Uptake In Axillary Lymph Nodes Research Articles

Axillary Lymph Node Uptake on 18F-FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Direct Comparison Study with Influenza Vaccination.

To compare vaccinated-side axillary lymph node uptake on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) after coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and influenza vaccination. We retrospectively analyzed 177 patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT after COVID-19 or influenza vaccination. We compared the uptake of the vaccinated-side axillary lymph nodes of 109 COVID-19 vaccinated patients with those of a lot of influenza-vaccinated patients. We also compared the uptake between 66 patients who received the first COVID-19 vaccination with 43 who received the second COVID-19 vaccination. 18F-FDG-avid axillary lymph nodes on the vaccinated side were significantly more frequently observed in the COVID-19 group (45%) than in the influenza group (19%) (p<0.001). When the interval between vaccination to PET/CT was within 7 days, there was no significant difference in the frequency of 18F-FDG-avid vaccinated-side axillary lymph nodes between the groups (COVID-19 group: 41% vs. influenza group: 45%, p=0.724). When the interval was over 7 days, 18F-FDG-avid lymph nodes were much more frequent in the COVID-19 group (47%) than in the influenza group (7%) (p<0.001). Comparing the first and second COVID-19 groups, 18F-FDG-avid lymph nodes were more frequent in the second vaccination group than in the first vaccination group, but the difference was not significant. 18F-FDG-avid vaccinated-side axillary lymph nodes were more frequently observed in the COVID-19 group than in the influenza group. In the case of the COVID-19 vaccine, a delay of 18F-FDG PET/CT examination is recommended by a longer interval from vaccination than in the influenza vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccine related hypermetabolic lymph nodes on PET/CT: Implications of inflammatory findings in cancer imaging.

We observed several patients presenting 2-[18F]FDG uptake in the reactive axillary lymph node at PET/CT imaging, ipsilateral to the site of the COVID-19 vaccine injection. Analog finding was documented at [18F]Choline PET/CT. The aim of our study was to describe this source of false positive cases. All patients examined by PET/CT were included in the study. Data concerning patient anamnesis, laterality, and time interval from recent COVID-19 vaccination were recorded. SUVmax was measured in all lymph nodes expressing tracer uptake after vaccination. Among 712 PET/CT scans with 2-[18F]FDG, 104 were submitted to vaccination; 89/104 patients (85%) presented axillary and/or deltoid tracer uptake, related to recent COVID-19 vaccine administration (median from injection: 11 days). The mean SUVmax of these findings was 2.1 (range 1.6-3.3). Among 89 patients with false positive axillary uptake, 36 subjects had received chemotherapy due to lymph node metastases from somatic cancer or lymphomas, prior to the scan: 6/36 patients with lymph node metastases showed no response to therapy or progression disease. The mean SUVmax value of lymph nodal localizations of somatic cancers/lymphomas after chemotherapy was 7.8. Only 1/31 prostate cancer patients examined by [18F]Choline PET/CT showed post-vaccine axillary lymph node uptake. These findings were not recorded at PET/CT scans with [18F]-6-FDOPA, [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC, and [18F]-fluoride. Following COVID-19 mass vaccination, a significant percentage of patients examined by 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT presents axillary, reactive lymph node uptake. Anamnesis, low-dose CT, and ultrasonography facilitated correct diagnosis. Semi-quantitative assessment supported the visual analysis of PET/CT data; SUVmax values of metastatic lymph nodes were considerably higher than post-vaccine lymph nodes. [18F]Choline uptake in reactive lymph node after vaccination was confirmed. After the COVID-19 pandemic, nuclear physicians need to take these potential false positive cases into account in daily clinical practice.

