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Duration of 18F-FDG avidity in lymph nodes after pandemic H1N1v and seasonal influenza vaccination

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of our study was to investigate the occurrence of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avidity in draining axillary lymph nodes after vaccination against influenza (H1N1v pandemic and seasonal) and to determine the period of increased FDG uptake.

Methods

During December 2009, patients referred for 18F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scans (n = 293) filled in a questionnaire concerning vaccination type (seasonal and/or H1N1v), time and anatomical localization of vaccination. Only injections in deltoid regions were evaluated, thus ensuring that draining lymph nodes were axillary. If more vaccinations had been given, only the latest vaccination was evaluated in each deltoid region.

Results

Of all patients who underwent PET/CT scans during December 2009, 26% had been vaccinated with at least one influenza vaccination in the deltoid region. A total of 92 ‘draining’ and 60 ‘reference’ (i.e. contralateral, non-vaccinated) axillary lymph nodes were evaluated in 61 patients (19 of 61 patients were scanned twice). The maximal intensity in FDG uptake (SUVmax) in draining lymph nodes was 5 g/ml body weight (BW), whereas the maximal intensity in reference lymph nodes was 1.9 g/ml BW. The SUVmax was normalized approximately 40 days after vaccination. No significant enlargement of metabolically active draining lymph nodes could be demonstrated on CT scan. Chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs given within 2 weeks from vaccination did not affect SUVmax in the axillary lymph nodes.

Conclusion

Influenza vaccination may lead to FDG-avid draining lymph nodes beyond 1 month.

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Correspondence to Anders Thomassen.

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Thomassen, A., Lerberg Nielsen, A., Gerke, O. et al. Duration of 18F-FDG avidity in lymph nodes after pandemic H1N1v and seasonal influenza vaccination. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 38, 894–898 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-011-1729-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-011-1729-9

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