What's New in Cardiac MRI? — May 15, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 51 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
May 15, 2026 · 51 articles · 15 research themes · covering May 08, 2026 – May 15, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of articles, cardiac imaging—especially cardiac MRI (CMR)—emerges as a central tool for both diagnosis and risk prediction. Multiple studies focus on extracting prognostic information from CMR-derived structure/function metrics (e.g., left atrioventricular coupling index in reduced-EF heart failure, pericardial fat and obesity-related remodeling, and 4D-flow MRI diastolic physiology), while reviews and meta-analyses reinforce CMR’s role in myocarditis/ICI-myocarditis and in arrhythmia risk stratification (notably mitral valve prolapse markers such as LGE, mitral annular disjunction, and systolic curling). Together, these works emphasize a shift from single-threshold interpretation toward longitudinal tracking and multimarker, imaging-led decision-making.
A second dominant theme is “mechanism-informed” care pathways—linking upstream exposures or biology to downstream cardiovascular outcomes. Reviews and cohort studies connect preterm birth to later coronary and cardiac abnormalities, while trial designs and mechanistic studies explore targeted therapies (e.g., vericiguat for coronary microvascular dysfunction using stress CMR endpoints; eplontersen for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy; antifibrotic strategies after TAVI). In parallel, inflammatory and genetic cardiomyopathy work highlights how chronic inflammatory phenotypes and specific genotypes (including hypereosinophilic syndromes and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy registry data) can refine risk assessment beyond conventional clinical screening.
Finally, the digest shows rapid methodological and systems evolution: large-scale CMR foundation models and explainable “glass-box” AI aim to reduce labeling burden and improve interpretability; contrast-free radiomics and synthetic imaging frameworks broaden research and potential clinical scalability. Case reports and registries round out the picture by illustrating how advanced multimodality imaging can prevent misdiagnosis in rare but high-stakes scenarios (e.g., epicardial fat necrosis mimicking cardiopulmonary emergencies, cardiac metastasis, congenital shunt physiology, and unusual cardiomyopathy etiologies).
Cardiac MRI in Prenatal and Pediatric Care
Beyond the usual suspects: unmasking ALCAPA in pediatric cardiomyopathy - case report.
This BMC Pediatrics case report described a 9-year-old boy with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and poorly controlled asthma in whom anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) was ultimately unmasked. The report highlights that atypical presentations can occur beyond infancy and that delayed recognition can lead to irreversible myocardial injury, with echocardiography showing left ventricular dysfunction and severe mitral regurgitation as part of the clinical picture. The clinical significance is diagnostic: it emphasizes considering ALCAPA in pediatric cardiomyopathy when symptoms and imaging are atypical, to enable timely surgical correction.
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 review studied how fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can be integrated with expert fetal echocardiography for prenatal evaluation of complex cardiopulmonary anomalies in fetuses. It found that fetal CMR provides high-resolution, multiplanar imaging with superior soft-tissue contrast and a wide field of view, improving assessment when echocardiography is limited by technical or physiologic factors and when additional diagnostic or prognostic information is needed. Clinically, this supports better counseling, delivery planning, and postnatal management by clarifying anatomy and expected outcomes for pediatric cardiologists and surgeons.
Dadoun SE, Mokha S, Kooraki S et al. · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Preterm Birth and Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk
Structural and Functional Abnormalities in the Preterm Heart: From Development to Adulthood.
This review examined how preterm birth affects cardiac development and leads to structural and functional abnormalities in the preterm heart from infancy through adulthood. It highlights mechanisms including abnormal oxygen exposure, disrupted cellular architecture, extracellular matrix remodeling, impaired cardiomyocyte mitochondrial number/function, immature sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum, and increased procedural stress exposure that together increase later cardiovascular disease risk even when the neonatal heart is structurally normal. The clinical implication is that adults born preterm warrant heightened cardiovascular surveillance and risk-focused follow-up.
Zegelbone P, Young K, Hughes F et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Smaller coronary artery size in adults born preterm.
This adult cohort study tested the hypothesis that coronary artery size is reduced in adults born preterm by measuring coronary dimensions using 1.5 T cardiac MRI. Using short-axis bSSFP cine for structure/function and 3D bSSFP coronary MR angiography for left main (LM), left anterior descending (LAD), and right coronary artery (RCA) area and diameter, it found smaller coronary artery size in adults born preterm. The significance is mechanistic support for increased ischemic heart disease risk after preterm birth and a potential imaging biomarker for long-term cardiovascular risk.
