What's New in Cardiac MRI? — June 11, 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?
June 11, 2026 · 51 articles · 15 research themes · covering June 04, 2026 – June 11, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of papers, a dominant theme is the expanding role of CMR (and related imaging) as a precision tool for risk stratification—moving beyond single “headline” measures like ejection fraction. Multiple studies and reviews emphasize how advanced CMR metrics (tissue characterization, mapping reference ranges, hemodynamic staging, and atrial/ventricular coupling indices) can reveal clinically meaningful disease biology earlier or more specifically. Examples include stress perfusion CMR prognostic value despite preserved LVEF, CMR-based left atrial parameters for diastolic dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, MRI-wedge/PBVi staging for congestion phenotypes, and the prognostic utility of LV stroke volume indexed in Takotsubo syndrome.
A second major thread is “phenotype-guided” management—using imaging to distinguish mechanisms that look similar clinically but differ in prognosis and treatment. This includes endotype-informed therapy concepts in ANOCA, noninvasive approaches to coronary microvascular dysfunction, and CMR characterization of inflammatory or toxic cardiomyopathies (e.g., hydroxychloroquine cardiotoxicity mimicking myocarditis, Chagas cardiomyopathy imaging phenotypes, and vasculitic/EGPA cardiac presentations with reversible inflammation versus irreversible fibrosis). Several case reports further reinforce that rare etiologies (thymoma, thymic/immune triggers, hydatid disease, congenital shunt mechanisms, and unusual atrial anatomy) can be clarified through multimodality imaging—often changing urgent management decisions.
Finally, the digest highlights a parallel push toward standardization and automation—both in imaging workflows and in computational methods. Prospective trials and feasibility studies address automated free-breathing CMR, motion correction for earlier fetal CMR, and contactless optical gating to improve scan reliability. Complementing this, AI-focused work targets reproducible right ventricular assessment and robust machine-learning approaches under noisy/open-set conditions. Together, these efforts aim to make advanced cardiovascular phenotyping more scalable, reproducible, and clinically actionable.
Cardiac Arrhythmias & Electrophysiology
Sinus Node Dysfunction in Takotsubo Syndrome: An Uncommon Presentation.
This JACC Case Reports article described a 68-year-old patient with Takotsubo syndrome who developed sinus node dysfunction (SND), an uncommon conduction complication. After coronary angiography excluded obstructive coronary disease and cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed stress cardiomyopathy, the key finding was that SND persisted even after complete recovery of left ventricular systolic function, necessitating a permanent pacemaker. The report is clinically significant because it alerts clinicians to the possibility of persistent conduction system injury in Takotsubo patients, guiding monitoring and device decision-making.
Zakynthinos GE, Kalogeras K, Vlachojannis GJ et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Wide Complex Tachycardia of Uncertain Origin: Demonstration of Atrioventricular Dissociation by Doppler Echocardiography.
This JACC Case Reports article described a 72-year-old woman with unstable wide complex tachycardia (WCT) of uncertain origin in whom Doppler echocardiography demonstrated atrioventricular dissociation. The key finding was that Doppler echocardiography provided diagnostic evidence of AV dissociation, helping clarify the arrhythmia mechanism when initial cardioversion and medication strategies were limited by comorbidities and stroke risk. The case illustrates how Doppler echocardiography can be a practical bedside technique to refine rhythm diagnosis in complex WCT presentations.
Khattab A, Timmerman C, Kee A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Treatment of Premature Ventricular Contractions: A Review of Medical Therapy, Catheter Ablation, and Emerging Treatments.
This review studied the clinical significance and management options for premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in patients with or without structural heart disease, focusing on diagnostic evaluation and treatment strategies. It found that PVCs range from benign, asymptomatic ectopy to causes of symptoms, PVC-induced cardiomyopathy, and potential malignant ventricular arrhythmias, with risk determined by symptom burden, PVC burden/frequency, ventricular function, and underlying myocardial disease. Clinically, the review supports a stepwise approach using ECG, ambulatory rhythm monitoring, echocardiography, exercise testing, and cardiac MRI for characterization, followed by medical therapy, catheter ablation, and emerging treatments when indicated.
