18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography combined with computed tomography as a diagnostic tool in native valve endocarditis
Publication year
2018Source
Nuclear Medicine Communications, 39, 8, (2018), pp. 747-752ISSN
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Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
Internal Medicine
Medical Imaging
Medical Microbiology
Cardiology
Journal title
Nuclear Medicine Communications
Volume
vol. 39
Issue
iss. 8
Page start
p. 747
Page end
p. 752
Subject
Radboudumc 16: Vascular damage RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Radboudumc 17: Women's cancers RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Radboudumc 4: lnfectious Diseases and Global Health RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Radboudumc 4: lnfectious Diseases and Global Health RIMLS: Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences; Radboudumc 9: Rare cancers RIMLS: Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesAbstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the value of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography combined with computed tomography (F-FDG-PET/CT) in diagnosing native valve endocarditis (NVE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with bacteremia and suspicion of NVE between January 2013 and June 2016 were identified from the hospitals' register and retrospectively included if echocardiography and F-FDG-PET/CT were performed within 14 days. F-FDG-PET/CT scans were scored independently by two nuclear medicine physicians. F-FDG-PET/CT was compared with the modified-Duke criteria and a multidisciplinary consensus. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients were included. In 10 patients with definite NVE according to the modified-Duke criteria, three (30.0%) patients had increased F-FDG uptake in or around the heart valves and seven (70.0%) patients had no increased F-FDG uptake. In patients without definite NVE according to the modified-Duke criteria, 89.7% (70/78) of the patients had no increased F-FDG uptake in or around the heart valves. Of all 20 patients with NVE according to multidisciplinary consensus, nine (45.0%) patients had increased F-FDG uptake in or around the heart valves and 11 (55.0%) patients had a normal F-FDG-PET/CT result. CONCLUSION: A negative F-FDG-PET/CT result should not be interpreted as an exclusion of NVE. In patients with possible or rejected NVE according to the modified-Duke criteria, F-FDG-PET/CT could be used in case of sustained suspicion of NVE owing to its high specificity in case of abnormal FDG uptake at the valve region. F-FDG-PET/CT is important for detecting metastatic infection which already warrants the need to perform F-FDG-PET/CT in all patients with suspected NVE.
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- Academic publications [203812]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [80326]
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