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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii
Published on: December 9, 2014
Toxoplasma chorioretinitis diagnosed by histopathology in a patient with AIDS
Jason N Crosson1, Philip W Laird, Hans E Grossniklaus
1*Department of Ophthalmology, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, San Antonio Texas; and †Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Purpose:
To demonstrate the diagnostic difficulties in cases of retinal necrosis in immunocompromised patients including the potential for false-negative anterior segment sampling and also to emphasize the utility of diagnostic vitrectomy with histopathologic examination.
Methods:
This patient's chart was thoroughly reviewed to present salient features that are relevant to any ophthalmologist attempting to diagnose and treat chorioretinitis. A 38-year-old man with HIV/AIDS who presented with bilateral retinal necrosis. Thorough workup, including multiple samples of anterior chamber fluid for polymerase chain reaction, was negative.
Results:
Diagnostic vitrectomy revealed a toxoplasma cyst. Triple therapy stabilized retinitis, although vision did not improve.
Conclusion:
This case reminds the clinician to consider a broad differential diagnosis for retinal necrosis in immunocompromised hosts and, when serologic and anterior chamber samples are negative, to consider diagnostic vitrectomy for polymerase chain reaction and histopathologic examination.
