Case Report
Open Access
Lymphoid Neoplasms and COVID-19 Vaccination
Onochie Ikenna Obodo, Sunday Ocheni, Odichimma Callista Obodo, Augustine Nwakuche Duru, Helen Chioma Okoye, Charles Emeka Nonyelu, Ikechukwu Okwudili Anigbogu, Theresa Ukamaka Nwagha, Anazoeze Jude Madu
Published online October 3, 2025
Oncology Advances.
doi:10.14218/OnA.2025.00005
Abstract
It is established that administration of the COVID-19 vaccine may be associated with an exaggerated immune response leading to enlargement of several lymph nodes. Although most
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It is established that administration of the COVID-19 vaccine may be associated with an exaggerated immune response leading to enlargement of several lymph nodes. Although most cases are benign and self-limiting, some have been reported in the literature as B-cell or T-cell lymphomas, with no reported cases of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). We report two cases of follicular lymphoma and CLL that occurred a few weeks after COVID-19 vaccination. Case 1 is a 48-year-old woman who noticed two significantly palpable masses, one in each axilla, 48 h after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine for COVID-19. Seven days later, she noticed another mass on the right side of her neck, which was biopsied within 48 hours. Case 2 is a 75-year-old man who presented with localized swellings in the axilla and on the neck, noted 24 h after the first dose of the Moderna messenger RNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine. Neither patient reported any constitutional or associated symptoms. Surgical biopsy of the axillary lymph node in case 1 revealed a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, confirmed via immunohistochemistry as CD20-positive B-cell follicular lymphoma. The patient also had multiple pre- and para-aortic lymph nodes. In case 2, complete blood count showed lymphocytosis (total white blood cell – 148 × 109/L; lymphocyte differential – 92%), while peripheral blood film showed lymphocytosis with a predominance of small, mature-looking lymphocytes, both suggesting CLL. Although requested, immunophenotyping and molecular testing were not performed due to patient-related challenges. Although a chance occurrence is possible, lymphoid malignancies should be considered a strong differential. The vaccination history of patients presenting with clinical manifestations suggestive of a lymphoid malignancy should be thoroughly investigated, while ruling out other possible differentials such as a benign, self-limiting inflammatory process.
Full article
Letter to the Editor
Open Access
Corrigendum
Open Access
Corrigendum: Cannabis Use and Its Multifaceted Impact on the Genitourinary System: A Scoping Review of the Literature
Nilanga Aki Bandara, Dhruv Lalkiya, Ryan Vethanayagam, Quaila-Lee Trang, Srinjoy Ray, Monica Anand, Parsa Khatami, Lea Lough, Anahita Nikmanesh, Malisha Ratnayake, Xuan Randy Zhou, David Harriman, Miles Mannas, Vahid Mehrnoush, Jay Herath
Published online July 15, 2025
Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology.
doi:10.14218/JERP.2023.00057C
Research Letter
Open Access
Reviewer Acknowledgement
Open Access
Research Letter
Open Access