Skeletal muscle lymphoma in a bullmastiff

A 16-month-old, neutered male bullmastiff was presented for acute onset of massive swelling of the right hind limb. Primary skeletal muscle lymphoma was diagnosed based on cytopathology, surgical biopsy, and necropsy findings. Cutaneous metastases developed during the hospitalization, and additional metastases were found in the heart and thoracic wall. Primary skeletal muscle lymphoma is a rare form of lymphoma in dogs and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for acute, soft-tissue swelling of the limb.