Diagnostic imaging in infective endocarditis: a contemporary perspective

INTRODUCTION: Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a diagnostic challenge. Prompt diagnosis is essential for accurate risk stratification and appropriate therapeutic decisions and surgical management. In recent years, the use of multimodal imaging has had a transformative effect on the diagnostic approach of IE in selected patients. AREAS COVERED: This review assesses published literature on different imaging modalities for the diagnosis of IE published between 1 January 2009 and 1 February 2020. We illustrate the diagnostic approach to IE with three clinical cases. EXPERT OPINION: Novel approaches to imaging for cardiac and extracardiac complications improve and individualize diagnosis, management, and prognosis in patients with suspected IE. The use of multimodal imaging should be guided by a multidisciplinary group of medical providers that includes infectious disease specialists, radiologists, cardiologists, and cardiothoracic surgeons.