Detection of Device Infection Using Nuclear Cardiology Imaging

Cardiovascular device-related infections include infections occurring at heart valve prosthesis, cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, left ventricular assist device catheters and vascular graft. Complications, including infections associated with implanted medical devices have been increased. The diagnosis of cardiovascular device-related infections is challenging since symptoms and signs are often inconclusive and clinical presentations may be extremely heterogeneous. Imaging using the “3M” approach (i.e., multimodality, multi-tracers and multisciplinary) has been integrated into the traditional diagnostic criteria to fill such uncertainty gap with information on the biochemical burden of these infections. The present review aimed to provide an overview of the main applications and results of nuclear cardiology imaging in cardiovascular device-related infections.