About this Research Topic

Background

Prosthetic valve infective endocarditis is a complex cardiac complication with potential downstream multiorgan effects and vascular-related infections, and thus has high clinical and financial cost burden. Optimal outcomes are dictated by prompt, accurate diagnosis that results in appropriate therapeutic decision-making, which includes antimicrobial pharmacotherapy and may also require repeat cardiac surgery when indicated. However, the path to obtaining the correct diagnosis often remains imperfect. While echocardiography has historically been the mainstay modality and remains first-line, it has limitations.

More recently, other imaging modalities (radionuclide, computed tomographic, and magnetic resonance imaging) have made technological advances; their application to the precise discovery of prosthetic valvular lesions and extracardiac or vascular complications is an important advancement in a nuanced, integrated approach for such a heterogeneous, potentially highly morbid and lethal disease. Although our knowledge and understanding of how to use the different imaging techniques continues to expand, many knowledge gaps and disputes remain. The research literature remains sparse; recent guidelines address the use of multimodality imaging with cautiousness. The added value of each individual modality and the combination of multiple imaging techniques are debated by some, and usage of particular modalities varies by local availability, expertise, and experience.

This Research Topic will address the current state of knowledge of:
1) The role of the four major cardiovascular imaging modalities (echocardiography, radionuclide cardiac imaging, cardiovascular computed tomography, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance) in the evaluation of prosthetic valve infective endocarditis or vascular-related infections.
2) Determination of the proper combination of complementary imaging techniques for the right patient and appropriate valve prosthesis.
3) The value of imaging experts in the multidisciplinary approach in a endocarditis teams.

We encourage contributions to this topic exploring the integration of multiple imaging modalities to arrive at the correct diagnosis and localization of the prosthetic valve endocarditis and related vascular infections, as well as strategies for serial follow-up and surveillance imaging to guide and monitor treatment response. Specific articles contributed to this Topic will include review articles of the current state of knowledge in prosthetic valve endocarditis and vascular infection imaging, original research articles that address putative applications of multimodality imaging for diagnosis, guidance of treatment, and follow-up in prosthetic endocarditis and associated infectious vasculitides, conceptual and methodology papers regarding imaging’s role in multidisciplinary team collaboration, as well as case reports or vignettes highlighting the value of integrated multimodality imaging.

Keywords: Prosthetic valve infective endocarditis, Echocardiography, Radionuclide imaging, Magnetic resonance imaging, Tomographic imaging, Infectious vasculitis

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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