Lymphoscintigraphy in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema after sentinel lymph node dissection and axillary radiation therapy

The purpose of this study was to investigate lymphoscintigraphy pattern according to the presence or absence of axillary site radiation therapy (aRTx) in breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) patients who underwent sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND). The participants were patients who visited our facility from July 2014 to June 2021 due to upper extremity edema. Among them, patients who underwent SLND after the diagnosis of breast cancer were included. The participants were divided into a group without aRTx (group A) and a group with aRTx (group B). In each patient's lymphoscintigraphy, axillary lymph node uptake (ALNU), lymphatic flow delay, dermal back flow, and the presence of any collateral pathway were checked. Thirty-three patients were enrolled. In all, 27 patients were classified in Group A, and 6 patients were classified in Group B. Between the 2 groups, we found a significant difference (P value < .05) between groups at ALNU and lymphatic flow delay. However, there was no significant difference between groups at the dermal backflow and the presence of a collateral pathway (P value > .05). And 24.2% of patients who developed lymphedema after SLND showed normal lymphoscintigraphy. In this study we suggest that SLND and aRTx affects the activity of the axillary lymph node and ultimately adversely affects lymphatic flow, becoming a risk factor for lymphedema. In addition, regardless of SLND or aRTx, lymphedema may eventually occur in the patient with normal lymphoscintigraphy.

18F]FDG uptake in axillary lymph nodes and deltoid muscle after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination: a cohort study to determine incidence and contributing factors using a multivariate analysis.

PurposeReactive FDG uptake in the axillary lymph nodes (ALN) and deltoid muscle (DM) after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination has been recognized, although the actual situation in the Japanese population remains unknown. To determine the incidence of reactive FDG uptake and its contributing factors, we retrospectively studied a cohort of subjects who were vaccinated at our hospital.MethodsWhole-body FDG-PET/CT examinations performed in 237 subjects out of 240 subjects with a definite history of COVID-19 vaccination (BNT162b2; BioNTech-Pfizer) were analyzed. Positivity and SUVmax of FDG uptake in the ALN and DM ipsilateral to vaccination, various subject characteristics, and the grade of the pathological FDG-PET/CT findings were evaluated using a multivariate analysis.ResultsFDG uptake in the ALN and DM ipsilateral to vaccination was seen in about 60% of the subjects even soon (0–4 days) after the first vaccination, with percentages reaching 87.5% and 75.0%, respectively, after the second vaccination. DM uptake had almost disappeared at around 2 weeks, while ALN uptake persisted for 3 weeks or longer. A multivariate analysis showed that a short duration since vaccination, a younger age, a female sex, and a low FDG-PET/CT grade (minimal pathological FDG uptake) contributed significantly to positive ALN uptake, while a short duration since vaccination and a female sex were the only significant contributors to positive DM uptake. This study is the first to identify factors contributing to positive FDG uptake in ALN and DM after COVID-19 vaccination.ConclusionA high incidence of FDG uptake in ALN and DM was observed after vaccination. ALN uptake seemed to be associated with a younger age, a female sex, and minimal pathological FDG uptake. After vaccination, an acute inflammatory reaction in DM followed by immune reaction in ALN linked to humoral immunity may be speculated.

Prevalence of Increased FDG PET/CT Axillary Lymph Node Uptake Beyond 6 Weeks after mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination.

Ipsilateral avid axillary lymph node uptake at FDG PET/CT persists in 29% (49 of 169) of patients between 7 to 10 weeks after the second dose of the mRNA-based BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination.

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: Age and Immune Status and Its Association with Axillary Lymph Node PET/CT Uptake.