Barton GP, Sharma K, Hussain T et al. · Pediatric research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Aortic Valve Disease (Aortic Regurgitation and Stenosis) and Fibrosis
Contemporary Overview of Aortic Regurgitation in Young Individuals: Insights From Real-Life Evidence.
This contemporary overview assessed the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and management evidence for aortic regurgitation (AR) in young individuals aged 18–44 years. It finds that AR in this age group is frequently under- or misdiagnosed and that prognosis depends on regurgitation severity, early left ventricular dysfunction, etiology, and intervention strategy, with emerging CMR/echo-based left ventricular structural/functional thresholds to guide surgery timing in asymptomatic chronic AR. The significance is improved early detection and more evidence-based timing of intervention to prevent progression to adverse outcomes.
Sozzi FB, Gamberini G, Kim JK et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Effect of anti-fibrotic therapy on regression of myocardial fibrosis after TAVI: Design and rationale of the Reduce-MFA DZHK25 trial.
The Reduce-MFA DZHK25 trial design will test whether anti-fibrotic therapy can regress aortic stenosis (AS)-induced myocardial fibrosis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in AS patients with high baseline fibrotic burden. The key finding is the trial’s planned randomized, open-label, multicenter approach with blinded outcome assessment to evaluate fibrosis regression and secondary endpoints including left-ventricular remodeling, symptoms, mortality, and cardiac hospitalizations. Scientifically and clinically, it aims to determine whether targeting myocardial fibrosis can improve post-TAVI outcomes in a high-risk subgroup.
Puls M, Zeisberg EM, Placzek M et al. · ESC heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiomyopathy and Genetic/Family Screening
Unmasking subclinical cardiomyopathy: The role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing when screening genotype-positive phenotype negative relatives.
This single-centre case series studied whether cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can unmask subclinical cardiomyopathy among genotype-positive, phenotype-negative (G+P−) relatives in families with likely/definite pathogenic cardiomyopathy variants. The key finding is that CPET can detect subclinical abnormalities despite conventional screening (ECG, echocardiography, Holter monitoring, and cardiac MRI) often being unremarkable in younger G+P− relatives. This supports adding CPET to cascade screening workflows to improve early risk identification in genetically predisposed individuals.
Abela M, Scicluna J, Debattista J et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Hypereosinophilic endocarditis presenting with intracardiac mass and severe mitral regurgitation: a case report of FIP1L1-PDGFRA positive myeloid neoplasm.
This case report studied a 28-year-old man with hypereosinophilia who presented with intracardiac mass and severe mitral regurgitation consistent with Loeffler’s endocarditis. Echocardiography showed a 24×15 mm mobile mitral-attached mass, cardiac MRI demonstrated subendocardial fibrosis, and molecular testing confirmed an FIP1L1–PDGFRA positive myeloid neoplasm. The finding links a specific fusion-driven hypereosinophilic syndrome genotype to a severe cardiac phenotype, supporting targeted diagnostic testing and disease-directed management.
Rao NS, Biswas A, Kothari SS et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Predictors of Long-Term Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The NHLBI HCM Registry.
Using the NHLBI Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Registry, this JAMA study evaluated predictors of long-term outcomes in 2750 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy enrolled from 44 North American and European sites, integrating clinical history, imaging, genetic data, and biomarkers. The key finding is that combining these multimodal data elements improves risk prediction beyond existing guidelines that mainly target sudden cardiac death and are imperfect. Clinically, this supports more accurate identification of patients at risk for adverse events and may reduce both avoidable deaths and unnecessary implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use.
Kramer CM, Kolm P, DiMarco JP et al. · JAMA · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) Myocarditis and Inflammatory Cardiac Injury
Diagnostic and prognostic parameters for immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis: A meta-analysis.
This meta-analysis evaluated diagnostic and prognostic parameters for immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis (ICI-M) across 29 trials including 3568 patients. Abnormal cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was reported in 63.4% of cases, with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in 65.3% and an association with ICI-M (OR 5.32, 95% CI 1.61–17.50). These pooled CMR findings support CMR—particularly LGE—as a key diagnostic/prognostic tool for ICI-M in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Lerchner T, Buehning F, Vogel J et al. · European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Integrating Anatomy and Ischemia in Chest Pain Evaluation.
This review studied how to integrate coronary anatomy and ischemia physiology when evaluating chest pain in clinical practice, focusing on noninvasive and invasive testing strategies. It found that coronary CT angiography with or without CT-derived fractional flow reserve and functional imaging (e.g., stress echocardiography, PET myocardial blood flow/flow reserve, and stress CMR) can efficiently triage patients, while invasive coronary angiography combined with physiology (FFR/iFR) and intravascular imaging (IVUS/OCT) improves lesion characterization. The clinical significance is improved diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification for coronary artery disease by combining anatomic and physiologic information.
