Cytomegalovirus colitis in acquired immune deficiency syndrome: radiologic spectrum

Six cases of cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis are described. The radiographic manifestations of this colitis are nonspecific and usually mimic the findings of ulcerative colitis with diffuse mucosal ulceration or granulomatous colitis with aphthous ulceration and skip areas. Terminal ileal involvement was noted in 1 patient. Nonspecific edema was present in 2 other cases. One patient demonstrated unusual cecal and ascending colonic nodularity due to pseudomembranes and, in another, large, flat discrete ulcerations were identified. Angiography, in 1 case, demonstrated marked hypervascularity and identified a site of hemorrhage in the ascending colon. With the radiographic identification of colitis in an immunocompromised patient, particularly a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), CMV colitis must be strongly considered in the differential diagnosis. Endoscopic biopsy is the most effective method of establishing the diagnosis.