Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of Multiple Skeletal Muscles Involvement Seen on FDG PET/CT Scans

As normal healthy skeletal muscle does not contain lymphoid tissue, extra nodal lymphoma involving multiple muscles is rare, as well. This study reports a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of multiple skeletal muscles involvement and a review of differential diagnosis of it. A 37-year-old female presented to our hospital after being diagnosed with NHL for 7 months. She had received six courses of cyclophosphamide hydroxydaunorubicin oncovin prednisolone etoposide (CHOPE) chemotherapy. Then she felt pain and noticed swelling on her left calf. The fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) image showed abnormal focal FDG uptake in hypo-pharynx, which was the primary NHL and also in multiple groups of muscles in whole body. As the patient has history NHL, lymphoma of multiple muscle involvement was suspected. Finally, an ultrasound-guided tissue biopsy was performed on the left calf and histological examination yielded lymphomatous cells infiltration in the left gastrocnemius. Through this report, we emphasize that a multidisciplinary team approach with clinician, radiologist, and pathologist is essential for proper diagnosis, staging, and management of such rare lesions.