Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
The most important study in the diagnostic evaluation of the congenitally infected infant with CMV is head CT scanning (see the image below).
Cranial CT scan of infant born with symptomatic coCranial CT scan of infant born with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Neurological involvement is evident, manifest as ventriculomegaly and periventricular calcifications.
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A CT scan of the head is required for infants with microcephaly or when congenital CMV infection is suspected because abnormalities in this study, particularly the presence of calcifications, have a strong positive predictive value and can aid in identifying children who need ongoing neurodevelopmental evaluation and therapy.
Evidence suggests that head ultrasonography may be of equal value to CT scanning in evaluation of potential intracranial pathology in the setting of congenital CMV infection.
Infants with congenital CMV infection may also require abdominal imaging studies (eg, ultrasonography, CT scanning) for documentation and monitoring of organomegaly.
Other CMV syndromes
Depending on the patient population, radiographic studies are seldom of value in evaluation of CMV disease.
Exceptions include the rare patient with severe mononucleosis caused by primary CMV infection who may require abdominal ultrasonography for monitoring of splenomegaly or the immunocompromised patient who requires chest radiography studies for the possibility of CMV pneumonitis.
Other Tests
Other tests are indicated, based on the organ systems involved and manifestations of disease syndromes.
Procedures
Procedures depend on the age of the patient and manifestations of disease syndromes. For infants, procedures may include lumbar puncture or liver biopsy.
For immunocompromised transplant recipients, bronchoalveolar lavage, tissue or organ biopsy, and lumbar puncture may all be required to evaluate for extent of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated disease. For some patients with AIDS who have retinitis, placement of ganciclovir-impregnated intravitreal implants may be an important ancillary procedure.
Histologic Findings
The classic tissue histological finding in cytomegalic disease is the inclusion cell; however, viral culture, serology, antigenemia, and nucleic acid detection systems (eg, PCR) generally have much better sensitivity for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV)–associated diseases. Histopathology, therefore, typically is not needed to establish the diagnosis of CMV infection in most settings.