryan, Millman, Noah, Serrano, Jorge, Swanson, Mark, O’dell, Karla. Poster – Fall Voice National Meeting 10/6/2022.
  7. Ryan Ziltzer - Treatments and survival in HPV+ and HPV – metastatic oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma – AAO-HNSF 2022.
  8. Carlos Castellanos – Head and Neck Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol: Impact on Chronic Opioid Use After Free Flap Reconstruction (PI & Mentor: Mark Swanson). Oral Presentation – AAO-HNSF 2022
  9. Carlos Castellanos - Opioid Sparing multimodal analgesia for TORS: Improved analgesia and narcotic use reduction – Oral Presentation AAOHNS 2022 (PI & Mentor: Mark Swanson)
  10. Swathi Balaji – Qualitative Interview on Patient Perceptions of Head and Neck Cancer Treatment. AHNS – Montreal July 2023 Podium Presentation.
  11. Ryan Ziltzer – Effect on survival of locoregional treatment of patients with distant metastatic oropharyngeal cancer. AHNS – Montreal July 2023 Podium Presentation.
  12. Jonathan West – Predictors of Discharge Location Following Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery – AAO-HNSF 2023 Annual Meeting – Nashville, Tn 10/2023.
  13. Marta Kulich – Regional Lymph Node Metastasis in Sebaceous Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Systemic Review and Meta Analysis – COSM – Chicago, IL 5/2024.

 

Media and Television appearances:

  1. January 2010. Computers do better than humans at measuring some radiology images, Press Release. http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/kneesegment.htm
  2. April 2020, Grand Rounds – COVID-19 Impact on Cancer Care. SWOG Interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tccf9jfGof8&t=2s

 

  1. June 2021, Nurses get a tailor-made education in post-operative tracheostomy care. https://hscnews.usc.edu/nurses-get-a-tailor-made-education-in-post-operative-tracheostomy-care

 

  1. October 2024, Intraoperative Monitoring May Reduce Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury Risk in Thyroidectomy. Author – Heidi Splete. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/intraoperative-monitoring-may-reduce-recurrent-laryngeal-2024a1000i0o