Anzeige
Erschienen in:
12.02.2025 | Cardiac Radiology
Comprehensive CT study to assess local and systemic involvement in patients with infective endocarditis: experience from a multidisciplinary team of a tertiary referral center
verfasst von: Anna Palmisano, Elisa Bruno, Davide Vignale, Ludovica Bognoni, Raffaele Ascione, Giacomo Ingallina, Paolo Scarpellini, Marco Ripa, Silvia Carletti, Andrea Bettinelli, Roberto Mapelli, Elena Busnardo, Ursula Pajoro, Benedetto del Forno, Cinzia Trumello, Elisabetta La Penna, Francesco Maisano, Michele De Bonis, Eustachio Agricola, Antonio Esposito
Erschienen in: La radiologia medica | Ausgabe 3/2025
Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhaltenAbstract
Purpose
To evaluate the value of a computed tomography (CT) protocol, including ECG-gated cardiac angiographic and venous phase, in patients with infective endocarditis (IE).
Material and methods
From January 2019 to October 2022, consecutive patients with IE submitted to total-body CT, including ECG-gated cardiac acquisition in angiographic and venous phase, were enrolled. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in all cases. Rate of local complications including vegetation, pseudoaneurysm, abscess, fistula and valve dehiscence was compared in CT and echocardiography. Systemic embolization was identified through CT scans.
Results
Seventy-six adults (median age 69 [IQR 55–77] years old; males 54/76, 71%] were enrolled. Most patients underwent surgery (51/76, 67%), and the in-hospital mortality rate was 8% (6/76).
CT showed higher detection rate of valve vegetation compared to echocardiography (67/76, 88% vs 58/76, 76%; p = 0.008), including vegetation smaller than 10 mm (24/76, 36% vs 16/76, 28%; p = 0.013) and higher detection rate of pseudoaneurysm and abscess (p = 0.004 and p = 0.009, respectively). Abscess showed higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in the venous scan compared to angiographic scan (2.75 [IQR 2.27; 5.17] vs 1.97 [IQR 1.21; 3.32], p = 0.039) and higher density of perivalvular and epicardial fat compared to pseudoaneurysm (35 [IQR 31; 52]HU and − 50 [IQR − 62; − 35]HU versus 52 [IQR − 60; − 18]HU; p = 0.001, and − 91 [IQR − 95; − 81]HU; p = 0.007, respectively), for greater inflammation. CT overestimated valve dehiscence when compared to echocardiography and surgery.
Conclusion
A comprehensive CT study enhances the diagnostic assessment of patients with IE, not only by detecting distant sites of embolization, but also increasing sensitivity for valve vegetation and local complications.
