Mammographic findings of diffuse axillary tail trabecular thickening following immunization with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines: Case series study

Richard Adam; Tim Duong; Laura Hodges; Christine Staeger-Hirsch; Takouhie Maldjian

doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2022.04.028

Mammographic findings of diffuse axillary tail trabecular thickening following immunization with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines: Case series study

Radiol Case Rep. 2022 Jun 10;17(8):2841-2849. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2022.04.028. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Authors

Richard Adam¹, Tim Duong^{1

2}, Laura Hodges², Christine Staeger-Hirsch², Takouhie Maldjian²

Affiliations

¹ Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
² Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.

Abstract

Axillary lymphadenopathy has been reported after ipsilateral COVID-19 vaccination and can cause confusion for possible malignancy [1]. Intrinsic findings isolated to the breast has not been previously reported. This is the first case series of ipsilateral reversible changes of diffuse axillary tail trabecular thickening on screening mammography in totally asymptomatic patients in connection with COVID vaccination, 3 of which were isolated findings, confirmed by complete resolution of all imaging findings on follow up. In all instances, imaging was performed within 1 week of the first or third dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. These findings can be confused with breast cancer. Spontaneous resolution distinguishes vaccine-related findings from breast cancer.

Keywords: COVID-19; Mammography; Trabecular thickening.

Publication types

Case Reports