Cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman Disease After COVID-19 Vaccination: Rare Occurrence with Challenging Presentation

Abstract

Rosai-Dorfman disease is an uncommon proliferation of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis that mainly affects lymph nodes, although occasionally it can be associated or even present solely with extranodal involvement including skin and subcutaneous fat infiltration.

We present a case of cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease that occurred at the site of administration of COVID-19 vaccine. The patient was a 13-year-old Bahraini girl who presented with a 1-year history of left upper arm pain and swelling that started after receiving the Pfizer vaccination for COVID-19. Clinically, the mass was medium-sized, tender, and nonmobile. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging were suspicious for sarcoma. Ultrasound-guided biopsy revealed “subcutaneous panniculitis.” Excision of the mass revealed a multinodular infiltrate of the subcutaneous fat composed of distinctive large histiocytes, with characteristic emperipolesis, positive for S100, CD68, and OCT-2, consistent with Rosai-Dorfman disease. We present a case of cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease as a complication of COVID-19 vaccination that was challenging for the pathologist, radiologist, and clinician.

Keywords

Rosai-Dorfman disease - COVID-19 - Pfizer vaccine - ultrasound - magnetic resonance imaging

Publication History

Article published online:
07 October 2025

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