Received Feb 9, 2026
| Type | Name | Manufacturer | Dose | Lot | Route / Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COVID19 | COVID19 (COVID19 (PFIZER-BIONTECH)) | PFIZER\BIONTECH | UNK | — | — |
The patient specifically noted the progression began after his COVID-19 vaccination in February 2021; The patient specifically noted the progression began after his COVID-19 vaccination in February 2021; This is a literature report for the following literature source(s). Introduction: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare malignancy presenting with patches, plaques, or tumors. The authors report five long-term CTCL patients who experienced disease progression following COVID-19 vaccination. Each patient had documented disease stability prior to vaccination. The literature demonstrates that COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective, yet prior reports describe CTCL onset or relapse after vaccination, including after a first dose. While the authors retrospective series cannot establish causation, and the authors maintain the importance of vaccination against COVID-19, the authors seek to contribute to the emerging literature on this observation. In this series, the authors describe the temporal relationship, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes in these patients. Methods: The authors included biopsy-confirmed CTCL with stable disease/partial remission before vaccination who then deteriorated (new tumors, large-cell transformation, systemic spread, or death). Data were derived from records, pathology, imaging, and treatment logs; all patients provided consent. Case Presentation: Patient was a 50-year-old man with folliculotropic MF (T1N0M0B0) diagnosed in 2010. After TSEB radiation in 2014, he maintained good disease control on TNM and topical steroids. Plaques recurring in 2017 were well-managed with the same regimen. His disease remained stable on this minimal maintenance regimen for over three years, with his last pre-vaccination visit in January 2021 showing well-controlled plaque disease. He received the COVID-19 mRNA vaccination series in February 2021. The patient did not return for follow-up as he had young children and tried to manage his worsening disease independently. At the January 2022 visit, he reported significant disease flaring with new, thickened plaques on the chest, arms, legs, and lower back. The patient specifically noted the progression began after his COVID-19 vaccination in February 2021. He described his disease, which had previously been always stable (even prior to his TSEB), as now "different" and "aggressively spreading". He was initially started on methotrexate. Beginning February 2023, he began spot radiation, interferon alpha, and discontinued methotrexate use. During his June 2023 visit, his tumors had spread to his right temple, chest, and upper thighs, and a PET scan showed a pancreatic mass and pelvic/inguinal lymphadenopathy. Pathology of a subcutaneous chest mass showed transformed large cell MF. He began pralatrexate infusions in the beginning of July 2023 and began planning chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Despite treatment, CT in August 2023 revealed further progression with new pulmonary nodules, peritoneal disease, and pancreatic enlargement. He was hospitalized in August 2023, almost septic, and received CHOEP chemotherapy for 2 days. During a hospital visit prior to his death, the patient again stated that his disease progression began after his COVID-19 vaccinations. He passed away on September 27, 2023. Discussion: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare, chronic malignancy of skin-homing T-cells with variable progression. Four patients had stable disease prior to vaccination but subsequently experienced transformation to large cell lymphoma or systemic involvement. While the findings do not establish causality, they warrant further investigation. This patient's first documented follow-up occurred 11 months post-vaccination. However, this patient previously had over a decade of indolent disease controlled with topical therapy alone, and he consistently attributed his disease flare to his vaccination throughout his clinical course. His subsequent trajectory, progressing from stable plaque disease to transformed large cell lymphoma with visceral metastases within 2.5 years, contrasted with his prior stable course. The variability in progression may reflect differences in baseline tumor burden, individual immune response kinetics, or thresholds for seeking clinical evaluation. Conclusion: The authors report five CTCL patients who experienced disease progression following COVID-19 vaccination. While the temporal proximity is notable, multiple competing explanations exist, and their retrospective design cannot distinguish causation from coincidence. These observations may represent either a rare vaccine-associated complication in a susceptible subset of patients or the expected natural disease progression occurring by chance. Despite these cases, COVID-19 vaccination remains essential for public health, and our findings should not discourage vaccination in CTCL patients. If clinicians choose to discuss these observations with patients, such conversations should emphasize the unproven nature of any risk and the established benefits of vaccination. Prospective controlled studies are urgently needed to determine whether these observations reflect a true association and quantify absolute risk to enable evidence-based care.; Sender's Comments: Based on the temporal relationship, the association between the event progression of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma with COVID-19 vaccination can not be fully excluded. The impact of this report on the benefit/risk profile of the Pfizer product is evaluated as part of Pfizer procedures for safety evaluation, including the review and analysis of aggregate data for adverse events. Any safety concern identified as part of this review, as well as any appropriate action in response, will be promptly notified to regulatory authorities, Ethics Committees, and Investigators, as appropriate.,Linked Report(s) : US-PFIZER INC-PV202600013864 Same article/ drug/event and different patient;; Reported Cause(s) of Death: disease progression began after his COVID-19 vaccinations; Mycosis Fungoides Progression Following COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination
Medical History/Concurrent Conditions: Mycosis fungoides; Skin electron beam therapy; Steroid therapy (maintained good disease control)
Test Date: 202308; Test Name: CT; Result Unstructured Data: Test Result:revealed further progression; Comments: with new pulmonary nodules, peritoneal disease, and pancreatic enlargement; Test Date: 202306; Test Name: Pathology; Result Unstructured Data: Test Result:transformed large cell MF; Comments: Pathology of a subcutaneous chest mass; Test Date: 202201; Test Name: physical examination; Result Unstructured Data: Test Result:significant disease flaring with new, thickened; Comments: plaques on the chest, arms, legs, and lower back; Test Date: 202306; Test Name: PET scan; Result Unstructured Data: Test Result:a pancreatic mass and pelvic/inguinal lymphadenopa