Regional lymphadenopathy following COVID-19 vaccination: considerations for primary care management

Garreffa, Emanuele; York, Joanne; Turnbull, Anne; Kendrick, Denise

Abstract

Regional lymphadenopathy has been rarely reported following the administration of vaccinations for tuberculosis, influenza, and human papillomavirus (≤1–2/100 000 vaccines).1,2 In the first months of 2021, there seems to have been an increase in the number of women being referred to breast units from primary care and other specialties with clinically enlarged axillary/supraclavicular nodes or with image-detected lymphadenopathy. This has been reported anecdotally across the UK as well as in other European countries and in the US. Recent radiology reports, mainly from the US, have identified a probable link between such lymphadenopathies and COVID-19 vaccination administered up to a few weeks earlier.3–5 As the national vaccine programme progresses, this article considers the implications of this still little-known side effect on vaccine delivery and management of such patients, particularly those with previous history of cancer.

Citation

Garreffa, E., York, J., Turnbull, A., & Kendrick, D. (2021). Regional lymphadenopathy following COVID-19 vaccination: considerations for primary care management. British Journal of General Practice, 71(707), 284-285. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp21X716117

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 22, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 27, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Deposit Date: Jul 12, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: May 28, 2022
• Journal: British Journal of General Practice
• Print ISSN: 0960-1643
• Electronic ISSN: 1478-5242
• Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 71
• Issue: 707
• Pages: 284-285
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp21X716117
• Keywords: Family Practice, Regional lymphadenopathy, COVID-19, vaccination, primary care, management
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5781086
• Publisher URL: https://bjgp.org/content/71/707/284