Prosthetic valve endocarditis: positron emission tomography/computed tomography as a new golden grail.

ABSTRACT

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious infection with potentially fatal consequences. Early detection is crucial for successful management and outcome. The diagnosis of PVE is challenging and is based on the Duke criteria (DC) in which echocardiography plays a crucial role. However, transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography have less diagnostic value in PVE compared to native valve endocarditis. Combined computed tomography and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission is a new technique providing improved diagnostic accuracy in PVE. This paper presents a case and reviews on the role of positron emission tomography/computed tomography in PVE.