A Quiet Disease With Loud Manifestations

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital virus passed from mother to fetus in the United States, and the most common acquired cause of sensorineural hearing loss. Neuroimaging in patients with symptomatic congenital CMV demonstrates abnormalities frequently, but many providers are unaware of the extent of these findings. We present a case of a 15-month-old girl with progressive sensorineural hearing loss and developmental delays. Magnetic resonance imaging of her brain was done by her otolaryngologist as part of a routine cochlear implant evaluation where it was found to be drastically abnormal and reported as a likely leukodystrophy. It was subsequently found to be related to congenital CMV on further evaluation. Congenital CMV should be considered in the differential of white matter hyperintensities, especially in the setting of sensorineural hearing loss, developmental delays, or both, and given how common CMV is around the world.