Congenital cytomegalovirus infection with brainstem hemorrhage and polymicrogyria: Necropsic and histopathological findings

Abstract

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can cause severe neurological sequelae or even fetal death. We present a 17-year-old pregnant woman with fetal CMV infection, leading to voluntary termination of pregnancy. Fetopsy demonstrated a brainstem hemorrhage and focal polymicrogyria. CMV inclusions were observed in the lung, liver, thyroid, pancreas, kidneys, adrenal, placenta, and central nervous system. Intracranial hemorrhage is a rare finding in the context of congenital CMV infection, with isolated brainstem hemorrhage being an exceptional form of presentation. Polymicrogyria appears to be a more frequent finding, although its actual incidence is unknown. Future studies are needed to determine the causal association.

Keywords: congenital; cytomegalovirus; infection; intracranial hemorrhage; polymicrogyria.