Clinical Presentation and Imaging Pathways in Peripheral Vascular Graft and Endograft Infection: A…

Cohort studyAnnals of vascular surgery· Aug 2026

Clinical Presentation and Imaging Pathways in Peripheral Vascular Graft and Endograft Infection: A Dutch-German Cohort Study.

F Vos, F Bergmann, B Gareb … Vascular Graft Infection Collaboration Ems-Dollard Region (VGIC-EDR)

Nuclear & Molecular ImagingCohort studyDiagnosisQ2IF 1.8

Elevated C-reactive protein was the most common presenting feature of vascular graft infection

Clinical Presentation and Imaging Pathways in Peripheral Vascular Graft and Endograft Infection: A Dutch-German Cohort Study.

F Vos … Vascular Graft Infection Collaboration Ems-Dollard Region (VGIC-EDR)

Annals of vascular surgery · Aug 2026 · Q2 in General Medicine

Background

Peripheral vascular graft and endograft infections (pVGEIs) are rare but severe complications, and evidence on their clinical presentation and diagnostic work-up remains limited.

Purpose

This multicentre, retrospective observational cohort study aimed to describe onset patterns, presenting features, and diagnostic imaging pathways for VGEI in routine clinical practice.

Methods

All patients treated for confirmed VGEI (2002-2023) in three hospitals were included: one in the Netherlands (netherlands) and two in Germany (DE).

n = 52 cases

96%

Results

96%

nearly all patients had elevated c-reactive protein, the most common warning sign

n = 52 cases

More results

Computed tomography angiography (computed tomography angiography) was the most frequently used imaging method (54%), followed by ultrasound (ultrasound) (35.6%), 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ( 18 FDG-PET/CT) (27.9%), and magnetic resonance angiography (magnetic resonance angiography) (4%).

More results

Findings considered suspicious for VEGI were detected in all 18 FDG-PET/computed tomography angiography, 85.7% of computed tomography angiography, 70.3% of ultrasound, and 50% of magnetic resonance angiography.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

VGEI commonly presented with elevated c-reactive protein and local inflammatory signs, while systemic symptoms were often absent.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

18 FDG-PET/CT most frequently demonstrated findings considered suspicious for infection and may support diagnostic confidence.

Clinical Presentation and Imaging Pathways in Peripheral Vascular Graft and Endograft Infection: A Dutch-German Cohort Study.

Clinical Presentation and Imaging Pathways in Peripheral Vascular Graft and Endograft Infection: A Dutch-German Cohort Study.

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