18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission/computed tomography and computed tomography angiography in prosthetic heart valve endocarditis: from guidelines to clinical practice

Eur Heart J. 2018 Nov 1;39(41):3739-3749. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehx784.

Abstract

The timely diagnosis of prosthetic heart valve endocarditis remains challenging yet of utmost importance. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18 F-FDG) positron emission/computed tomography (PET/CT) and cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) were recently introduced as additional diagnostic tools in the most recent ESC guidelines on infective endocarditis. However, how to interpret PET/CT findings with regard to what is to be considered abnormal, what the potential confounders may be, as well as which patients benefit most from these additional imaging techniques and how to best perform them in these often-complex patients, remains unclear. This review focusses on factors regarding patient selection and image acquisition that need to be taken into account when employing 18F-FDG PET/CT and CTA in daily clinical practice, and the importance of a multidisciplinary Endocarditis Team herein. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for standardized acquisition protocols and image interpretation, especially now that these techniques are starting to be widely embraced by the cardiovascular society.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiac Imaging Techniques*
  • Computed Tomography Angiography
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / administration & dosage
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / therapeutic use
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18