Radionuclide Imaging of Infective Endocarditis

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Infective endocarditis (IE) presents significant morbidity and mortality risks.
• Early diagnosis of IE is critical for effective patient management.
• Diagnosing IE is challenging, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach integrating clinical, microbiological, and imaging data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the primary clinical applications of advanced imaging modalities in diagnosing IE.
• To highlight the role of white blood cell SPECT/CT, [18F]FDG-PET/CT, and coronary CT angiography (CTA) in IE diagnosis.
• To discuss the utility of these imaging techniques in detecting infections related to cardiovascular implantable electronic devices.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical applications of specific imaging techniques in IE.
• Integration of clinical signs, microbiology, and imaging data for diagnosis.
• Utilizing echocardiography, molecular imaging, and coronary CT angiography (CTA).

Main Results:

• Imaging is central to detecting heart valve infections and implanted device infections.
• Advanced imaging techniques facilitate early detection of septic emboli and metastases.
• White blood cell SPECT/CT, [18F]FDG-PET/CT, and CTA are key tools in IE diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Advanced imaging, including white blood cell SPECT/CT, [18F]FDG-PET/CT, and CTA, plays a crucial role in diagnosing IE.
• These techniques are vital for evaluating infections involving heart valves and cardiovascular devices.
• Early and accurate diagnosis through integrated imaging improves patient outcomes in IE.