Evaluation of prosthetic valve endocarditis by 64-row multidetector computed tomography

Two patients with prosthetic aortic valves – one bioprosthetic and one mechanical – presented with bacteremia and underwent evaluation for infective prosthetic valve endocarditis. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) imaging demonstrated vegetations on both prosthetic valves confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. Based on the MDCT coronary artery assessment, neither patient underwent pre-operative invasive coronary angiography. Both patients underwent surgical treatment without complication. In conclusion, this report demonstrates that MDCT can, in some cases, accurately image vegetations on prosthetic aortic valves in infective endocarditis.