Radionuclide Cardiac Imaging in Infective Endocarditis

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a microbial infection that can develop on the endocardial surface, native or prosthetic heart valves and implantable cardiac devices. The role of radionuclide imaging modalities in the management of IE has become prominent with the recently updated suggestions in the European Society of Cardiology guideline and Duke-International Society of Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases (Duke-ISCVID) diagnostic criteria. In this review, the basic principles of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and labeled leukocyte scintigraphy, which are the main radionuclide imaging methods for the diagnosis of IE are examined along with their role in clinical practice and potential future applications are discussed in light of updated guidelines. © 2024 Galenos Publishing House. All rights reserved.