The Optimal Timing of Imaging Examinations in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Our study was a retrospective study of patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, who received concurrent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in the ipsilateral arm, and underwent biopsy or surgery for axillary lymph nodes between April 2021 and September 2021. In our study population, the median interval between the most recent vaccination and imaging assessment was 26 days (range, 4–49 days) [1]. Previous reports have indicated that lymphadenopathy can develop as early as one day after the first dose, and is most likely to be seen within 14 days. However, the time to resolution of COVID-19 vaccine-associated lymphadenopathy varies, with persistent axillary lymphadenopathy observed up to 43 weeks post-vaccination [3]. In addition, patient and vaccine factors such as younger age, first dose, and mRNA vaccine type induce a higher incidence of axillary lymphadenopathy [4].