Tiotsop M, Salabei JK · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Prospective Serial Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Myocarditis Correlates with Cardiovascular Outcomes.
This prospective study evaluated serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) changes in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) myocarditis versus pre-ICI controls receiving planned ICI therapy. It found that serial CMR parameters collected at enrollment and again at 8–12 weeks were associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes (ACE), indicating that CMR can track disease evolution and risk. The clinical significance is that longitudinal CMR may help stratify prognosis and guide management in ICI myocarditis.
Kwan JM, Khattab M, Tysarowski M et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocarditis and Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy (General/Chronic Spectrum)
Inflammatory cardiomyopathy: Position paper of the Italian Society of Cardiology Working Group on cardiomyopathies and pericardial diseases in collaboration with the Italian Society of Cardiology Working Group on cardiac magnetic resonance.
This position paper from Italian Society of Cardiology working groups studied inflammatory cardiomyopathy (iCMP) within the myocarditis spectrum, synthesizing evidence on causes, genetics, and diagnostic approach. It concluded that iCMP is the chronic hypokinetic phenotype marked by persistent myocardial inflammation, systolic dysfunction, and adverse remodeling, often evolving from prior acute/subacute myocarditis and associated with worse outcomes (e.g., dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, arrhythmias), with a proposed “two-hit” model involving environmental triggers and pathogenic variants. The scientific significance is that iCMP should be diagnosed using a multimodal strategy and managed as a distinct chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathy phenotype rather than only as residual myocarditis.
Imazio M, Jahnsen V, Merlo M et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Multimodality Imaging in Myocarditis: Integrating Etiology, Diagnosis, and Risk Stratification.
This narrative review integrated evidence on multimodality imaging for myocarditis, focusing on how imaging supports etiology assessment, diagnosis, and risk stratification. It finds that cardiac MRI is the reference noninvasive modality with parametric mapping and updated Lake Louise Criteria improving diagnostic sensitivity and prognosis, while echocardiographic strain and positron emission tomography contribute to detection of subclinical dysfunction and risk. The significance is a proposed practical imaging pathway to improve longitudinal management despite limitations of nonspecific biomarkers and endomyocardial biopsy.
Debs D, Rushworth P, Liu J et al. · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Ventricular Tachycardia as the Initial Presentation of Tuberculous Myocarditis.
This case report investigated a 47-year-old man presenting with sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia and biomarker elevation, ultimately diagnosed with tuberculous myocarditis. Multimodal imaging showed extensive inflammatory nonischemic myocardial involvement and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, with initial lymph node biopsy showing nonnecrotizing granulomas and delayed culture confirming Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The clinical significance is that tuberculosis can masquerade as cardiac sarcoidosis in ventricular arrhythmia presentations, so microbiologic confirmation is crucial before or alongside immunosuppression.
Subira-Ingla A, Francisco-Pascual J, Santos-Ortega A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI Biomarkers and Risk Stratification in Heart Failure
Role of dyssynchrony in short-term left ventricular systolic function after iron repletion in patients with heart failure.
This subanalysis of the Myocardial-IRON trial studied whether intravenous iron repletion with ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) affects short-term left ventricular systolic function via changes in mechanical dyssynchrony in heart failure patients with LVEF <50% and iron deficiency. It assessed the longitudinal systolic dyssynchrony index (L-SDI) derived from cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) and examined its relationship to the short-term response after iron repletion. The clinical significance is clarifying a potential mechanism for iron’s benefit in HF—namely improved dyssynchrony and/or enhanced responsiveness to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).
Del Canto I, Miñana G, Cardells I et al. · Communications medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance-derived left atrioventricular coupling index predicts outcome in reduced ejection fraction.
This multicenter DERIVATE registry analysis evaluated whether a cardiac magnetic resonance-derived left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI)—the ratio of left atrial to left ventricular end-diastolic volumes—predicts outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF <50%). The key finding is that higher or altered CMR-derived LACI was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart-failure-related outcomes in multivariable Cox models. Clinically, LACI may serve as a practical CMR biomarker for risk stratification in reduced-EF heart failure.
Guglielmo M, Fedele D, Bergamaschi L et al. · ESC heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Characterisation of Incident Heart Failure after Ischaemic Stroke/Transient Ischaemic Attack: A UK Biobank Study.
