A 63-year-old male patient, with a history of mitral valve replacement with a bioprosthesis in 2019 due to native valve dysfunction secondary to bacterial endocarditis, and under regular medical follow-up since the procedure, presented to the cardiology emergency department with a complex clinical case. The patient reported a two-week history of fever (with temperature peaks of 38°C), night sweats, dry cough, weight loss, cervical pain when moving the neck, increased urinary frequency and urinary incontinence. At presentation, there were no classic cardiovascular symptoms, signs of valve dysfunction, or embolic phenomena. Notably, he had recently undergone a dental procedure without antibiotic prophylaxis. He denied symptoms such as rhinorrhea or pharyngitis. His physical and cardiovascular examinations were unremarkable.

This case highlights the fundamental role of PET-CT in diagnosing and confirming endocarditis, as well as in evaluating its extent, especially in patients with prosthetic valves, where traditional imaging can be inconclusive.¹ The ability of PET-CT to detect associated complications, such as spondylodiscitis, further reinforces its value in guiding comprehensive treatment strategies.

PET-CT with fluorodeoxyglucose labeled with Fluorine-18 (F18-FDG) has become an important tool in the diagnosis and complementary evaluation of infectious endocarditis. The images are obtained through a combination of Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography to provide detailed information on both metabolic function and anatomical structures. The patient receives an injection of F18-FDG, a radioactive tracer that accumulates in cells with high metabolic activity, such as those involved in infectious activity. PET images detect the radiation emitted by F18-FDG, highlighting areas of increased metabolic activity, while CT images provide precise anatomical details. The combination of these modalities allows for accurate localization and assessment of infectious foci.^1,2

Advanced imaging techniques provide valuable additional information that can improve diagnostic accuracy, assess complications, and optimize treatment strategies. As a whole-body scan, PET-CT has the ability to detect distant embolic lesions in up to 35% of patients, which can be crucial for guiding treatment decisions. Furthermore, it is a useful tool for detecting the early development of periprosthetic complications and for identifying the extension of infection beyond the valve, thereby overcoming the technical limitations of echocardiographic imaging in suspected prosthetic valve endocarditis.^1,2

In cases where the initial echocardiogram image is inconclusive, PET-CT becomes even more useful. The most recent guideline from the European Society of Cardiology recommends the use of PET-CT for the diagnostic evaluation of endocarditis in prosthetic valves with an inconclusive initial imaging (Class 1, level of evidence B). PET-CT demonstrates a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 84% for diagnosing endocarditis in patients with prosthetic valves.^1,3

In patients with suspected native valve endocarditis, the sensitivity of PET-CT is lower (around 31%), due to the reduced incidence of paravalvular infectious involvement in native valve endocarditis, but it maintains its high specificity (up to 98%). In this context, a positive test confirms the diagnosis, but a negative test cannot exclude it. Despite its low sensitivity, PET-may still be considered, especially when septic embolism is suspected.^3-6

In cases where septic embolism is suspected, PET-CT becomes particularly valuable, as it is a full-body examination. Its ability to detect inflammatory and infectious processes at distant sites is unparalleled. It is still again recommended by the latest guideline (Class 1, level of evidence B) and has also been classified as appropriate for diagnosing distant infections by the most recent expert consensus on PET-CT for cardiovascular infections. The organs most affected include the spleen, lungs, kidneys, intervertebral discs, joints, and liver, in both patients with native and prosthetic valves.^1,2,7,8

The robustness and reproducibility of these results led to changes in the diagnostic Duke criteria for endocarditis in 2023, with a positive PET-CT scan now being considered a Major Criteria for diagnosing infective endocarditis.⁹

In this case the use of PET-CT not only confirmed the diagnosis of endocarditis but also identified a serious complication – cervical spondylodiscitis – which might otherwise have gone unnoticed. This underscores the importance of advanced imaging in the management of complex infectious diseases, particularly in patients with prosthetic devices. Early and accurate identification of infectious foci using advanced imaging techniques can significantly influence patient management and prognosis.