Lymphangiomatosis of the pelvic limb in a Maltese dog

A case of lymphangiomatosis is described affecting the right pelvic limb of an 18-month-old, female Maltese dog. A progressive swelling around the stifle had developed subsequent to a routine tibial crest transposition. The swollen area eventually progressed to involve the entire limb circumferentially, to end abruptly in the mid-metatarsal region. The skin of the affected area was deep red in colour, devoid of hair, and had numerous large, thin-walled vesicles that were easily ruptured and from which a serosanguineous fluid exuded. The swelling pitted on digital pressure and showed fluctuant mobility. The microscopic appearance of biopsied and post mortem material mimicked that of lymphangioma. However, the signalment, clinical presentation and histological features are consistent with a diagnosis of the recently reported variant of human lymphangiomatosis, lymphangiomatosis of the limb.