This prospective UK Biobank cohort study (ages 40–69; n=405,406) characterized incident heart failure (HF) risk after ischaemic stroke/TIA and related it to all-cause mortality and CMR findings, excluding participants with prior HF. Incident HF was assessed via hospital admissions coded for HF, and the study quantified how stroke/TIA history stratified subsequent HF risk and associated outcomes. Clinically, the results refine post-stroke/TIA surveillance and risk prediction and help link incident HF to underlying cardiac remodeling patterns detectable by CMR.
Muthalaly RG, Nerlekar N, Tan S et al. · ESC heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 study examined how aging affects left ventricular (LV) diastolic function using 4D flow MRI-derived metrics—specifically mitral inflow velocity and propagation velocity (VP)—and compared them with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in 60 healthy volunteers aged 20–80 years. The key finding is that diastolic filling parameters derived from 4D-flow MRI can characterize age-related changes in LV filling dynamics, using measurements analogous to TTE-derived early (E) and atrial (A) mitral inflow velocities and propagation behavior. Scientifically, it supports 4D-flow MRI as a noninvasive, physiology-focused alternative for studying diastolic function across the adult lifespan.
Stipechi LV, Craiem D, Gencer U et al. · Physiological measurement · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
A study on the correlation between cardiac magnetic resonance characteristics and myocardial fibrosis in overweight and obese individuals.
This BMC Medical Imaging study investigated how cardiac MRI characteristics relate to myocardial fibrosis in 192 adults stratified by BMI into normal weight (n=77), overweight (n=37), and obesity (n=78). Using CMR measures including myocardial strain and epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV), the study evaluated whether these parameters differed by weight category and whether they predicted myocardial fibrosis defined by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) positivity. The clinical significance is that CMR biomarkers linking obesity-related cardiac remodeling (including EATV and strain) to LGE-detected fibrosis could support earlier risk stratification for subclinical myocardial damage.
Liu L, Yao Y, Yu H et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 evaluated whether pericardial fat volume measured by cardiac MRI predicts incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in 39,125 participants. Using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan–Meier curves, it related mean estimate pericardial fat area (MEPFA) to future T2DM and MACE outcomes over a median follow-up of 55 months (343 T2DM and 1,894 MACE events). The scientific significance is that it tests a mechanistic cardiometabolic risk marker—pericardial adiposity—using CMR in a large prospective population.
Hu F, Wang J, Zeng X et al. · Nutrition & metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI Biomarkers in Arrhythmia Risk (Including MVP)
Malignant Mitral Valve Prolapse With Life-Threatening Ventricular Arrhythmias: A Multidisciplinary Team-Guided Stepwise Management.
This case report studied a 45-year-old woman with bileaflet myxomatous mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and mitral annular disjunction who developed malignant ventricular arrhythmias despite only mild mitral regurgitation and no detectable myocardial fibrosis on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. It found that she experienced recurrent ventricular fibrillation and multiple ICD shocks despite medical therapy, prompting a multidisciplinary stepwise management approach and raising the question of how electrical and mechanical risk markers can identify imminent sudden cardiac risk even without severe MR or CMR-detected fibrosis. The clinical significance is that “malignant” arrhythmogenic MVP can be present with subtle structural findings, so risk stratification should integrate multiple electrical/mechanical markers rather than relying solely on MR severity or CMR fibrosis.
Javadi N, Jahangir A, Galazka P et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Atrial Cardiomyopathy: A Cardiologist’s Guide to Stroke, Heart Failure, and Arrhythmias.
This narrative review synthesized evidence on atrial cardiomyopathy as a unifying framework for atrial structural, architectural, contractile, and electrophysiological abnormalities in relation to stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias. It reports that atrial cardiomyopathy often precedes atrial fibrillation (AF) and independently contributes to adverse outcomes including ischemic stroke and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The clinical significance is that recognizing atrial cardiomyopathy may shift risk stratification and prevention strategies beyond AF alone.
Niazi M, Akram MB, Chaudhary AS et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Prediction of Arrhythmic Events in Mitral Valve Prolapse: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed whether key cardiac MRI biomarkers predict arrhythmic events in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), mitral annular disjunction (MAD), and systolic curling. Across 15 studies totaling 1,994 MVP patients, all three biomarkers were significantly associated with increased arrhythmic risk (pooled relative risks ~1.5–1.8), and the review also aimed to characterize clinical/imaging features of patients with LGE. The findings are clinically important because they support using specific CMR markers to refine arrhythmia risk stratification and guide management in MVP.
Papanastasiou CA, Kampaktsis PN, Papalamprakopoulou Z et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Coronary Artery Disease: Anatomy–Physiology Integration and Testing Strategies
Repositioning of exercise treadmill testing in contemporary chest pain management.
