Ho-ho-ho! Gather ’round, my curious elves, for I have a tale of medical marvels that even the workshop hasn’t seen! In the land of white coats and stethoscopes, there’s a new sleigh in town for spotting those pesky heart invaders known as infective endocarditis, or IE for short. It’s called ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET, or ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for those who prefer a mouthful of medical jargon with their milk and cookies.

Now, this isn’t just any old reindeer game; it’s been given a Class I recommendation, which in doctor-speak is like finding the perfect Christmas tree. Level of evidence B, they say, which I reckon means it’s as reliable as Rudolph’s red nose on a foggy night. It’s especially handy for those with prosthetic valve IE, helping to detect those hidden valvular lesions and confirm the diagnosis faster than you can say “jingle bells!”

But wait, there’s more! This magical imaging isn’t just for valves; it’s also for the noggin and the whole body. That’s right, brain and whole-body ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and/or MRI imaging are on the nice list too, with the same Class I recommendation for detecting peripheral lesions, whether you’ve got a native or prosthetic valve IE.

Now, don’t think for a second that this means the old ways are out like last year’s toys. Echocardiography, the trusty reindeer of the diagnostic pathway for IE, still leads the pack. These newfangled tests are more like the shiny new sleigh bells; they add a bit of sparkle when the path is tricky, difficult, or as uncertain as a snowstorm in July.

So there you have it, my jolly friends. The world of medicine is ever-evolving, and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging is the latest gift under the tree, acknowledged by the top elves in recent guideline updates. Now, let’s get back to toy-making, and leave the heart sleuthing to these clever docs and their fancy gadgets!