Radiologists are finding swollen lymph nodes in mammograms of women who have recently received COVID-19 vaccinations.
Lymph nodes are part of the body’s immune system and are found in various areas of the body, including the neck, groin, and armpits. They often swell in the presence of an invading pathogen or cancer.
An enlarged lymph node in the armpit region would normally be justification for a biopsy of the breast tissue, since it can be an indicator of breast cancer that may start to spread.
Radiologists say this is to be expected after being vaccinated for COVID-19.
According to a press release from Massachusetts General Hospital,
“In most patients, evidence of swollen lymph nodes following vaccination typically does not warrant further action unless the swelling persists or other health issues are at play.”
Dr. Pooja Voria, a board-certified radiologist said: “Most people are getting their vaccine in their shoulder, and the closest lymph nodes to the shoulder are in your axilla or underarm. We’re trying to avoid people coming in for extra testing, multiple ultrasound visits, things like that, we don’t want women to get unnecessarily scared.”
In January, the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) advised providers not to schedule women for mammograms for “4 to 6 weeks following the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccination.”
Doctor Andrea Porpligia, Assistant Professor at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA, said: “We’re recommending for women, if you know you’re getting your COVID vaccine, try to get your screening mammogram before then. Otherwise, if you’ve gotten your vaccine, wait four to six weeks afterward.”
Porpligia stressed that you if you have concerns you should not delay screening.
“If you’re having a breast concern, if you have breast pain, you feel a lump, you should not delay your mammogram because of the vaccine.”
She further stated that you should tell your healthcare provider that you have received the vaccine if you are not comfortable with delaying the exam.
The CDC stated that reports of the swelling of the lymph node after injections of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, “plausibly related to the vaccine” and were “most often witnessed in the arm and neck regions, two to four days after vaccination.” Lymph node swelling lasted an average of one to two days for Moderna and approximately 10 days for Pfizer.
