My Approach To Nuclear Medicine in the Evaluation of Prosthetic Valve and Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Endocarditis

Abstract

that has shown great importance in the management of IE. PET-CT uses a radiopharmaceutical labeled with a shortlived radioactive substance, such as 18F-fluordeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), which is captured by cells with high metabolism, such as inflammatory cells present in areas of active infection. This allows for accurate, non-invasive detection of areas of inflammation, including the lesions, vegetations and abscesses associated with IE.The use of PET-CT in IE has shown promise in the early detection of infection, providing important information for diagnosis and treatment planning. Additionally, PET-CT can help differentiate between active infection and postsurgical complications, as well as identify areas of infection in extracardiac sites, which can be useful in evaluating more complex cases. The high sensitivity and specificity of PET-CT in detecting active inflammation make it a valuable tool in the clinical management of IE, especially in cases of moderate clinical suspicion or when conventional imaging methods are inconclusive. However, it is important to consider the limitations of PET-CT, such as its availability in some health centers, cost and exposure to ionizing radiation, and to use PET-CT findings in conjunction with other clinical and laboratory data for an proper diagnosis and management of IE.