title: Early prosthetic aortic valve infection identified with the use of positron emission tomography in a patient with lead endocarditis.
abstract: 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (FDG PET/CT) scanning has recently been proposed as a diagnostic tool for lead endocarditis (LE).
  
  
  
  FDG PET/CT might be also useful to localize associated septic emboli in patients with LE.
  
  
  
  We report an interesting case of a LE patient with a prosthetic aortic valve in whom a trans-esophageal echocardiogram did not show associated aortic endocarditis. FDG PET/CT revealed prosthetic aortic valve infection. A second TEE performed 2 weeks after identified aortic vegetation. A longer duration of antimicrobial therapy with serial follow-up echocardiography was initiated. There was also increased uptake in the sigmoid colon, corresponding to focal polyps resected during a colonoscopy.
  
  
  
  FDG PET/CT scanning seems to be highly sensitive for prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis diagnosis. This promising diagnostic tool may be beneficial in LE patients, by identifying septic emboli and potential sites of pathogen entry.
authors.affiliation: Univ. Bordeaux Hôpital Haut-Lévêque, LIRYC Institute, INSERM 1045, 33000, Bordeaux, France. sana.amraoui@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amraoui
authors.affiliation: CHU de Bordeaux, Service de Médecine Nucléaire et CIC 1401, 33000, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Ghoufrane
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tlili
authors.affiliation: Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Manav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sohal
authors.affiliation: CHU de Bordeaux, Service de Médecine Nucléaire et CIC 1401, 33000, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bordenave
authors.affiliation: Univ. Bordeaux Hôpital Haut-Lévêque, LIRYC Institute, INSERM 1045, 33000, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bordachar
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology
keywords: 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography; colonic polyps; lead endocarditis; pathogen entry; prosthetic valve endocarditis