Elattar S, Hodhod A, Basha NR et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI (CMR) Biomarkers & Tissue Characterization
Clinical significance of incidental pericardial late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance.
This retrospective single-center study in International Journal of Cardiology assessed the clinical significance of incidental pericardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) detected on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) performed for non-pericardial indications. Patients with incidental pericardial LGE were compared with controls without LGE to determine whether this finding reflects persistent subclinical pericardial inflammation and predicts adverse outcomes. The key scientific implication is that incidental pericardial LGE may carry prognostic value beyond the usual interpretation as active inflammation, potentially refining how radiologists and cardiologists counsel and risk-stratify patients.
Lepre V, Moretto N, De Martino M et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Field Strength Dependence, Physiologic Correlates, and Prognostic Significance of Ventricular Blood Pool T2 Mapping on Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
This retrospective study assessed determinants and prognostic significance of right-to-left ventricular blood pool T2 mapping on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in adults undergoing CMR for cardiomyopathy at 1.5T or 3T, plus healthy controls. It measured RV and LV blood pool T2 on mid-ventricular short-axis T2 maps, calculated the RV/LV blood pool T2 ratio, and derived field-strength-specific cut-points to predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE). The findings are significant because they indicate that blood-pool T2 (and its field-strength dependence) meaningfully influences interpretation and prognostic use of CMR T2 mapping.
Iarovich MD, Ibrahim F, Matos JF et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Reference Ranges for Myocardial Native T1, T2, and Extracellular Volume at 5.0T Cardiac MRI in Healthy Adults.
This prospective study established reference ranges for myocardial native T1, T2, and extracellular volume (ECV) using 5.0T cardiac MRI in 181 healthy Chinese adults aged 20–80 years. The key finding was the generation of normal baseline values for left ventricular T1 and T2 mapping and ECV at 5.0T, using a motion-compensated mapping approach. These reference ranges enable more accurate interpretation of myocardial mapping results and support clinical adoption of 5.0T CMR for detecting subtle myocardial disease.
Wang S, Qian X, Wu Y et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR in Ischemia, Acute Coronary Syndromes & Microvascular Disease
Myocardial salvage and functional recovery prediction: T1 rho vs conventional CMR in acute myocardial infarction.
This prospective study in 60 reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients assessed whether T1 rho–based CMR improves prediction of myocardial salvage and convalescent functional recovery compared with conventional CMR. Using cine imaging, T1 rho, T1/T2 mapping, T2-weighted STIR, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), the study found that T1 rho could detect edema-defined area at risk (AAR) and infarcted myocardium and was used to predict adverse left ventricular remodeling at 3 months. These results suggest T1 rho may provide a more informative or practical CMR marker for forecasting recovery after AMI, potentially improving post-PCI risk stratification.
Guo M, Qian Y, Wu C et al. · Magnetic resonance imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Prognostic value of stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease and supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction.
This cohort study evaluated prognostic value of stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in adults (≥18 years) with known or suspected coronary artery disease who had supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥65%) on CMR. Patients were stratified by stress perfusion CMR findings (grouping details truncated in the abstract), and the study found that stress perfusion CMR provided prognostic discrimination despite supranormal LVEF. Clinically, this supports using stress perfusion CMR to risk-stratify patients with preserved/supranormal LVEF rather than relying on LVEF alone.
Pakdeesrisakda K, Kaolawanich Y · Open heart · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with acute myocardial infarction: The added clinical value.
This article reviewed the added clinical value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), focusing on infarct and microvascular characterization. It highlights that CMR can quantify infarct size and ischemic area at risk and detect microvascular obstruction and intramyocardial hemorrhage, with parametric mapping (native T1, T2, T2*, and extracellular volume) and late gadolinium enhancement providing prognostic information beyond ejection fraction and volumes. These capabilities support CMR as a comprehensive noninvasive tool for risk stratification and for understanding mechanisms of adverse left ventricular remodeling after AMI.
