The Role of 18-F FDG PET/CT in Imaging of Endocarditis and Cardiac Device Infections.

Cardiovascular infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly when there is a delay in diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy. Echocardiography is currently the first line imaging study for endocarditis and cardiac device infections. However its sensitivity is limited in the presence of prosthetic material and changes may not be apparent until there is structural damage from the infectious process. 18-F FDG PET/CT has shown promise as an adjunctive diagnostic tool in evaluation of challenging cardiovascular infections. In addition to defining the presence and extent of cardiac infection, whole body PET/CT can demonstrate extra-cardiac embolic foci of infection or a primary source of infection. Improved diagnosis of cardiovascular infections has the potential to improve management and outcomes of these serious infections.