SMALL-INTESTINAL PERFORATION DUE TO CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA

We describe two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who suffere d cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related small intestinal perforations during t he course of chemotherapy. Surgical specimens from both patients revea led histologic evidence of occlusive vasculitis and tissue destruction caused by CMV-affected cells in the submucosa and muscular walls, tha t may have played an important role in the pathogenesis of these perfo rations. Although such intestinal perforations are rare complications in NHL patients, CMV infection should be recognized as a primary etiol ogical factor in acute abdominal crises when treating NHL patients wit h pharmaceutical agents including steroids, Emergency surgery and the anti-CMV agent, ganciclovir, would improve the prognoses of such patie nts.