Step-by-Step Guide to PET/CT Interpretation in PVE

Now that 18F-FDG-PET/CT has a class 1 indication for evaluating suspected prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and other cardiac-device-related infections, cardiac imagers must become proficient in distinguishing between the imaging features of infection vs. inflammation. JNC’s latest “How to Use Nuclear Cardiology” article outlines structured interpretation strategies as well as pitfalls to avoid. Authors Albert Roque, MD, PhD, and Maria Nazarena Pizzi, MD, PhD, also address early postoperative imaging challenges, patient preparation protocols, and how to integrate PET/CT with echocardiography and cardiac CT findings.

In Case You Missed It: More News from JNC

Could MIBG Imaging Help with Early Diagnosis of ATTR-CM?

The I-NERVE study by Alwin Tubben, MD, et al., examines whether the power of 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) to assess cardiac autonomic neuropathy could be leveraged for regional assessment of cardiac sympathetic denervation in patients with suspected wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy. What do the I-NERVE findings suggest about the potential role of MIBG imaging in the diagnosis and management of ATTR-CM? To find out, view the study.

Is a Lower Tc-99m Injected Dose Possible with CZT Technology?

JNC published the largest study to date investigating whether use of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) cameras could enable the dose of radiotracer to be significantly lowered without compromising image quality. The study, by Mathieu Perrin, MD, and colleagues, evaluated a mean effective radiation dose of 4.5 mSv. How did CZT technology with a small fraction of the radiation compare with conventional gamma cameras? Read the study.

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