Lymph Node Activation by PET/CT Following Vaccination with Licensed Vaccines for Human Papillomaviruses

Emily E. Coates, Pamela J. Costner, Martha C. Nason, Douglas M. Herrin, Shielah Conant, Peter Herscovitch, Uzma N. Sarwar, Lasonji Holman, Jillian Mitchell, Galina Yamshchikov, Richard A. Koup, Barney S. Graham, Corina M. Millo, Julie E. Ledgerwood

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background While PET using 18F-FDG is most commonly used for imaging malignant tumors, vaccination is known to cause transient inflammation of lymph nodes inducing positive findings on 18F-FDG PET scans. The pattern, magnitude, and duration of lymph node activation following vaccination have not been clearly defined. Furthermore, the addition of adjuvants to vaccines can further enhance the immune response. The presented study was designed to define lymph node activation following administration of the Food and Drug Administration-licensed human papillomavirus vaccines, Cervarix and Gardasil, which contain similar antigens with different adjuvants. Methods Twenty-seven women aged 18 to 25 years were randomized to receive either Cervarix or Gardasil in the clinical trial VRC 900. Fifteen subjects participated in the PET/CT portion of the trial and received scans of lymph node activation at prevaccination and "1 week" (8-14 days) and "1 month" (23-36 days) after the first or third vaccination. Results PET/CT scans revealed that all vaccine recipients had ipsilateral axillary lymph node activity. Three of 4 Cervarix recipients also showed contralateral lymph node activity 1 month after the first vaccination. For both Cervarix and Gardasil, the SUV activity resolved over time, with activity extended up to day 37 after the first and third vaccinations. Conclusions Following intramuscular vaccination, there were no major differences between duration of uptake and intensity of SUV between Cervarix and Gardasil recipients in ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes. Contralateral node activation was detected up to 1 month after the first vaccination in Cervarix recipients only, possibly reflecting differences in vaccine adjuvant formulation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)329-334
Number of pages6
JournalClinical nuclear medicine
Volume42
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2017

Keywords

  • FDG
  • PET/CT
  • SUV
  • human papillomavirus vaccination

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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