Axillary Adenopathy Secondary to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: a Case Report - PubMed (original) (raw)

Case Reports

Axillary Adenopathy Secondary to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: a Case Report

Alan Koff et al. SN Compr Clin Med. 2022.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines are safe and effective for the prevention of COVID-19 infection, though local reactions are commonly reported. Axillary lymphadenopathy has also been reported, which has the potential of causing diagnostic confusion and unnecessary testing and procedures. A 58-year-old female with untreated latent tuberculosis was noted to have a pulmonary nodule on chest radiograph. Evaluation for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was undertaken, and a FDG PET/CT was performed to rule out malignancy. While the nodule demonstrated low avidity, highly avid lymph nodes were noted in the left axillary region. Further questioning elicited a recent history of mRNA-1273 (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccination in her left deltoid muscle 3 weeks prior and a sensation of axillary fullness. She was managed conservatively with spontaneous resolution of her lymphadenopathy. Axillary lymphadenopathy following mRNA vaccination has been reported and appears to be more common with mRNA-1273 (Moderna) than BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech), in those aged 18 to 64 as compared to age ≥ 65, and following the second vaccine dose compared to the first dose. Vaccination should be considered in the differential diagnosis of axillary lymphadenopathy, particularly ipsilateral to the vaccination site, to avoid unnecessary testing, treatment, and patient anxiety.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42399-022-01143-y.

Keywords: COVID-19; Case report; Lymphadenopathy; SARS-CoV-2; mRNA vaccination.

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestThe authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

FDG PET/CT of the lungs demonstrating highly avid left axillary adenopathy following ipsilateral mRNA-1273 vaccination

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