This narrative review reassessed the role of exercise treadmill testing (ETT) in contemporary chest pain management in the context of imaging-led strategies such as coronary CT angiography (CTCA) and stress imaging (CMR or stress echocardiography). It finds that although ETT has lower diagnostic accuracy for obstructive coronary artery disease than contemporary imaging, it still provides clinically useful prognostic/functional information and may remain valuable depending on cost, resources, and guideline positioning. The significance is a clearer “where ETT fits” framework for selecting the most appropriate test in modern chest pain pathways.
Xue X, Bai Y, Li H et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and INOCA/CMD Therapeutics
Randomized Controlled Trial of Vericiguat in Patients with Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction causing Stable Chest Pain (V-COM): Study Protocol for a Randomised Control Trial.
This study protocol describes a randomized controlled trial (V-COM) evaluating vericiguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, in patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) causing stable chest pain. The trial uses quantitative stress CMR to measure stress myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) as key physiological endpoints. Scientifically, it tests whether vericiguat can improve CMR-measured microvascular perfusion in INOCA/CMD populations where effective therapies are limited.
Lo CK, Ip NH, Sin TH et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Exercise, Endurance, and Acute Cardiac Stress
From Healthy to Heart Failure in 24 Hours: Defining the upper limit of exercise induced cardiac fatigue.
This study examined cardiac consequences of 12-hour and 24-hour intense cycling in a single former professional ultra-endurance athlete (age 41–42) using echocardiography, rest and exercise cardiac MRI (CMR), and biomarkers including BNP and cardiac troponin-I. After the 12-hour attempt the athlete was physically exhausted but showed no significant cardiac injury, while the 24-hour attempt defined an upper limit of exercise-induced cardiac fatigue with measurable cardiac changes over time. These findings provide mechanistic context for how extreme endurance exercise may transiently stress cardiac structure/function and biomarker pathways, informing risk assessment for athletes undertaking ultra-endurance events.
Foulkes SJ, Anderson M, Janssens K et al. · Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Imaging for Rare Cardiac Conditions (Congenital, Metastasis, Fistulas, Shunts)
Giant Postischemic Left Ventricular Aneurysm Without Q Waves: Multimodality Imaging-Guided Surgery.
This JACC Case Reports article studied a 55-year-old woman with inferolateral myocardial infarction who developed a giant postischemic left ventricular aneurysm without diagnostic Q waves. Despite absent pathological Q waves on serial ECGs, multimodality imaging showed progressive left ventricular remodeling with aneurysmal evolution and mural thrombus formation, guiding successful surgical management. The clinical significance is that left ventricular aneurysm can occur without classic ECG changes, so multimodality imaging is crucial when symptoms and remodeling suggest aneurysm despite “nonclassic” ECG findings.
Gaido L, Attisani M, Scalini F et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Rapid Onset of Iron Overload Cardiomyopathy in Cirrhosis.
This JACC Case Reports report described two patients with cirrhosis who developed iron overload cardiomyopathy (IOC) without hereditary hemochromatosis or transfusion-dependent anemia. The key finding is that severe cardiomyopathy emerged in this setting despite the absence of classic IOC risk factors, with one patient showing a marked decline in left ventricular ejection fraction over about a year. The clinical significance is that clinicians should consider IOC in cirrhosis patients presenting with new cardiomyopathy, even when transfusion history and hereditary hemochromatosis are absent.
Nouraee CM, Swain WH, Harmon DM et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right Ventricular Metastasis From Rectal Cancer Recurrence.
This case report evaluated a 55-year-old man with previously treated rectal adenocarcinoma and rising carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) but no local recurrence on colonoscopy, in whom multimodality imaging identified a right ventricular metastasis. Cardiac MRI showed a 36×48 mm lesion arising from the right ventricular free wall with endoluminal growth and late enhancement, and diagnosis was pursued using intracardiac echocardiography-guided endomyocardial biopsy. Scientifically and clinically, it underscores the role of advanced cardiac imaging and targeted biopsy in diagnosing rare cardiac metastases when extracardiac dissemination is absent.
Vilela M, Cazeiro D, Ferreira D et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Inferior Vena Cava Stenosis Mimicking Right Heart Failure in Carcinoid Heart Disease.
This report described two patients with advanced carcinoid heart disease in whom serotonin-mediated fibrosis extended beyond right-sided valves to the vascular endothelium, causing inferior vena cava (IVC) stenosis that mimicked right heart failure. The key finding was venous outflow obstruction from carcinoid-related fibrosis producing a decompensation phenotype indistinguishable from primary cardiac failure. The cases emphasize that in carcinoid heart disease, persistent right-sided failure symptoms should prompt evaluation for venous outflow obstruction as a potentially treatable mechanism.
Vila-Sanjuán S, Vallejo N, Martí-Aguasca G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Bilateral Coronary Artery-to-Pulmonary Artery Fistula Treated Using Minimally Invasive Coils and Vascular Embolization Devices.
This case report studied a 44-year-old woman with bilateral coronary artery-to-pulmonary artery fistulas (CAPF) causing exertional dyspnea, assessed with cardiac CT and stress CMR showing myocardial ischemia despite a near-normal Qp/Qs ratio (1.08). Treatment used minimally invasive endovascular embolization with a pulmonary artery-side vascular occlusion device followed by coil embolization of coronary inflow sites. The report supports a technique-driven interventional strategy for symptomatic CAPF with ischemia, using combined imaging to guide targeted closure.
Takagi R, Irita J, Akazawa Y et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Flow-Driven Right-to-Left Shunting Through the Patent Foramen Ovale Causing Hypoxemia and Embolism in a Partial Uhl Anomaly.
This JACC Case Reports report described a 49-year-old woman with partial Uhl anomaly who developed progressive dyspnea and had a prior ischemic stroke, with multimodality imaging showing right ventricular thinning, global systolic dysfunction, and torrential functional tricuspid regurgitation. The key finding was that, despite normal right-sided pressures, a permanent right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale caused hypoxemia and embolism, driven predominantly by flow redirection mechanisms. The clinical significance is that in rare congenital right-sided disorders, non-pressure-dependent shunting via PFO can be a critical, treatable cause of hypoxemia and embolic events.
Laboratto LE, Vannoni G, Nieto G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI/CT in Diagnostic Pathways for Chest Pain Mimics
Unexplained Supraventricular Tachycardia and Myocardial Injury After Bitter Orange Supplement Use in a Young Woman.
This case report studied a 38-year-old woman who developed unexplained supraventricular tachycardia and myocardial injury after using a bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) weight-loss supplement containing p-synephrine. After 1 week of use, she presented with palpitations and atypical chest pain, had supraventricular tachycardia responsive to 6 mg IV adenosine, and showed a marked rise in high-sensitivity troponin I (17.9 to 1,395.7 ng/L) with echocardiography unremarkable and pulmonary embolism excluded by CT pulmonary angiography. The clinical significance is that sympathomimetic supplements like p-synephrine can precipitate arrhythmia and myocardial injury, warranting careful medication/supplement history and prompt cardiac evaluation.
Plaitis A, Grigoraki E, Karakosta M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Epicardial Fat Necrosis as a Rare Cause of Chest Pain: Peeling Back the Layers.
These case reports described two patients with acute severe, left-sided pleuritic chest pain ultimately diagnosed with epicardial fat necrosis (EFN) using chest CT imaging and laboratory testing (elevated D-dimer and CRP with normal troponin). EFN resolved with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy alongside imaging resolution, distinguishing it from myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and pericarditis mimics. The report highlights a practical diagnostic pathway to avoid unnecessary invasive or thrombolytic/antithrombotic escalation when EFN is suspected.
Da Silva E, Chow B, Paterson DI et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI AI/Computational Methods and Synthetic Imaging
CardioSynth: Parameter-driven cardiac MRI generation via oriented bounding boxes.
This study developed CardioSynth, a parameter-driven synthetic cardiac MRI generation framework using oriented bounding boxes to control cardiac substructure areas. It found that encoding cardiac substructures as oriented bounding boxes enables structured shape manipulation while preserving anatomical plausibility, supporting progressive label modification for realistic synthetic outputs. The clinical/scientific significance is enabling more feasible, controllable cardiac MRI simulation for research and potentially for training/monitoring workflows without repeated costly scans.
Banerjee S, Mazumder O, Sinha A · Computer methods and programs in biomedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Radiomics with native T1 mapping for contrast-free detection of acute and chronic myocardial infarction: A multicenter study.
This multicenter retrospective study evaluated native T1 mapping–based radiomics models for contrast-free detection of myocardial infarction (MI) and differentiation of acute versus chronic MI. Using 3.0T CMR native T1 mapping and LGE, it analyzed 310 MI patients (162 acute, 148 chronic) and 180 controls and developed two radiomics models (diagnosis and acute/chronic differentiation) with external validation for the acute/chronic model. The significance is that contrast-free CMR radiomics from native T1 mapping could improve MI characterization while reducing reliance on gadolinium-based contrast.
