18F-FDG Metabolic Score for IE Diagnosis Calculator

18F-FDG Metabolic Score for Infective Endocarditis (IE): Explanation and Clinical Context The 18F-FDG metabolic score is a semiquantitative PET/CT-based tool used to support the diagnosis of infective endocarditis, particularly in prosthetic or complex valve situations. The score combines valvular uptake intensity, perivalvular uptake, prosthetic valve presence, and timing after surgery to estimate the probability of active infection. Scoring is derived from Rouzet et al., 2018, who validated a 7-point scoring system for distinguishing true IE from postoperative inflammation.

High scores (>5) suggest a high probability of IE, intermediate scores (3–4) suggest intermediate probability, and low scores (0–2) suggest low probability. This tool helps clinicians in interpreting PET/CT findings in the context of suspected infective endocarditis, guiding the decision for antibiotic therapy or surgical intervention.