A Canadian woman experienced a remarkable increase in breast size, expanding from a B cup to a triple G cup, following her Covid vaccination, marking a unique case in medical literature.
The 19-year-old received her initial dose of the Pfizer Covid vaccine in September 2022, after which she began to notice a tingling sensation and slight growth in her breasts. These symptoms intensified after she received her second dose approximately three weeks later.
After six months, the woman sought medical attention due to the significant enlargement of her breasts. Physicians proposed that her Covid vaccination might have induced pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH), a condition characterized by an overgrowth of cells that typically results in benign breast lumps, which has been documented in only around 200 cases globally.
This instance represents the first documented correlation between PASH and a vaccine, although experts have cautioned that a definitive causal relationship has yet to be established. The precise mechanism by which the vaccine may have instigated this growth remains unclear; however, some studies have indicated that Covid vaccines could provoke an immune response that leads to temporarily swollen lymph nodes, thereby creating the appearance of increased breast size.
Researchers from the University of Toronto published their findings in a medical journal last month, stating, “This case is the first to demonstrate a temporal association between PASH-associated gigantomastia and a vaccine.”
It is important to note that adverse reactions to Covid vaccines are exceedingly rare, and the advantages of vaccination significantly outweigh the potential risks. The woman involved in this case study had no pre-existing health conditions. Although her breasts appeared swollen and sagging, no masses were detected.
Diagnostic imaging, including an ultrasound and CT scan, revealed slightly swollen lymph nodes in the vicinity of her armpits and dense blood vessels, which were believed to be associated with the enlarged breast tissue.
PASH is a benign breast condition that has been identified in fewer than 200 individuals worldwide since its initial description in 1986, typically resulting in non-cancerous lesions formed from specific cell types.