With hundreds of millions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccine doses planned to be delivered worldwide in the upcoming months, it is important to recognize PET/CT findings in recently vaccinated immunocompetent or immunocompromised patients. We aimed to assess PET/CT uptake in the deltoid muscle and axillary lymph nodes of patients who received a COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccine and to evaluate its association with patient age and immune status. Methods: All consecutive adults who underwent PET/CT scans with any radiotracer at our center during the first month of a national COVID-19 vaccination rollout (between December 23, 2020, and January 27, 2021) and had received the vaccination were included. Data on clinical status, laterality, and time from vaccination were prospectively collected, retrospectively analyzed, and correlated with deltoid muscle and axillary lymph node uptake. Results: Of 426 eligible subjects (median age, 67 ± 12 y; 49% female), 377 (88%) underwent PET/CT with 18F-FDG, and positive axillary lymph node uptake was seen in 45% of them. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a strong inverse association between positive 18F-FDG uptake in ipsilateral lymph nodes and patient age (odds ratio [OR], 0.57; 95% CI, 0.45-0.72; P < 0.001), immunosuppressive treatment (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.20-0.64; P = 0.003), and presence of hematologic disease (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.24-0.8; P = 0.021). No such association was found for deltoid muscle uptake. The number of days from the last vaccination and the number of vaccine doses were also significantly associated with increased odds of positive lymph node uptake. Conclusion: After mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination, a high proportion of patients showed ipsilateral lymph node axillary uptake, which was more common in immunocompetent patients. This information will help with the recognition of PET/CT pitfalls and may hint about the patient's immune response to the vaccine.

Radiopharmaceuticals for SPECT Cancer Detection

The purpose of the study was to assess the efficacy of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 199Tl and 99mTc-MIBI in the detection of breast, laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. Materials and Methods: a total of 220 patients were included into the study. Of them, there were 120 patients with breast lesions (100 patients with breast cancer and 20 patients with benign breast tumors) and '00 patients with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal diseases (80 patients with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer and 20 patients with benign laryngeal/hypopharyngeal lesions). Results: no abnormal 199Tl uptake was seen in all patients with benign breast and laryngeal lesions, indicating a 100% specificity of 199Tl SPECT. In breast cancer patients, increased 199Tl uptake in the breast was visualized in 94.8% patients, 99mTc-MIBI in 93.4% patients. Increased 199Tl uptake in axillary lymph nodes was detected in 60% patients and 99mTc-MIBI in 93.1% patients. In patients with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer, sensitivity of SPECT with 199Tl and 99mTc-MIBI were 95%. The 199Tl SPECT sensitivity in identification of regional lymph node metastases in patients with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer was 75% and the 99mTc-MIBI SPECT sensitivity was 17%. Conclusion: the data obtained show that SPECT with 199Tl and 99mTc-MIBI can be used as one of the additional imaging methods in detection of tumors.

Tumour and lymph node uptakes on dual-phased 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography correlate with prognostic parameters in breast cancer.

To examine correlations between the uptake of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) by primary tumours and axillary lymph nodes, and clinical and biological tumour prognostic parameters, in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who had received a dual-phased FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan for pretreatment staging were enrolled retrospectively. Maximal standardized uptake values at 1 h (SUV1), 2 h (SUV2), and retention indices (RI) of the tumours and ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes were measured. SUV and RI were compared with clinical and biological prognostic parameters. A total of 32 patients participated in the study. Tumour FDG uptake correlated with histological grade and tumour size. FDG uptake in axillary lymph nodes correlated positively with lymph node status, metastasis status and clinical stage. RI values for the tumour and lymph nodes were significantly positively correlated with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 positivity. FDG uptake in tumours and lymph nodes showed correlations with some clinical and biological parameters, and may serve as a predictive marker of tumour biological behaviour in breast cancer.

Primary upper-limb lymphoedema

Lymphoedema is a general term used to designate pathological, regional accumulation of protein-rich fluid. It can be either primary or secondary, and mainly occurs after cancer treatment. To analyse the clinical and lymphoscintigraphic characteristics of primary upper-limb lymphoedema (ULL). All of the patients with ULL were recruited at a single Department of Lymphology between January 2007 and December 2011. In total, 60 patients (33 female, 27 male) were enrolled. For the 54 noncongenital lymphoedemas, the mean age at onset was 38·5 (range 3-82) years. Lymphoedema was unilateral in 51 patients (85%). It always affected the hand, and less often the forearm (55%) or upper arm (23%). Eleven patients (18%) developed cellulitis after onset of lymphoedema, and 21 patients (35%) had associated lower-limb lymphoedema (LLL). Forty-six patients (with 49 lymphoedematous limbs) underwent lymphoscintigraphy: axillary lymph node uptake was diminished in 18 (37%), absent in 24 (49%) and normal in seven limbs (14%). Among the 43 patients with unilateral lymphoedema and lymphoscintigraphy, 28 had epitrochlear node visualization, suggesting a rerouting through the deep lymphatic system, with 15 only on the lymphoedematous limb and 22 on the contralateral nonlymphoedematous limb. The median follow-up period was 103 months, and 57/60 patients (95%) considered their lymphoedema to be stable. Primary ULL appears later in life than LLL, without predominance in either sex. Infectious complications are rare and patients considered the lymphoedema volume stable throughout life.

Bilateral axillary lymph node uptake of radiotracer during lower extremity and scrotal lymphoscintigraphy in a case of primary scrotal lymphoedema

Lymphoscintigraphy is a useful technique for the evaluation of lymphatic function in the presence of limb swelling. The authors report a case where genital swelling in a 20-year-old man was investigated by lymphoscintigraphy. We performed lower limb lymphoscintigraphy and scrotal lymphoscintigraphy in the patient on two different days. Lower limb revealed dermal backflow pattern in lower limbs, inguinoscrotal reflux of the lymph and unexpected avid radiotracer uptake in the axillae bilaterally. Scrotal lymphoscintigraphy revealed slow movement of the lymph from the scrotal skin and again unexpected avid radiotracer uptake in the axillae bilaterally. Findings were concluded as congenital hypoplasia of lymphatics in lower limbs, congenital lymphectasia/compensatory megalymphatics in scrotum and aberrant lymphatic pathway, possibly due to malfunctioning/nonfunctioning thoracic duct.

False-Positive Axillary Lymph Node on F-18 FDG PET/CT due to Moxibustion Therapy.

A 30-year-old female was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer and underwent total thyroidectomy and high-dose radioiodine ablation. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for recurrence detection of thyroid carcinoma was performed at 3 years after total thyroidectomy (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 (a) A projection image demonstrated a focal hypermetabolic lesion in the left axillary region (blue arrow). (b) PET and PET/CT fusion images demonstrated a hypermetabolic lymph node in the left axillary region (maximal SUV 2.5), suggesting lymph node ... Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy using moxa or the mugwort herb. Moxibustion is the burning of a small, thimble-sized, smoldering plug of dried leaves such as moxa or mugwort on the skin at an acupuncture point. Acupuncture and moxibustion induce hyperemia and a local inflammatory reaction. Complications associated with moxibustion such as skin burns or infection of the site have been reported previously [1]. False-positive FDG uptake in PET may result from inflammation, infection, and variations in physiological uptake [2, 3]. In the present case, the hypermetabolic axillary lymph node disappeared without any treatment. Well-known causes of false-positive FDG uptake in axillary lymph nodes such as arthritis of the upper extremity, extravasation of injected FDG, and vaccination were not found [4, 5]. Thus, left axillary lymph node uptake was considered false-positive uptake due to the local inflammatory condition associated with moxibustion.

Is a SUV cut-off necessary in the evaluation of the response of axillary lymph node metastases to neoadjuvant therapy?

