Role of radionuclide imaging for diagnosis of device and prosthetic valve infections

Table 3 Indications for the use of cardiac nuclear imaging in the context of cardiovascular implantable electronic device infection and prosthetic valve endocarditis

Accepted indication

Possible or rejected IE, but high suspicion of infection in patients with prosthetic valve

Potential indications

Unclear diagnosis of CIED infection

Evaluation of the extent of infection

Bacteremia or fever of unknown origin in patients with CIED

Cases with high clinical suspicion of IE but negative TEE and/or negative blood cultures

Search for embolic events

Monitoring the success of antibiotic therapy

CIED: Cardiovascular implantable electronic device; IE: Infective endocarditis; TEE: Transesophageal echocardiography.