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FACT BRIEF

Can swelling from COVID-19 vaccines cause false alarms on mammograms or other cancer checks that are done soon after the shots are given?

By Lauran Neergaard
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YES

Lymph nodes, especially in the armpit, sometimes will temporarily swell after the vaccinations. It’s a normal reaction by the immune system but one that might be mistaken for cancer if it shows up on a mammogram or other scan.

Cancer experts and radiologists say anyone who’s getting a mammogram or other cancer check should let their doctor know if they were recently vaccinated for COVID-19.

An expert panel from three cancer centers -- MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering and Boston’s Dana-Farber -- published recommendations in the journal Radiology in February on how to handle scans complicated by the side effect.

The main message: “This should not prevent patients from getting the vaccine,” said one of the coauthors, Dr. Melissa Chen, a radiologist at MD Anderson. Radiologists also stress that urgent exams should not be delayed.

See a full discussion of this at The Associated Press
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
RSNA Link Multidisciplinary Recommendations Regarding Post-Vaccine Adenopathy and Radiologic Imaging: Radiology Scientific Expert Panel
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
The Associated Press
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.