The role of imaging in infective endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis (IE) poses a large diagnostic and therapeutical challenge. An early diagnosis is necessary for a positive outcome. Echocardiography is initial diagnostic method when there is a possibility of IE presence. TTE and TEE are useful in detection, accurate localisation and estimation of vegetation size, and also in detection of paravalvular spreading of infection. In certain situations, there is a need for usage of complementary methods like CCT and nuclear techniques. This article will outline advantages and limitations of certain diagnostic methods in diagnosis of IE.