**11.3. Cardiac computed tomography**

Multislice CT shows similar diagnostic performance to TEE for detection of large native and prosthetic valve vegetations, valve aneurysm, abscess, and pseudoaneurysm and provides superior anatomical detail relating to the extent of periannular extension and relation to surrounding structures. Vegetations ≤4 mm and small valvular leaflet perforations are not well detected by CT [84, 134–136]. CT is very helpful for imaging the coronary arteries prior to surgery and for detecting extracardiac complications of endocarditis [134]. A major drawback is the exposure to ionizing radiation.
