Breast Inflammatory Change Is Transient Following COVID-19 Vaccination.

HomeRadiologyVol. 304, No. 3 PreviousNext Reviews and CommentaryFree AccessImages in RadiologyBreast Inflammatory Change Is Transient Following COVID-19 VaccinationEric Kim , Beatriu ReigEric Kim , Beatriu ReigAuthor AffiliationsFrom the Department of Radiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, 160 East 34th St, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10016.Address correspondence to E.K. (email: [email protected]).Eric Kim Beatriu ReigPublished Online:Mar 15 2022https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.220321MoreSectionsPDF ToolsImage ViewerAdd to favoritesCiteTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked In A 60-year-old woman presented for routine screening mammography 5 days following the COVID-19 booster vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech) in the left arm. A new, nonpalpable global asymmetry measuring 13 cm was noted in the left upper outer breast (Figure, A). Targeted US did not demonstrate any significant findings. No axillary lymphadenopathy was seen. The findings were thought to be inflammatory in etiology related to recent vaccination. The mammogram was assessed as probably benign (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System [BI-RADS] category 3), with a short-term follow-up examination recommended in 2 months. The patient presented for follow-up mammography 2 months later, with interval resolution of the asymmetry (Figure, B).A 60-year-old woman presented for mammography 5 days following the COVID-19 booster vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech) in the left arm. (A) Mammogram with a mediolateral oblique view of the left breast demonstrates a new, nonpalpable asymmetry in the upper breast (arrow). This was thought to be inflammatory in etiology related to recent vaccination. The mammogram was assessed as probably benign (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System [BI-RADS] category 3), with a short-term follow-up recommended. (B) Mediolateral oblique view from the patient's follow-up mammography 2 months later, with interval resolution of the asymmetry.Download as PowerPointOpen in Image Viewer While ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathy following COVID-19 vaccination is a well-documented and relatively common finding, ipsilateral breast findings appear to be relatively rare. To our knowledge, only a few cases have been published regarding ipsilateral breast edema seen on a mammogram following vaccination (1,2). Injection-site redness and swelling are known adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccinations. Currently, there are no guidelines for ipsilateral breast findings following COVID-19 vaccination, but short-term follow-up rather than biopsy may be appropriate in the absence of other suspicious imaging findings or known cancer history.Disclosures of conflicts of interest: E.K. No relevant relationships. B.R. No relevant relationships.References1. Hao M, Edmonds C, Nachiappan A, Conant E, Zuckerman S. Management Strategies for Patients Presenting With Symptomatic Lymphadenopathy and Breast Edema After Recent COVID-19 Vaccination. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2021. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.21.27118. Published online December 29, 2021 . Crossref, Google Scholar2. Locklin JN, Woodard GA. Mammographic and sonographic findings in the breast and axillary tail following a COVID-19 vaccine. Clin Imaging 2021;80:202–204. Crossref, Medline, Google ScholarArticle HistoryReceived: Feb 10 2022Revision requested: Feb 28 2022Revision received: Feb 28 2022Accepted: Mar 2 2022Published online: Mar 15 2022Published in print: Sept 2022 FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited ByAxillary Lymphadenopathy in the COVID-19 Era: What the Radiologist Needs to KnowMeng Zhang, Richard W. Ahn, Jody C. Hayes, Stephen J. Seiler, Ann R. Mootz, Jessica H. 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