Bilateral acute retinal necrosis caused by cytomegalovirus in an immunocompromised patient

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