Dear Sir, We read with great interest the article by Straver et al. published in the June 2010 issue concerning the feasibility of FDG PET/CT for monitoring the response of axillary lymph node metastases to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer [1]. The authors submitted 38 patients to FDG PET/CT in order to determine how often the visualization of lymph node metastases is sufficiently prominent to allow monitoring of the axillary response to chemotherapy, and they defined a maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of ≥2.5 as suitable for this purpose. We agree with the authors that it is crucial to have a sufficiently high baseline SUVmax to monitor the early response of axillary lymph node metastases to therapy, since a low value could lead to underestimation of the subsequent tumour response. However, this could be of great value if it leads to changing an ineffective therapeutic regimen, which is not currently performed for the primary tumour and least of all for axillary metastases [2]. We believe that the response to treatment of axillary metastases should be assessed by PET/CT at the end of neoadjuvant therapy with the aim of determining the subsequent surgical treatment. This evaluation should be carried out in a binary way, evaluating the PET scan as either negative (complete disappearance of uptake in axillary lymph nodes) or positive (persistence of uptake in axillary lymph nodes). If the PET scan is negative after neoadjuvant therapy, a sentinel node biopsy may be performed in order to spare the axilla if there is no metastatic involvement. Indeed, in this setting several studies have demonstrated the feasibility and accuracy of sentinel node biopsy, the most representative being the NSABP B-27 trial [3]. If there is persistent uptake at the axilla, there is no clear evidence to recommend the implementation of direct axillary dissection, although in a recent study we demonstrated high specificity and positive predictive value of PET in this setting [4].

Handheld array-based photoacoustic probe for guiding needle biopsy of sentinel lymph nodes

By modifying a clinical ultrasound array system, we develop a novel handheld photoacoustic probe for image-guided needle biopsy. The integration of optical fiber bundles for pulsed laser light delivery enables photoacoustic image-guided insertion of a needle into rat axillary lymph nodes with accumulated indocyanine green (ICG). Strong photoacoustic contrast of the needle is achieved. After subcutaneous injection of the dye in the left forepaw, sentinel lymph nodes are easily detected, in vivo and in real time, beneath 2-cm-thick chicken breast overlaying the axillary region. ICG uptake in axillary lymph nodes is confirmed with fluorescence imaging both in vivo and ex vivo. These results demonstrate the clinical potential of this handheld photoacoustic system for facile identification and needle biopsy of sentinel lymph nodes for cancer staging and metastasis detection in humans.

FDG uptake in axillary lymph nodes after vaccination against pandemic (H1N1)

To alert the imaging community to potential false positive findings related to current immunization programmes against H1N1 influenza virus. We reviewed 10 patients referred for positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) who had undergone recent vaccination. All studies showed( 18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the draining axillary lymph nodes close to the vaccination site, while low-dose CT revealed lymph nodes ranged between 0.5 cm and 1.2 cm at the same site. This potential pitfall in PET/CT should be borne in mind during current vaccination programmes.

Quantification of Radio-tracer Uptake in Axillary Lymph Nodes using Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI): Benign Radio-tracer Extravasation versus Uptake Secondary to Breast Cancer

To develop a means of quantifying axillary radio-tracer uptake in patients undergoing breast specific gamma imaging. This may help differentiate uptake secondary to extravasation of the radio-tracer at the injection from increased uptake as a result of breast cancer metastatic to lymph nodes. A retrospective analysis of patients who had undergone breast specific gamma imaging was performed. Scans from 26 patients showing increased axillary uptake of radio-tracer were identified from 939 patients reviewed. Eighteen of these patients had increased axillary uptake ipsilateral to the side of tracer injection in the absence of breast cancer on that side. Of these 18 cases, eight patients had pathologic proven axillary metastatic disease with increased axillary uptake contralateral to the side of tracer injection. The maximum signal intensity for each region of increased radio-tracer uptake was measured using the net maximum uptake per region of interest and the two groups of patients were compared. Statistical significance was determined using a two-tailed p-value and 95% confidence intervals were considered statistically significant. The calculated means of the "net maximum uptake per region of interest" in the subjects with increased radio-tracer uptake secondary to radio-tracer extravasation and metastatic breast cancer were 177.89 and 117.25, respectively. Comparison of the means yielded a two-tailed p-value of 0.0498, which is statistically significant. There is a statistically significant greater intensity of axillary radio-tracer uptake when the uptake occurs secondary to extravasation when compared with metastases to axillary lymph nodes.