Li S, Huo H, Zheng Y et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Development and validation of a versatile foundation model for cine cardiac magnetic resonance image analysis.
This study developed and validated CineMA, a multi-view conv-transformer masked autoencoder foundation model for cine cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) image analysis, trained on 15 million cine CMR images from 74,916 studies. The key finding is that the foundation model can be fine-tuned across eight independent datasets to perform tasks such as segmentation and landmark localization with improved efficiency compared with task-specific models trained from scratch. Scientifically, this provides a scalable approach to reduce labeling burden and improve reproducibility for CMR measurement extraction.
Fu Y, Bai W, Yi W et al. · Communications medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Glass-box agentic-style workflow for multiclass cine cardiac magnetic resonance imaging classification with a large language model.
The study developed and evaluated a glass-box, agentic-style radiology workflow using a large language model (GPT-OSS-120B) to classify five diagnostic classes on cine cardiac MRI (bSSFP) in the Automated Cardiac Diagnosis Challenge training cohort (n=100). It segmented end-diastole and end-systole cine images with pretrained nnU-Net, extracted 17 interpretable biomarkers, and used the LLM to generate auditable narrative explanations with quantified accuracy/robustness across decoding temperatures and fidelity/safety of explanations. This approach aims to improve multiclass cardiac MRI decision-making by separating perception from reasoning and providing traceable, clinically interpretable outputs rather than opaque “black-box” predictions.
Mese I, Kocak B · Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical Trials, Therapeutics, and Health-System/Training/Workflow Innovations
High-precision brain tumor segmentation with switchable normalization in faster R-CNN architecture.
This study investigated a Switchable Normalization-based Faster R-CNN (SNFRC) architecture for high-precision brain tumor segmentation from multimodal MRI. It found that incorporating switchable normalization into the region proposal network (RPN) improves feature consistency across heterogeneous imaging distributions and that a detection-based segmentation strategy with a composite loss (including Dice loss) improves localization and pixel-wise masking of irregular small tumors. The scientific significance is more robust automated tumor segmentation across variable MRI protocols and intensity patterns.
Kumar DR, Reddy PV, Mohammad H et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Canadian radiology: 2026 update.
This Canadian radiology update summarized selected research and practice developments across radiology subspecialties in Canada, including cardiothoracic imaging. It reports notable contributions in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and broader cardiovascular imaging workflows, alongside updates such as approaches to contrast media hypersensitivity and disease-specific guidance in abdominal imaging. The significance is that it provides an evidence-informed snapshot of evolving imaging techniques and system-level practices relevant to clinical care.
Kamran R, Buckley B, Costa AF et al. · Diagnostic and interventional imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Dissecting the pathobiology of suspected sepsis through a comparative analysis of endothelial inflammatory and clinical prediction models.
This prospective comparative analysis enrolled suspected sepsis patients from emergency departments across three teaching hospitals to evaluate whether endothelial inflammation biomarkers improve prediction of persistent vasopressor dependence and acute kidney injury (AKI) beyond standard clinical models. The study directly compared biomarker-based prediction models representing endothelial dysfunction/inflammation pathways against models using routine clinical data. Clinically, it aims to refine risk stratification in sepsis by identifying whether mechanistically relevant biomarkers add incremental predictive value for major outcomes.
Ningthoujam AS, Thiyagarajan G, Wani NA et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pharmacological treatments for Friedreich ataxia.
This Cochrane systematic review evaluated pharmacological treatments for Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) in people with the autosomal recessive FXN-related neurodegenerative disorder. The review concludes that, despite extensive investigation, there is no easily defined clinical/biochemical marker and no consistently proven drug therapy that clearly improves key outcomes such as progression to wheelchair dependency or major complications (notably cardiomyopathy). Clinically, this highlights the need for better outcome measures and more effective, mechanism-targeted trials to reduce morbidity and premature death in FRDA.
Lyons S, Kearney M, Fahey MC et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Navigating the Zero Fluoroscopy Frontier: Current Tools, Evidence and Future Directions in Electrophysiology Procedures.
This 2026 review assessed current tools and evidence for zero-fluoroscopy (ZF) strategies in electrophysiology (EP) ablation procedures, focusing on radiation-reduction technologies used by EP teams. It finds that multiple ZF modalities—such as electroanatomic mapping systems, transesophageal/intracardiac echocardiography, visualizable sheaths, contact-force sensing catheters, integration of preprocedural advanced cardiac imaging, and real-time cardiac MRI guidance—have accumulating evidence supporting ZF protocols. The significance is that ZF workflows can reduce radiation exposure for both patients and operators while maintaining procedural guidance quality.
