Neuroradiographic Abnormalities in Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection

To determine the spectrum of neuroradiographic abnormalities associated with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, CT brain scans of 15 infants with symptomatic infection were reviewed. The initial CT scans were abnormal in 13 patients. Abnormalities included intracranial calcifications, cortical atrophy, ventricular enlargement, subdural effusions, porencephaly and polycystic encephalomalacia. Intracranial calcifications were present in 33% of the infants. In addition, three of the 15 infants developed progressive hydrocephalus which required ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. These cases illustrate that congenital CMV infection causes a variety of structural CNS lesions and suggest that progressive hydrocephalus may be a relatively common consequence of symptomatic congenital CMV infection.