What's New in Cardiac MRI? — May 13, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 44 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
May 13, 2026 · 44 articles · 15 research themes · covering May 06, 2026 – May 13, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set, cardiac MRI and related imaging advances dominate, spanning both mechanistic and practical needs: from quantitative native T1 mapping to better characterize intracardiac masses (e.g., lipoma) and contrast-free approaches that approximate LGE (Cine2LGE), to studies linking imaging biomarkers with future risk (diffuse fibrosis in repaired tetralogy of Fallot; obesity-related remodeling and LGE positivity; pericardial fat and cardiometabolic outcomes). Several papers emphasize that tissue characterization is increasingly actionable—supporting earlier diagnosis, risk stratification, and surveillance in conditions where clinical presentation alone can be misleading.
A second major theme is risk prediction for arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy progression, including both genetic and imaging-based strategies. Work on Brugada–arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy overlap (RYR1), idiopathic ventricular fibrillation diagnostic pathways, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy risk models all point toward more refined, multimodal approaches to sudden cardiac death prevention. Complementing this, studies of recurrent myocarditis, atrial cardiomyopathy, and mitral valve prolapse show how structural substrates (fibrosis, disjunction, remodeling) translate into adverse outcomes—reinforcing a shift from single-diagnosis frameworks toward substrate-based prognostication.
Finally, the digest highlights translational and systems-level progress: trial designs targeting fibrosis regression after TAVI, antisense therapy frameworks for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, and feasibility/implementation efforts such as zero-fluoroscopy EP workflows and explainable AI for cine CMR diagnosis. Together with comparative pulmonary hypertension recovery data and evolving chest pain pathways, the overall picture is of cardiology moving toward earlier detection, more precise phenotyping, and safer, more personalized care—supported by imaging, biomarkers, and increasingly interpretable computational tools.
Cardiac MRI & Tissue Characterization (LGE/T1/ML-based)
Quantitative native T1 mapping identifies papillary muscle and intracavitary cardiac lipomas: A multiparametric CMR case series.
This Radiology Case Reports series studied two patients with suspected cardiac lipoma—one 47-year-old woman with a papillary muscle lipoma and one 31-year-old Asian man with an intracavitary left ventricular lipoma—using conventional cardiac MRI and native T1 mapping. Conventional CMR showed characteristic fat signal features in both cases, while native T1 mapping demonstrated markedly reduced T1 values (250 ms and 405 ms at 1.5 T), helping resolve diagnostic uncertainty in anatomically complex locations. Quantitative native T1 mapping may improve noninvasive differentiation of small or mimic-like intracardiac masses from other tumor or thrombotic entities.
Montatore M, Rella M, Milo M et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generation of contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI from contrast-free scans: a multi-center, multi-manufacturer study.
This multi-center, multi-manufacturer study developed and validated Cine2LGE, a machine-learning method that generates late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)-like images and estimates enhancement probability from contrast-free cine cardiac MRI. Cine2LGE produced LGE-like image quality and enhancement probability estimates that were trained on a multi-disease dataset and externally tested on an independent dataset. Clinically, this could expand myocardial tissue characterization to patients who cannot receive gadolinium contrast (e.g., renal impairment or contrast allergy) while preserving the diagnostic role of LGE.
Xie P, Zhang Z, Chen J et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Arrhythmia Syndromes & Sudden Cardiac Death (genetics/IVF/BrS/ACM/HCM risk)
Predictors of Long-Term Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The NHLBI HCM Registry.
This JAMA registry-based study analyzed 2750 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy enrolled from 44 North American and European sites to improve long-term adverse event risk prediction using prospectively collected clinical history, imaging, genetic, and biomarker data. The key finding was that integrating these multimodal data elements can refine risk prediction beyond existing guidelines that primarily target sudden cardiac death. Clinically, better prediction could reduce avoidable implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use while preventing missed high-risk patients.
Kramer CM, Kolm P, DiMarco JP et al. · JAMA · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
RYR1 Pathogenic Variant in a Patient With Overlapping Features of Brugada Syndrome and Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy.
This case report studied a 32-year-old man with overlapping Brugada syndrome (BrS) and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) features in whom genetic testing identified a pathogenic RYR1 variant. Ajmaline testing unmasked a diagnostic type 1 BrS ECG pattern, while cardiac magnetic resonance showed subtle right ventricular dyskinesia and focal left ventricular fibrosis meeting borderline ACM criteria. The finding links RYR1 (a calcium-handling gene) to arrhythmia-syndrome overlap, suggesting shared calcium dysregulation mechanisms may underlie BrS–ACM phenotypes and informing genetic evaluation in similar patients.
Saplaouras A, Koskina S, Mililis P et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Diagnostic Evolution From Channelopathy to Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation After Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death.
This case report studied a 23-year-old woman initially presenting with seizure-like activity who was ultimately evaluated for idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) after aborted sudden cardiac death. After an initial diagnosis of long QT syndrome and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement, comprehensive workup—including cardiac magnetic resonance, a negative 51-gene arrhythmia panel, and an implanted loop recorder—confirmed a spontaneous ventricular fibrillation episode consistent with IVF. The report highlights the diagnostic evolution from a suspected channelopathy to IVF, emphasizing the importance of systematic exclusion testing (including broad gene panels and prolonged rhythm monitoring) when ventricular fibrillation occurs despite initial diagnoses.
Butt F, Chokshi P, Badua PM et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial Fibrosis, Remodeling & Cardiomyopathy Progression
Atrial Cardiomyopathy: A Cardiologist’s Guide to Stroke, Heart Failure, and Arrhythmias.
This Cardiology in Review article synthesized evidence on atrial cardiomyopathy as a unifying framework for atrial structural, architectural, contractile, and electrophysiological abnormalities that extend beyond atrial fibrillation (AF) alone. The key finding is that atrial cardiomyopathy often precedes AF and independently contributes to adverse outcomes such as ischemic stroke, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and other atrial arrhythmias. This paradigm shift supports improved risk assessment and future research targeting atrial fibrosis/inflammation/oxidative stress/endothelial dysfunction mechanisms.
Niazi M, Akram MB, Chaudhary AS et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cancer type-specific variation in patterns of driver alterations across 50,000 tumors.
This Cancer Cell study analyzed 54,331 tumors from 48,179 patients across 448 histological cancer subtypes to define cancer type-specific patterns of somatic driver alterations, including 164 newly identified hotspots. It found that one-third of drivers occur in non-canonical contexts and show distinct properties such as increased subclonality, later emergence, and divergent biology, with gene fusions and other co-occurring alteration patterns varying by cancer type. The significance is that it improves mechanistic interpretation of driver events by incorporating tissue context, supporting more accurate cancer genomics classification and downstream therapeutic hypotheses.
Bandlamudi C, Muldoon D, de Bruijn I et al. · Cancer cell · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
A study on the correlation between cardiac magnetic resonance characteristics and myocardial fibrosis in overweight and obese individuals.
This 2026 BMC Medical Imaging study used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to compare cardiac structure, function, myocardial strain, and epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) among normal-weight, overweight, and obese adults (n=192) and to test whether these CMR measures relate to myocardial fibrosis assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE positivity). It reported group differences in CMR-derived parameters across BMI categories and evaluated their ability to predict LGE positivity as a marker of fibrosis risk. The scientific significance is that it links obesity-related cardiac remodeling (including EATV and strain) to detectable myocardial fibrosis using CMR, potentially enabling earlier risk stratification in overweight/obese individuals.
Liu L, Yao Y, Yu H et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Longitudinal changes in cardiac function, volumes and fibrosis in a prospective cohort of female Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy carriers.
This prospective cohort study followed 75 genetically confirmed female Duchenne muscular dystrophy carriers and 22 non-carrier females with cardiac MRI (CMR) at three annual visits to characterize longitudinal changes in ventricular volumes, function, and fibrosis assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Over follow-up, carriers showed measurable progression in cardiac remodeling and fibrosis compared with non-carriers. Scientifically, it clarifies the natural history of cardiomyopathy risk in female dystrophin mutation carriers and supports CMR-based surveillance strategies.
