Axillary adenopathy post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination has been well-documented and is seen with other types of vaccinations. Isolated trabecular thickening on mammography, however, is singular to COVID-19 vaccination, which implies that this finding may result from a distinct pathophysiologic mechanism. Herein, we describe the first case of axillary tail trabecular thickening resulting from the second booster of the COVID-19 vaccination series. Both breast cancer and mastitis may present similar findings. Ipsilateral injection of COVID-19 vaccine/booster and spontaneous resolution on follow-up provide clues to the etiology. It has been hypothesized that proinflammatory conditions may predispose to axillary tail trabecular thickening on mammography post-COVID-19 vaccination. Proinflammatory conditions such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes may also predispose to breast cancer, making this scenario even more of a diagnostic dilemma. This scenario would more likely be seen in lower socioeconomic communities, African Americans, and Hispanics, who demonstrate a higher prevalence of these diseases, and who are also more vulnerable due to health care disparities negatively affecting these groups. We discuss our case and the importance of this public health issue. Sequela of COVID vaccination and boosters will be encountered in the foreseeable future and could pose a diagnostic dilemma, thus potentially straining the healthcare system with unnecessary biopsies and patient anxiety if not recognized and appropriately managed.
Keywords: axillary tail; covid-19 retro; covid-19 vaccine booster shot; mammography; trabecular thickening.
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