Improving the Diagnostic Performance of ¹⁸ F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron-Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Prosthetic Heart Valve Endocarditis

Abstract

Both visual and quantitative assessments of FDG PET/CT have a high diagnostic accuracy in patients in whom PVE is suspected. FDG PET/CT should be implemented early in the diagnostic workup to prevent the negative confounding effects of low inflammatory activity (eg, attributable to prolonged antibiotic therapy). Recent valve implantation was not a significant predictor of false-positive interpretations, but surgical adhesives used during implantation were.