Ledingham L, Conroy S, Kanwar K et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Detecting early structural and functional myocardial alterations in patients with repaired tetralogy of fallot: a prospective MRI study.
This prospective CMR study evaluated diffuse myocardial fibrosis and its relationship to regional mechanical dysfunction in 17 consecutive patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) using native T1 (nT1) mapping and tissue phase mapping (TPM). Patients showed evidence of altered myocardial mechanics—reflected by reduced peak biventricular segmental systolic/diastolic velocities—linked to diffuse fibrosis measured by nT1. The results suggest that advanced, contrast-free CMR mapping can detect early myocardial disease in rTOF and may help identify patients at risk for later arrhythmia or heart failure.
Kappler HE, Kocher N, Berg S et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
When amyloid chooses sides: septal affection pattern as an atypical presentation of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy.
This case report described an atypical septal-predominant myocardial involvement pattern as a presentation of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) using multimodality imaging. Instead of the classic basal/midventricular symmetric pattern with apical sparing, amyloid involvement was “on one side” with septal affection, prompting diagnostic consideration of ATTR-CM despite atypical distribution. The report highlights that imaging patterns can vary and that early recognition is important because ATTR-CM benefits from timely initiation of disease-specific therapy.
Maurer LA, Studer Bruengger AA, Wiedemann Buser MS et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Insights Into the Natural History of Recurrent Myocarditis, A Multicenter International Study (Re-Myo Study).
This multicenter international cohort study (Re-Myo Study) characterized the natural history of recurrent acute myocarditis (Re-AM) in 141 patients with biopsy- or CMR-proven recurrence and compared them with 372 patients with single acute myocarditis (S-AM). Re-AM patients had distinct clinical features and outcomes, including a higher burden of adverse events captured by a composite endpoint of mortality, heart transplant, and major ventricular arrhythmias. The study improves prognostic understanding of recurrent myocarditis and supports more tailored follow-up and management for patients after recurrence.
Baggio C, Cannata A, Gasperetti A et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Valvular Heart Disease & Post-Intervention Remodeling (TAVI/MVP/HCM obstruction)
Effect of anti-fibrotic therapy on regression of myocardial fibrosis after TAVI: Design and rationale of the Reduce-MFA DZHK25 trial.
This ESC Heart Failure trial design paper describes the Reduce-MFA DZHK25 randomized, open-label, multicenter study assessing anti-fibrotic therapy to regress myocardial fibrosis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in aortic stenosis patients with high baseline fibrotic burden. The key finding is the trial’s rationale and structure: it targets fibrosis regression and secondary endpoints including left ventricular reverse remodeling, symptom improvement, and mortality/hospitalizations. If effective, anti-fibrotic therapy could modify post-TAVI remodeling risk in patients most vulnerable due to pre-existing myocardial fibrosis.
Puls M, Zeisberg EM, Placzek M et al. · ESC heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Prediction of Arrhythmic Events in Mitral Valve Prolapse: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
This 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis studied mitral valve prolapse (MVP) patients (15 studies; 1,994 patients) to quantify how cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) biomarkers predict arrhythmic events. It found that late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), mitral annular disjunction (MAD), and systolic curling were each significantly associated with increased arrhythmic risk, with pooled relative risks around 1.5–1.8 depending on the biomarker. The clinical significance is that it strengthens CMR-based risk stratification for MVP patients by identifying imaging markers that correlate with future arrhythmic events.
Papanastasiou CA, Kampaktsis PN, Papalamprakopoulou Z et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Mavacamten in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and C282Y Homozygous Hereditary Hemochromatosis: A First-in-Human Report.
This first-in-human JACC Case Reports report described treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a 67-year-old woman with homozygous C282Y hereditary hemochromatosis using the cardiac myosin inhibitor mavacamten. After starting mavacamten (due to beta-blocker intolerance), the patient had a marked reduction in left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient. The case supports feasibility of myosin inhibition in complex comorbidity and motivates further study of mavacamten in HCM patients with iron overload.
Sam R, Ananthaneni A, Planek MI et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Congenital Heart Disease & Pediatric Cardiac Imaging
Flow-Driven Right-to-Left Shunting Through the Patent Foramen Ovale Causing Hypoxemia and Embolism in a Partial Uhl Anomaly.
This 2026 JACC Case Reports study examined a 49-year-old woman with partial Uhl anomaly and hypoxemia/embolism, using multimodality cardiac imaging to characterize right ventricular pathology and shunt physiology. Despite normal right-sided pressures, imaging identified a permanent right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale (PFO) driven by flow redirection associated with the congenital anomaly. Clinically, the case highlights that non-pressure-dependent mechanisms can make PFO shunting relevant in rare congenital right-heart disorders, informing diagnostic evaluation and management of unexplained stroke and hypoxemia.
Laboratto LE, Vannoni G, Nieto G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Beyond the usual suspects: unmasking ALCAPA in pediatric cardiomyopathy - case report.
This BMC Pediatrics case report studied a 9-year-old boy with pediatric cardiomyopathy initially presenting with an asthma exacerbation, in whom anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) was ultimately unmasked. Echocardiography showed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular dysfunction, and severe mitral regurgitation, illustrating an atypical presentation of a rare but lethal congenital defect. The clinical significance is that it emphasizes diagnostic vigilance for ALCAPA in children with cardiomyopathy and atypical symptoms, to prevent delayed recognition and irreversible myocardial injury.
Pedraza C A, Suárez F MV, Ballén-Pinilla D et al. · BMC pediatrics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Fetal MRI for cardiopulmonary anomalies: what the pediatric cardiologist and surgeon need to know.
This narrative review summarized evidence on fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) as an adjunct to expert fetal echocardiography for prenatal evaluation of complex cardiopulmonary anomalies. It reported that fetal CMR provides high-resolution, multiplanar imaging with superior soft-tissue contrast and a wider field of view, improving diagnostic and prognostic assessment when echocardiography is limited by technical or physiologic factors. The review supports an evidence-based framework for integrating fetal CMR to inform counseling, delivery planning, and postnatal management.
Dadoun SE, Mokha S, Kooraki S et al. · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
ECG Changes in Tetralogy of Fallot: Association with Right Ventricular Function, Early Age of Repair and Prematurity.
This retrospective study of 219 patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) assessed whether ECG changes (including PQ interval, QRS duration/dispersion, fragmentation, QTc/JTc, and right bundle branch block) correlated with cardiac MRI (CMR) measures of right ventricular function and whether these ECG abnormalities were more common in less mature myocardium (prematurity or early repair). ECG abnormalities were associated with worse RV function on CMR and were more prevalent in patients with prematurity or earlier repair. These findings suggest ECG markers may help identify TOF patients at higher risk for long-term RV maladaptation and complications.
Bhat M, Malm T, Nordenstam F et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Feasibility of 3D echocardiography-CT/CMR fusion to create atrioventricular valve-integrated 3D printed heart models in complex congenital heart disease: greater incremental benefit for surgeons than cardiac imagers.
This feasibility study assessed whether 3D-printed atrioventricular valve-integrated heart models created by 3D echocardiography–CT/CMR fusion improve preoperative anatomical understanding in complex congenital heart disease compared with single-modality 3D models. Among pediatric cardiac surgeons and imaging cardiologists, valve-inclusive multimodality fusion models provided greater incremental perceived clinical utility than conventional single-modality models. The work supports integrating valve anatomy into multimodal 3D printing to enhance surgical planning in complex congenital heart disease.
Villalobos-Lizardi JC, Yoo SJ, Peel B et al. · 3D printing in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pulmonary Hypertension & Right Ventricular Adaptation
Right Ventricular Adaptation after Pulmonary Endarterectomy and Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A comparative Cardiac MRI-Based Study.
This prospective multicenter cohort study compared right ventricular (RV) adaptation after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) versus balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) in 93 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (Netherlands and Denmark), using cardiac MRI, right heart catheterization, exercise testing, and biomarkers. The key finding was that both interventions produced RV reverse remodeling, with differential patterns of hemodynamic and structural/functional improvement between PEA and BPA groups. The results inform comparative expectations for RV recovery when selecting between PEA and BPA in CTEPH.
Rodenburg TC, Higuchi S, Andersen S et al. · The European respiratory journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Coronary Disease Imaging & Plaque Vulnerability
Association between coronary high-intensity plaque and pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation and plaque morphology.
This retrospective imaging study analyzed 104 coronary lesions in 86 patients with chronic coronary syndrome who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) before elective percutaneous coronary intervention. High-intensity plaque (HIP) on T1-weighted CMR—defined by a plaque-to-myocardium signal intensity ratio (PMR) ≥1.4—was associated with greater pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCATA) and differences in coronary plaque morphology. The findings suggest that CMR-derived HIP may reflect more vulnerable coronary pathology linked to local adipose tissue changes.
Ishii Y, Watabe H, Kyohei U et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Intracoronary ECG May Reveal Dynamic Changes in Tissue-Level Reperfusion During Primary PCI.
This study evaluated intracoronary ECG (IC-ECG) recordings during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 15 patients with anterior myocardial infarction, using a guidewire connected to the ECG system. IC-ECG obtained at sequential PCI steps showed dynamic ST-segment changes, including re-emergence of ST elevation after stent deployment in some patients, which corresponded to differences in infarct characteristics on cardiac magnetic resonance. Clinically, IC-ECG may provide real-time tissue-level reperfusion information beyond surface ECG, potentially helping identify patients with impaired microvascular reperfusion during primary PCI.
Aslanger EK, Akaslan D, Uysaler E et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Physiology & Exercise/Diastolic Function Metrics
The effects of aging on left ventricular diastolic function evaluated with 4D flow MRI: a novel approach using mitral velocity and propagation velocity measurements.
This Physiological Measurement study evaluated how aging affects left ventricular diastolic function using 4D-flow MRI–derived parameters, including mitral inflow velocity and propagation velocity (VP), in 60 healthy volunteers (ages 20–80). The key finding was that diastolic filling metrics obtainable from 4D-flow MRI can be characterized across age, enabling assessment of age-related changes in LV filling dynamics. This supports 4D-flow MRI as a noninvasive alternative to transthoracic echocardiography for studying diastolic physiology in aging populations.
Stipechi LV, Craiem D, Gencer U et al. · Physiological measurement · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Repositioning of exercise treadmill testing in contemporary chest pain management.
This narrative review studied the clinical role of exercise treadmill testing (ETT) in contemporary chest pain management, focusing on patients being evaluated for obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in an era dominated by coronary CT angiography (CTCA) and stress imaging (CMR or stress echocardiography). It found that while ETT generally has lower diagnostic accuracy for obstructive CAD than modern imaging, it still provides exercise-derived prognostic/functional information and may remain useful in selected guideline-directed scenarios considering cost and resource implications. The review’s significance is that it helps clinicians reposition ETT within current chest pain pathways rather than abandoning it, clarifying where ETT can add value alongside CTCA and stress imaging.
Xue X, Bai Y, Li H et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Absolute and Workload-indexed Exercise Blood Pressure responses: Associations with cardiac output, vascular resistance and cardiorespiratory fitness in females.
This physiology study used cardiopulmonary exercise testing in 135 adult females (51±8 years) to characterize absolute and workload-indexed systolic blood pressure (SBP) responses and relate them to cardiac output, vascular resistance, and cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O2peak). SBP responses stratified by SBPmax and workload-indexed SBP/W-slope showed associations with hemodynamic determinants of V̇O2peak, indicating that pressure-flow coupling during exercise varies by fitness and SBP response pattern. These findings improve interpretation of exercise BP as a functional marker of cardiovascular health and may refine risk assessment using noninvasive exercise testing.
Janssens K, Howden EJ, Mitchell AM et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Sepsis & Endothelial Biomarkers
Dissecting the pathobiology of suspected sepsis through a comparative analysis of endothelial inflammatory and clinical prediction models.