Alberti M, Faggioni L, Cioni D et al. · Vascular pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CMR for Structural Heart Disease Phenotyping & Risk Stratification
Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index in Health and Disease: A Longitudinal Multicohort Analysis.
This Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance longitudinal multicohort analysis investigated the Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index (LACI)—the ratio of left atrial (LA) to left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume (EDV)—across health and disease. The study leveraged two large datasets to define population-specific reference thresholds and evaluate how LACI relates to cardiac structure/function and whether it adds incremental predictive value beyond established clinical and imaging markers. The clinical significance is that LACI could become a more standardized imaging biomarker for LA–LV coupling, enabling improved risk prediction and monitoring once validated thresholds are adopted.
Roy R, Salatzki J, Szabo L et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CMR-Derived Left Atrial Parameters for Assessing Diastolic Dysfunction and Prognosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
This dual-center study evaluated whether CMR-derived left atrial (LA) parameters can diagnose guideline-defined left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and predict outcomes in 248 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients versus 70 controls. Patients were stratified by echocardiography into normal left atrial pressure (LAP) (normal/Grade I LVDD) versus elevated LAP (Grade ≥ II LVDD), and the study assessed volumetric and other CMR LA metrics for diagnostic and prognostic performance. If CMR LA parameters reliably reflect elevated LAP, they could improve noninvasive LVDD assessment and risk stratification in HCM where CMR lacks routine guideline valvular hemodynamic parameters.
Liao W, Zhong J, Tang W et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Heart Failure Phenotypes, Hemodynamics & Congestion
MRI staging of haemodynamic congestion and clinical outcomes.
This European radiology study evaluated whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)–derived left ventricular filling pressure (MRI-wedge) and pulmonary blood volume index (PBVi), measured using left-atrial volume/left-ventricular mass and first-pass transit analysis, predict clinical outcomes in patients with suspected hemodynamic congestion. Patients were stratified into four MRI hemodynamic stages (normal profile, isolated volume overload, isolated pressure overload, combined overload), and the key finding was the prognostic association of these MRI hemodynamic phenotypes with outcomes and their relationship to non-invasive markers of myocardial fibrosis. Clinically, MRI-wedge and PBVi staging could improve risk stratification in heart failure by identifying pressure/volume congestion patterns that may reflect underlying fibrotic remodeling.
Mantini C, Sorella A, Falco D et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Valvular Heart Disease & Remodeling
Impact of Concomitant Mitral Regurgitation in Moderate Aortic Stenosis: Assessment of Remodeling and Clinical Outcomes.
This CMR-based observational study included 742 patients with at least moderate aortic stenosis (422 moderate AS and 320 severe AS) to test how concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) burden affects cardiac remodeling and clinical outcomes, compared with isolated AS severity groups. Concomitant MR in moderate aortic stenosis was associated with worse remodeling and poorer clinical outcomes than moderate AS without significant MR, and outcomes approached those seen in severe AS depending on MR burden. The findings support incorporating MR severity into risk stratification and management decisions for patients with moderate aortic stenosis.
Gabr EM, Xiao M, Saeed M et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardio-Oncology & Cancer-Related Cardiovascular Risk
Relative importance of weight gain among cardiometabolic risk factors in the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: An observational study using large-scale health examination data.
This retrospective cohort study of 7,687 individuals without steatotic liver disease used large-scale health examination data to determine how weight gain—particularly BMI and waist circumference changes—contributes to incident metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) over 5 years. Weight gain-related obesity indices (BMI and waist circumference) showed a relatively greater contribution to developing MASLD than other cardiometabolic risk factors, and the study identified a threshold of weight gain associated with increased MASLD risk. These results emphasize that monitoring and preventing clinically meaningful weight gain may be a key strategy to reduce MASLD incidence.
Sahara K, Yokoyama S, Ito T et al. · Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The association between current CD4 counts and subclinical myocardial injury by cardiac magnetic resonance in HIV: independence from cardiovascular risk factors.
