Cytomegalovirus retinitis associated with Hodgkin's disease.
BACKGROUND
Patients with intraocular involvement by Hodgkin's disease may present with a variety of ocular abnormalities. Intraocular infections also have been reported in these patients, including two cases of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMV) diagnosed on postmortem examination. It often is difficult to differentiate between these conditions on clinical examination.


METHODS
A patient with Hodgkin's disease presented with an atypical retinitis, vasculitis, and a serous macular detachment. Results of clinical examination, fluorescein angiography, and vitreous biopsy for culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing are described.


RESULTS
The diagnosis of an atypical CMV retinitis simulating possible intraocular involvement by Hodgkin's disease was confirmed by PCR testing of undiluted vitreous. Intravenous therapy with foscarnet, guided by the results of the vitreous biopsy, resulted in resolution of the retinitis and an improvement in vision.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraocular involvement by cytomegalovirus retinitis can simulate intraocular lymphoma in a patient with Hodgkin's disease Polymerase chain reaction testing was useful in establishing the diagnosis and guiding successful therapy in this patient.
Nasir
M A
MA
Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Jaffe
G J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D017245:Foscarnet / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D017245:Foscarnet