This Scientific Reports study prospectively enrolled suspected sepsis patients from emergency departments across three secondary/tertiary teaching hospitals to compare predictive models based on endothelial inflammatory biomarkers versus standard clinical data for persistent vasopressor dependence and acute kidney injury (AKI). The key finding was the relative predictive utility of endothelial inflammation–focused biomarker models compared with clinical prediction models for these two sepsis outcomes. If endothelial biomarker–augmented models outperform clinical-only approaches, they could enable earlier risk stratification and targeted management in sepsis.
Ningthoujam AS, Thiyagarajan G, Wani NA et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Aging, Insulin Resistance & Cardiometabolic Risk
Association of pericardial fat volume with risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus or major adverse cardiovascular events: Evidence from UK Biobank cohort study.
This UK Biobank cohort study (n=39,125) investigated whether pericardial fat volume measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging predicts incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Over a median 55-month follow-up, there were 343 new T2DM cases and 1,894 new MACE events, and the analysis used multivariable Cox models and Kaplan–Meier curves to evaluate associations with pericardial fat area (MEPFA). The significance is that it tests pericardial fat as a potentially modifiable imaging biomarker for cardiometabolic risk, which could improve early identification of high-risk individuals.
Hu F, Wang J, Zeng X et al. · Nutrition & metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Polygenic Risk Identifies Older Adults Who May Benefit From Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke.
This post hoc analysis of the ASPREE randomized trial evaluated whether an integrative polygenic score (iPGS) derived from >1.2 million variants could identify older adults of European ancestry (>70 years, no prior cardiovascular disease) who might benefit from daily 100-mg aspirin for primary prevention of ischemic stroke. The study found that iPGS stratification could distinguish a subgroup with net benefit from aspirin despite overall bleeding-risk concerns in older adults. Clinically, polygenic risk stratification could enable more personalized aspirin use for ischemic stroke prevention in the elderly.
Yu C, Hussain SM, Fransquet PD et al. · Stroke · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Selenium deficiency as potential risk factor for thyroid carcinoma: Results from a Western Algerian population.
This case-control study in a Western Algerian population compared selenium status between patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and controls using three biomarkers: plasma total selenium measured by total reflection X-ray fluorescence, selenoprotein P (SELENOP) measured by ELISA, and glutathione peroxidase 3 activity. The key finding was that selenium deficiency—assessed across these biomarkers—was associated with increased risk of PTC. These results strengthen the evidence that selenium status may be a modifiable risk factor for thyroid carcinogenesis and motivate biomarker-based risk assessment.
Tani LSK, Dennouni-Medjati N, Medjahedi A et al. · Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The influence of accelerated aging-related cardiac remodeling on cardiovascular outcomes: an observational study.
This observational study examined whether phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel) predicts cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in 31,722 UK Biobank participants, and related it to cardiac structure/function measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Higher PhenoAgeAccel was associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality, with cardiac remodeling and cardiometabolic disease pathways proposed as mediators. These findings support phenotypic aging as a clinically useful risk marker and suggest that CMR-detected remodeling may help explain how accelerated aging drives cardiovascular risk.
Lv Z, Li K, Liu C et al. · The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Glucose Disposal Rate: A Novel Measure of Insulin Resistance Associated With Myocardial Fibrosis and Incident Heart Failure.
This study in 6,025 MESA participants free of heart failure at exam 2 tested whether the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), a surrogate of insulin resistance, is associated with myocardial fibrosis and incident heart failure. Lower eGDR (higher insulin resistance) was associated with greater myocardial fibrosis on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and with higher risk of developing heart failure during follow-up. These findings link insulin resistance to structural myocardial injury and provide a potential cardiometabolic risk pathway for HF prevention strategies.
Bukhari S, Kwapong YA, Yanek LR et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Machine Learning, AI & Explainable Diagnostics in Cardiac Imaging
Glass-box agentic-style workflow for multiclass cine cardiac magnetic resonance imaging classification with a large language model.
This 2026 diagnostic study developed and evaluated a glass-box, agentic-style workflow using a large language model (GPT-OSS-120B) for auditable multiclass classification of cine cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images in the Automated Cardiac Diagnosis Challenge dataset (n=100; five diagnostic classes). Using nnU-Net segmentation at end-diastole and end-systole to extract 17 interpretable biomarkers, the pipeline separated perception from reasoning and assessed accuracy, robustness across decoding temperatures, and fidelity/safety of generated narrative explanations. The scientific significance is that it provides a more transparent, clinically interpretable LLM-based approach for multiclass cine CMR diagnosis rather than a purely black-box model.
Mese I, Kocak B · Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Radiology/Imaging Case Reports of Intracardiac Masses & Infections
Isolated Cardiac Hydatid Disease Presenting as Ventricular Remodeling and Tamponade.
This JACC Case Reports report described a 16-year-old woman with isolated cardiac hydatid disease presenting with ventricular remodeling and cardiac tamponade physiology. Multimodality imaging showed a large intact pericardial hydatid cyst with adjacent myocardial thinning, concentric hypertrophy of uninvolved left ventricular segments, active pericarditis, and pericardial effusion causing tamponade, and surgery confirmed intact cysts with laminated membranes in the pericardial space. The case underscores that echinococcal cardiac involvement can present as life-threatening tamponade with secondary myocardial remodeling, requiring rapid multimodal diagnosis and management.
Yousuf Q, Rashid A, Choh NA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Ventricular Tachycardia Due to Intracardiac Metastases: Multimodality Imaging and Management Considerations.
This case report studied a 57-year-old man with advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma who developed malignant ventricular tachycardia due to intracardiac metastases. Multimodality imaging showed echocardiographic findings mimicking apical left ventricular hypertrophy, while contrast-enhanced perfusion echocardiography demonstrated heterogeneous early hyperenhancement consistent with tumor neovascularization, supporting the metastatic cause of arrhythmias. Scientifically and clinically, it underscores that intracardiac metastases can present as refractory ventricular arrhythmias and that targeted multimodality imaging can enable earlier recognition and management planning.
Chan TH, Leung HL, Cheng CN et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pericardial Disease & Pericardiectomy Decision-Making
Perioperative Continuation of Interleukin-1 Blockade in Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis: Imaging-Guided Surgical Decision.
This JACC Case Reports report described perioperative management of chronic constrictive pericarditis in a 42-year-old man in the context of continued interleukin-1 blockade with anakinra. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance showed constrictive physiology with pericardial thickening and late gadolinium enhancement but no active edema, guiding surgical decision-making despite ongoing IL-1 inhibition. The case suggests that imaging can help determine when to proceed to pericardiectomy even when inflammation-targeted therapy is being continued.
Issa R, Ikram J, Nouman A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular Therapeutics & Trial Design (including antisense/anti-fibrotic)
Pharmacological treatments for Friedreich ataxia.
This Cochrane systematic review evaluated pharmacological treatments for Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) in people with the autosomal recessive condition, focusing on interventions aimed at disease progression and associated complications. The review synthesized evidence on which drug classes have (or lack) meaningful clinical benefit for FRDA outcomes, including neurologic and cardiomyopathy-related endpoints. Clinically, the findings guide evidence-based prescribing and highlight where future trials are needed to reduce morbidity and premature death from FRDA cardiomyopathy.
Lyons S, Kearney M, Fahey MC et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Rationale and Design of CARDIO-TTRansform, a Phase 3 Trial of Eplontersen in Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy.
This Circulation: Heart Failure phase 3 trial design paper studied eplontersen, an N-acetylgalactosamine ligand-conjugated antisense oligonucleotide targeting hepatocyte transthyretin (TTR) mRNA, in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. CARDIO-TTRansform is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolling patients with histologically confirmed amyloid deposits or grade 2–3 cardiac uptake on cardiac scintigraphy without plasma cell involvement. Its significance is that it establishes the framework to test whether lowering circulating TTR with eplontersen can modify disease course in a progressive, fatal cardiomyopathy.
Masri A, Cappelli F, Davis MK et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Clinical Practice, Training & Credentialing (including radiation-free EP workflows)
Navigating the Zero Fluoroscopy Frontier: Current Tools, Evidence and Future Directions in Electrophysiology Procedures.
This Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology review examined current tools and evidence for “zero-fluoroscopy” electrophysiology (EP) ablation, focusing on radiation-reduction strategies used by electrophysiologists. The key finding is that multiple technologies—electroanatomic mapping systems, transesophageal/intracardiac echocardiography, visualizable sheaths, contact-force sensing catheters, integration of preprocedural advanced cardiac imaging, and real-time cardiac MRI guidance—support ZF protocols with growing evidence. Scientifically and clinically, consolidating these tools helps standardize safer EP workflows that reduce radiation exposure for both patients and operators.
Kotzadamis D, Giannopoulos G, Schismenos V et al. · Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Training and credentialing in robotic general surgery.
This International Journal of Colorectal Disease narrative review studied how robotic general surgery training and credentialing frameworks have (or have not) kept pace with rapid adoption of robotic platforms. The key finding is that substantial variability exists in access to training, definitions of competency/proficiency, assessment standards, and institutional credentialing practices, raising concerns about patient safety, equity, and workforce readiness. Addressing these gaps is important to ensure safe, standardized scaling of robotic surgery training across institutions.
Harris M, Mohan H, Martins BAA et al. · International journal of colorectal disease · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Understanding the cardiology training landscape in Asia-Pacific region.
This Postgraduate Medical Journal study mapped cardiology training and credentialing pathways across the Asia-Pacific by surveying credentialed cardiologists from 23 regions using a 42-item online questionnaire. The key finding was that all regions required specialist qualification to practise cardiology, with most regions reporting a single training pathway (69.6%) and smaller proportions reporting multiple pathways (21.7% and 8.7%). Understanding these regional differences can inform harmonized cardiology curricula development and credentialing reforms across the Asia-Pacific.
Cader FA, Lee WYS, Widodo WA et al. · Postgraduate medical journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Management of Iron Overload in Infants and Toddlers With Diamond-Blackfan Anemia Syndrome: A French-Italian Study.
This retrospective multicenter French-Italian registry study investigated iron chelation in infants and toddlers with Diamond-Blackfan anemia syndrome (DBAS), focusing on chelation initiation before age 3 years among transfused patients. Among 167 screened transfused DBAS patients, 64 (38%) started chelation before age 3 (median 18 months), with chelation indications including serum ferritin ≥500 ng/mL and >10 transfusions, and the abstract indicates deferasirox as the predominant chelator. The clinical significance is that it addresses a key evidence gap in very young DBAS patients by characterizing real-world chelation timing and indications to prevent early severe iron overload.
Torchio F, Lecalvez B, Garelli E et al. · American journal of hematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pathways between climate change and HIV health in rural Kenya: a qualitative analysis.
This qualitative study interviewed 40 people living with HIV (PLHIV) enrolled in a cluster randomized clinical trial in rural Western Kenya to understand how climate change–related severe weather affects HIV health, particularly among adults on ART for >6 months with moderate-to-severe food insecurity and smallholder farming. Participants described pathways linking extreme weather to worsened food insecurity, disruptions to farming and livelihoods, and downstream impacts on ART adherence and overall health. These findings highlight climate adaptation needs as part of HIV care delivery in high-HIV-burden rural settings facing increasing extreme weather.
Nicastro TM, Odhiambo G, Jawuoro S et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Intraoperative study of afferent and efferent connections in the upper lumbar spinal cord - Part 1: Cremasteric reflex.
This intraoperative human neurophysiology study assessed the feasibility and stimulation/recording parameters of the cremasteric reflex (CMR) in 15 male patients undergoing spinal surgery under general anesthesia. Electrical multipulse stimulation of the upper medial thigh produced cremasteric reflex responses in 23 of 30 cremaster muscles, with an overall recordability rate of 76%. The work supports cremasteric reflex testing as a practical intraoperative monitoring tool for afferent/efferent pathway assessment in the upper lumbar spinal cord.
de Melo DLM, Oliveira DRDCAB, Madureira PLDS et al. · Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Generated automatically on May 13, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published May 06, 2026 – May 13, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.