Imaging for the Evaluation of Cardiovascular Infection in the Multimodality Context: ASNC I2 Imaging Series

Publication Date: March 10, 2024
Last Updated: March 12, 2024

Key Points

Echocardiography key points

  • Echocardiography plays a key role in the assessment of cardiovascular infection, including diagnosis, assessment of disease severity, prediction of shortand long-term prognosis, identification of embolic risk, management of complications, and follow-up.
  • Echocardiography provides important additional information on concomitant valvular or ventricular dysfunction, allowing for therapeutic decision-making in patients with endocarditis.
  • Characteristic echocardiographic findings comprise a major diagnostic criterion for IE.
  • Although TEE has higher sensitivity than TTE, both examinations provide independent information and should be systematically performed when cardiovascular infection is suspected.
  • The diagnostic value of both TTE and TEE is limited in some subgroups, particularly in patients with cardiac devices, prosthetic valves, or materials, including VADs. A negative echocardiographic study does not rule out infection in these groups, and additional advanced imaging can be considered for early detection of cardiovascular infection. In patients at high risk of IE, repeat TEE at approximately 1 week after a normal index study may be required for diagnosis.

Overview

Title

18F-FDG PET/CT and Radiolabeled Leukocyte SPECT/CT Imaging for the Evaluation of Cardiovascular Infection in the Multimodality Context: ASNC Imaging Indications ASNC I2 Series

Authoring Organizations

American Association for Thoracic Surgery

American College of Cardiology

American Heart Association

American Society of Echocardiography

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology

Heart Rhythm Society

Infectious Diseases Society of America

Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography

Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Society of Thoracic Surgeons