Infective endocarditis: Beyond the usual tests.

Infective endocarditis remains a diagnostic challenge. Although echocardiography is still the mainstay imaging test, it misses up to 30% of cases. Newer imaging tests--4-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT), fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and leukocyte scintigraphy--are increasingly used as alternative or adjunct tests for select patients. They improve the sensitivity of clinical diagnosis of infective endocarditis when appropriately used, especially in the setting of a prosthetic valve.