Prevalence and Significance of Hypermetabolic Lymph Nodes Detected by 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis
Recently, several articles reported incidental findings at 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT in patients who have received COVID-19 vaccinations, including hypermetabolic axillary lymph nodes (HALNs) ipsilateral to the COVID-19 vaccine injection site which may cause diagnostic dilemmas. The a...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/14/8/762 |
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| author | Giorgio Treglia Marco Cuzzocrea Luca Giovanella Luigia Elzi Barbara Muoio |
| author_facet | Giorgio Treglia Marco Cuzzocrea Luca Giovanella Luigia Elzi Barbara Muoio |
| author_sort | Giorgio Treglia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recently, several articles reported incidental findings at 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT in patients who have received COVID-19 vaccinations, including hypermetabolic axillary lymph nodes (HALNs) ipsilateral to the COVID-19 vaccine injection site which may cause diagnostic dilemmas. The aim of our work was to calculate the prevalence of this finding. A comprehensive computer literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane library databases was performed to identify recently published articles that investigated the prevalence of HALNs detected by 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 vaccination. Pooled prevalence of this finding was calculated through a meta-analytic approach. Nine recently published articles including 2354 patients undergoing 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after recent COVID-19 vaccination have been included in the systematic review. Overall, HALNs ipsilateral to the vaccine injection site were frequent findings mainly due to vaccine-related immune response in most of the cases. The pooled prevalence of HALNs after COVID-19 vaccination was 37% (95% confidence interval: 27–47%) but with significant heterogeneity among the included studies. Physicians must be aware and recognize the significant frequency of HALNs at 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT related to immune response to vaccine injection. Larger studies are needed to confirm the findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b9f06a87fa04e06b271597587d1a76b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8247 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:29:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
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| series | Pharmaceuticals |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b9f06a87fa04e06b271597587d1a76b2023-11-22T09:11:26ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472021-08-0114876210.3390/ph14080762Prevalence and Significance of Hypermetabolic Lymph Nodes Detected by 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and a Meta-AnalysisGiorgio Treglia0Marco Cuzzocrea1Luca Giovanella2Luigia Elzi3Barbara Muoio4Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500 Bellinzona, SwitzerlandClinic of Nuclear Medicine, Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500 Bellinzona, SwitzerlandClinic of Nuclear Medicine, Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500 Bellinzona, SwitzerlandDepartment of Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500 Bellinzona, SwitzerlandDepartment of Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6500 Bellinzona, SwitzerlandRecently, several articles reported incidental findings at 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT in patients who have received COVID-19 vaccinations, including hypermetabolic axillary lymph nodes (HALNs) ipsilateral to the COVID-19 vaccine injection site which may cause diagnostic dilemmas. The aim of our work was to calculate the prevalence of this finding. A comprehensive computer literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane library databases was performed to identify recently published articles that investigated the prevalence of HALNs detected by 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 vaccination. Pooled prevalence of this finding was calculated through a meta-analytic approach. Nine recently published articles including 2354 patients undergoing 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after recent COVID-19 vaccination have been included in the systematic review. Overall, HALNs ipsilateral to the vaccine injection site were frequent findings mainly due to vaccine-related immune response in most of the cases. The pooled prevalence of HALNs after COVID-19 vaccination was 37% (95% confidence interval: 27–47%) but with significant heterogeneity among the included studies. Physicians must be aware and recognize the significant frequency of HALNs at 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT related to immune response to vaccine injection. Larger studies are needed to confirm the findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/14/8/762COVID-19vaccinePETFDGlymph nodesinflammation |
| spellingShingle | Giorgio Treglia Marco Cuzzocrea Luca Giovanella Luigia Elzi Barbara Muoio Prevalence and Significance of Hypermetabolic Lymph Nodes Detected by 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis Pharmaceuticals COVID-19 vaccine PET FDG lymph nodes inflammation |
| title | Prevalence and Significance of Hypermetabolic Lymph Nodes Detected by 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | Prevalence and Significance of Hypermetabolic Lymph Nodes Detected by 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Significance of Hypermetabolic Lymph Nodes Detected by 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Significance of Hypermetabolic Lymph Nodes Detected by 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | Prevalence and Significance of Hypermetabolic Lymph Nodes Detected by 2-[<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | prevalence and significance of hypermetabolic lymph nodes detected by 2 sup 18 sup f fdg pet ct after covid 19 vaccination a systematic review and a meta analysis |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccine PET FDG lymph nodes inflammation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/14/8/762 |
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