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 narrative review studied how training and credentialing frameworks for robotic general surgery have evolved relative to the rapid expansion of robotic platforms across general surgery. It finds substantial variability in access to training, definitions of competency/proficiency, assessment standards, and institutional credentialing practices, raising concerns about patient safety, equity, and workforce readiness. The significance is that standardized, evidence-informed credentialing and competency assessment models are needed to match the learning curve and ensure safe adoption of robotic surgery.
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 survey-based study mapped cardiology training and credentialing pathways across the Asia-Pacific region using a 42-item online questionnaire completed by credentialed cardiologists representing 23 regions. The key finding is that while all regions require specialist qualification to practise cardiology, there is marked heterogeneity in training pathways (with most regions using a single pathway and others using multiple pathways). The significance is that these mapped disparities can inform harmonized cardiology curricula development and credentialing reforms across the region.
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 examined chelation management in 167 transfused infants and toddlers with Diamond-Blackfan anemia syndrome (DBAS), focusing on whether chelation was initiated before age 3 and the use of deferasirox. Among screened patients, 64 (38%) started chelation before age 3 (median 18 months), with initiation typically driven by serum ferritin ≥500 ng/mL (median 1340 ng/mL) and >10 transfusions, and the abstract indicates deferasirox as the predominant chelator. The findings are clinically significant because they address an evidence gap in very young DBAS patients by characterizing early iron-overload management and supporting safer, earlier chelation strategies to prevent severe iron accumulation.
Torchio F, Lecalvez B, Garelli E et al. · American journal of hematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cancer type-specific variation in patterns of driver alterations across 50,000 tumors.
This large-scale pan-cancer analysis studied somatic driver alterations across 54,331 tumors from 48,179 patients spanning 448 histological cancer subtypes to characterize cancer type-specific patterns, including 164 newly identified driver hotspots. It found that one-third of drivers occur in non-canonical genomic contexts and show distinct properties such as increased subclonality, later emergence, and divergent biology, with cancer-type-specific co-occurrence patterns (including gene fusions). These results are scientifically important because they refine how driver genes are interpreted by tissue context, improving the biological understanding and potentially the clinical classification of tumors.
Bandlamudi C, Muldoon D, de Bruijn I et al. · Cancer cell · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Rationale and Design of CARDIO-TTRansform, a Phase 3 Trial of Eplontersen in Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy.
This article describes the rationale and design of the Phase 3 CARDIO-TTRansform trial testing eplontersen in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. The study will randomize, double-blind, placebo-controlled participants with transthyretin amyloidosis and cardiomyopathy to receive eplontersen, an N-acetylgalactosamine ligand-conjugated antisense oligonucleotide targeting hepatocyte TTR mRNA to reduce circulating TTR, with eligibility based on amyloid confirmation (histology or grade 2–3 cardiac uptake on scintigraphy) and absence of plasma cell involvement. The significance lies in establishing a definitive clinical evaluation of a targeted RNA-silencing therapy aimed at modifying disease biology in a progressive, fatal condition.
Masri A, Cappelli F, Davis MK et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pathways between climate change and HIV health in rural Kenya: a qualitative analysis.
This qualitative study explored pathways linking climate change to HIV health in rural Kenya by interviewing 40 people living with HIV (PLHIV) enrolled in a cluster randomized clinical trial. Using in-depth semi-structured interviews, the authors examined how participants perceived and experienced mechanisms by which extreme weather events affect health among PLHIV receiving ART for more than 6 months, with additional vulnerabilities such as moderate-to-severe food insecurity and smallholder farming. The significance is public-health oriented: it provides context-specific evidence to inform interventions that integrate climate resilience with HIV care delivery.
Nicastro TM, Odhiambo G, Jawuoro S et al. · Scientific reports · (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 studied whether an integrative polygenic score (iPGS) can identify older adults who may benefit from daily 100-mg aspirin for primary prevention of ischemic stroke. Using genotyped participants from the ASPREE randomized placebo-controlled trial (12,031 European-ancestry participants aged >70 years without prior cardiovascular disease), the study evaluated the iPGS derived from >1.2 million variants to stratify aspirin net benefit. The clinical significance is that polygenic risk stratification could potentially personalize aspirin use in older adults by targeting those most likely to gain benefit while minimizing bleeding-related harm.
Yu C, Hussain SM, Fransquet PD et al. · Stroke · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Generated automatically on May 15, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published May 08, 2026 – May 15, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.