title: Cytomegalovirus retinitis and low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may develop retinal or choroidal lesions during the course of their disease. New immunosuppressive therapies currently used in reticuloendothelial malignancies have increased the incidence of opportunistic infections in this patient population. The differentiation of lymphomatous infiltration from opportunistic infection as a cause of chorioretinal infiltrates is critical, as the treatments are fundamentally different. We report a case of a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who developed a chorioretinal infiltrate that was initially thought to represent progressive disease. The patient received radiation treatment appropriate for intraocular lymphoma. The lesion progressed further and after reevaluation a diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis was made and therapy initiated. Review of the literature for intraocular lymphoma and cytomegalovirus retinitis is provided and diagnostic strategies are described. We recommend analysis of intraocular fluid when there is difficulty in clinically differentiating intraocular lymphoma from opportunistic infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Center, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Derzko-Dzulynsky
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Berinstein
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents