COVID-19 Vaccination Induced Lymphadenopathy in a Specialized Breast Imaging Clinic in Israel: Analysis of 163 cases.
Acad Radiol
; 28(9): 1191-1197, 2021 09.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1263200
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Following vaccination of Israeli population with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, an unusual increase in axillary-lymphadenopathy was noted. This study assesses the rate and magnitude of this trend from breast-imaging standpoint. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
Participants undergoing breast-imaging, in whom isolated axillary-lymphadenopathy was detected were questioned regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to the ipsilateral arm. Patients' and imaging characteristics were statistically compared. In order to perform a very short-term follow-up, twelve healthy vaccinated medical staff-members, underwent axillary-ultrasound shortly after the second dose, and follow-up.RESULTS:
Axillary-lymphadenopathy attributed to vaccination was found in 163 women undergoing breast-imaging, including BRCA-carriers. During the study, number of detected lymphadenopathies increased by 394% (p = 0.00001) in comparison with previous 2 consecutive years. Mean cortical-thickness of abnormal lymph-nodes after second dose vaccination was 5 ± 2 mm. Longer lymph-node diameter after second vaccination was noted (from 15 ± 5 mm, to 18 ± 6 mm, p = 0.005). In the subgroup of medical staff members, following trends were observed in patients with positive antibodies, lymph-node cortical-thickness was larger than patients with negative serology (p = 0.03); lymph-node cortical-thickness decreased in 4-5 weeks follow-up (p = 0.007). Lymphadenopathy was evident on mammography in only 49% of cases.DISCUSSION:
Vaccine-associated lymphadenopathy is an important phenomenon with great impact on breast-imaging clinic workload. Results suggest the appearance of cortical thickening shortly after both doses. Positive serology is associated with increased lymph-node cortical-thickness. In asymptomatic vaccinated women with ipsilateral axillary-lymphadenopathy as the only abnormal finding, radiological follow-up is probably not indicated. BRCA-carriers, although at higher risk for breast-cancer, should probably receive the same management as average-risk patients.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Breast
/
Lymphadenopathy
/
COVID-19 Vaccines
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Acad Radiol
Journal subject:
Radiology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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