Interference of COVID-19 Vaccination With PET/CT Leads to Unnecessary Additional Imaging in a Patient With Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma—Case Report

Rafał Czepczyński; Rafał Czepczyński; Jolanta Szczurek; Jolanta Szczurek; Jacek Mackiewicz; Marek Ruchała

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.690443

Frontiers in Oncology (Aug 2021)

Interference of COVID-19 Vaccination With PET/CT Leads to Unnecessary Additional Imaging in a Patient With Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma—Case Report

Rafał Czepczyński,
Rafał Czepczyński,
Jolanta Szczurek,
Jolanta Szczurek,
Jacek Mackiewicz,
Marek Ruchała

Affiliations

Rafał Czepczyński: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
Rafał Czepczyński: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affidea, Poznań, Poland
Jolanta Szczurek: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
Jolanta Szczurek: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affidea, Poznań, Poland
Jacek Mackiewicz: Department of Medical and Experimental Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
Marek Ruchała: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.690443
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11

Abstract

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The COVID-19 pandemic has widely influenced oncological imaging mainly by presenting unexpected pulmonary and mediastinal lesions. The ongoing global program of vaccination has led to incidental diagnosis of axillary lymphadenopathy. We present a case of increased accumulation of 18F-FDG in an axillary lymph node in a PET/CT scan performed in a 43-year-old female patient with metastatic melanoma. The scan was performed 4 days after the AZD1222 vaccination. The occurrence of lymphadenopathy was verified with another PET/CT scan scheduled one month later. This case report presents a possible misinterpretation of PET/CT images caused by the recent COVID-19 vaccination. To avoid distress of the patient and unnecessary oncological diagnostics to verify the findings, we recommend avoiding scheduling PET/CT shortly after vaccination.

Published in Frontiers in Oncology

ISSN: 2234-943X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/

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