Zhang M, Ahn RW, Hayes JC, Seiler SJ, Mootz AR, Porembka JH. Axillary Lymphadenopathy in the COVID-19 Era: What the Radiologist Needs to Know.
Radiographics 2022;
42:1897-1911. [PMID:
36018786 PMCID:
PMC9447369 DOI:
10.1148/rg.220045]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Axillary lymphadenopathy caused by the high immunogenicity of messenger RNA
(mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines presents radiologists with new diagnostic dilemmas in
differentiating vaccine-related benign reactive lymphadenopathy from that due to
malignant causes. Understanding axillary anatomy and lymphatic drainage is key
to radiologic evaluation of the axilla. US plays a critical role in evaluation
and classification of axillary lymph nodes on the basis of their cortical and
hilar morphology, which allows prediction of metastatic disease. Guidelines for
evaluation and management of axillary lymphadenopathy continue to evolve as
radiologists gain more experience with axillary lymphadenopathy related to
COVID-19 vaccines. General guidelines recommend documenting vaccination dates
and laterality and administering all vaccine doses contralateral to the site of
primary malignancy whenever applicable. Guidelines also recommend against
postponing imaging for urgent clinical indications or for treatment planning in
patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Although conservative management
approaches to axillary lymphadenopathy initially recommended universal
short-interval imaging follow-up, updates to those approaches as well as
risk-stratified approaches recommend interpreting lymphadenopathy in the context
of both vaccination timing and the patient’s overall risk of metastatic
disease. Patients with active breast cancer in the pretreatment or peritreatment
phase should be evaluated with standard imaging protocols regardless of
vaccination status. Tissue sampling and multidisciplinary discussion remain
useful in management of complex cases, including increasing lymphadenopathy at
follow-up imaging, MRI evaluation of extent of disease, response to neoadjuvant
treatment, and potentially confounding cases.
An invited commentary by Weinstein is available online.
©RSNA, 2022
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