Bilateral acute retinal necrosis caused by cytomegalovirus in an immunocompromised patient.

Abstract

To report a case of bilateral acute retinal necrosis caused by cytomegalovirus. A diagnostic vitrectomy was performed on a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who presented with a bilateral, rapidly progressing necrotizing retinitis and uveitis. Immunohistochemical studies and polymerase chain reaction disclosed cytomegalovirus as the cause of retinitis. The patient was treated with intravitreal and intravenous ganciclovir. Although rare, cytomegalovirus may lead to an appearance identical to acute retinal necrosis and should be considered among the viral etiologies of this syndrome.