Axillary lymphadenopathy after a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose has a mean time to resolution of 102 days, shorter than the time to resolution after the initial series.

64-year-old woman who underwent screening mammography and breast ultrasound. A, right, and B, left, mediolateral oblique views obtained 2 days after booster dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine administered in left upper extremity shows left axillary lymphadenopathy. No right axillary lymphadenopathy was visualized. C, left axillary ultrasound performed same day as mammogram shows enlarged left axillary lymph node (calipers) with thickened cortex, measuring 6 mm. D, left axillary ultrasound performed 102 days after booster dose shows normal lymph node (calipers) with cortical thickness of 2 mm, consistent with resolution of lymphadenopathy.


March 13, 2023 — According to an accepted manuscript published in ARRS’ American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), axillary lymphadenopathy after a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose has a mean time to resolution of 102 days, shorter than the time to resolution after the initial series. 

 “Findings support a follow-up interval of at least 12 weeks, as well as avoidance of delaying screening mammography, for suspected vaccine-related lymphadenopathy after booster doses,” concluded first author Eralda Mema, MD, of Weill Cornell Imaging at New York Presbyterian

This AJR accepted manuscript retrospectively studied 54 patients (mean age, 57 years) at a single institution with unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy ipsilateral to a booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine visualized on ultrasound—whether an initial breast imaging examination or follow-up to prior screening or diagnostic breast imaging—performed between September 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022, and who underwent follow-up ultrasound examinations until resolution of lymphadenopathy. Electronic medical records were used to extract patient information. 

Ultimately, axillary lymphadenopathy related to a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine resolved at a mean of 102 days after the booster dose and 84 days after the initial ultrasound examination showing the lymphadenopathy. Neither age, vaccine booster brand (Moderna vs. Pfizer), nor breast cancer history were significantly associated with time to resolution in univariable or multivariable analyses (all p>.05). 

Noting exclusions due to incomplete or even unavailable vaccination history, patients were also excluded if follow-up imaging was pending, “which may have biased the sample toward inclusion of patients whose lymphadenopathy resolved rapidly,” the authors of this AJR accepted manuscript acknowledged

For more information: www.arrs.org 


Related Content

News | PET Imaging

May 30, 2025 — GE HealthCare recently announced that the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) ...

Time May 30, 2025
arrow
News | Imaging Software Development

May 27, 2025 — DeepLook Medical, a company advancing medical imaging through visual enhancement technology, recently ...

Time May 28, 2025
arrow
News | Mammography

April 29, 2025 — iCAD, a global provider of clinically proven AI-powered cancer detection solutions, has announced a ...

Time April 29, 2025
arrow
News | Artificial Intelligence

March 10, 2025 — Lunit, a provider of AI-powered solutions for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, has published a ...

Time March 10, 2025
arrow
News | Artificial Intelligence

Dec. 2, 2024 — Lunit recently unveiled follow-up findings from the ScreenTrustCAD trial. This study, conducted at Capio ...

Time December 02, 2024
arrow
News | Mammography

Sept. 30, 2024 — Siemens Healthineers recently announced the Food and Drug Administration’s premarket approval (PMA) for ...

Time September 30, 2024
arrow
News | PET-CT

July 31, 2024 — In a head-to-head comparison with FDG PET/CT, FDG PET/MRI demonstrated comparable or superior diagnostic ...

Time July 31, 2024
arrow
News | Breast Imaging

July 29, 2024 — iCAD, Inc., a global leader in clinically proven AI-powered cancer detection solutions, announced a ...

Time July 29, 2024
arrow
Videos | Breast Imaging

Don't miss ITN's latest "One on One" video interview with AAWR Past President and American College of Radiology (ACR) ...

Time July 24, 2024
arrow
News | Flat Panel Displays

July 17, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) is accelerating its B2B medical device business, expanding its lineup of diagnostic ...

Time July 17, 2024
arrow
Subscribe Now