This prospective study enrolled 98 people with HIV (PWH) without known cardiovascular disease and 91 Framingham Risk Score-matched non-HIV controls to test whether immune status relates to subclinical myocardial injury on CMR independent of cardiovascular risk factors. In PWH, current CD4+ T-cell counts showed an association with CMR measures of myocardial injury (including native T1/T2 mapping, extracellular volume fraction [ECV], and late gadolinium enhancement [LGE]) independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The results suggest that immune status and/or HIV-related biology may contribute to early myocardial damage detectable by CMR, with implications for cardiovascular risk monitoring in treated HIV.
Gan Y, Zhan Y, Zhang R et al. · AIDS (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Association of Subclinical Cardiac Remodeling With Incident Cancer in the MESA Cohort.
This analysis in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging measures of subclinical cardiac remodeling to evaluate associations with incident cancer. Subclinical remodeling indices derived from CMR were linked to higher risk of developing cancer during follow-up in multivariable Cox models. These data extend the concept of shared pathophysiology between cardiovascular remodeling and malignancy risk and support CMR-based phenotyping as a potential early marker.
Cai X, White Q, Juarez J et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Ovarian Endometrioid Carcinoma Presenting With Presumed Right Ventricular Intracardiac Metastasis and Superimposed Thrombus: A Rare Manifestation of Gynecologic Malignancy.
This case report described a 69-year-old woman with FIGO grade 3 endometrioid ovarian carcinoma who presented with a presumed right ventricular intracardiac metastasis and superimposed thrombus. Imaging raised concern for a right ventricular mass with thrombus, and the clinical course highlighted an exceedingly rare pattern of gynecologic malignancy involving the right ventricle. The report is significant because it underscores the need to consider cardiac metastasis and thrombosis in patients with gynecologic cancers and intracardiac masses.
Memon M · Cureus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in heart failure and myeloproliferative neoplasms: clinical applications and risk scores - a narrative review.
This narrative review summarizes diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for heart failure (HF) in patients with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), focusing on cardio-oncology risk assessment. It reports that thrombo-inflammatory biology, clonal hematopoiesis, and cancer therapies converge to accelerate cardiovascular damage, and it discusses how current HF risk models often omit MPN-specific variables. The clinical significance is that it frames biomarker- and imaging-informed risk scores as a pathway to better identify and manage HF risk in this high-risk cancer population.
Muraretu IR, Gurghean AL, Gradinaru A et al. · Cardio-oncology (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Inflammatory & Infectious Cardiomyopathies
Amazonian toxoplasmosis complicated by severe hypoxemic pneumonia and myopericarditis in an immunocompetent adult.
This BMC Infectious Diseases case report describes Amazonian toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent adult presenting with severe hypoxemic pneumonia and documented myopericarditis. The authors highlight that cardiac involvement is exceptionally rare and may be underdiagnosed because early symptoms are nonspecific and cardiac findings can be clinically silent. The case underscores the importance of considering toxoplasmosis and evaluating for myopericarditis when compatible pulmonary disease occurs in endemic settings.
Fréville B, Herrebrecht C, Samawak C et al. · BMC infectious diseases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Isolated Cardiac Hydatid Disease Presenting as Ventricular Remodeling and Tamponade.
This JACC Case Reports article presented a 16-year-old woman with isolated cardiac hydatid (Echinococcus) disease manifesting as ventricular remodeling and cardiac tamponade. Multimodality imaging showed a large intact pericardial hydatid cyst with adjacent myocardial thinning, concentric hypertrophy of uninvolved LV segments, active pericarditis, and tamponade physiology, and the key finding was the presence of free-floating laminated membranes in the pericardial space at surgery. The report underscores that echinococcal cardiac involvement can present with life-threatening tamponade and secondary myocardial changes, emphasizing the need for prompt recognition and surgical/infectious management.
Yousuf Q, Rashid A, Choh NA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Echinococcosis: Rare and Challenging Presentations-A Case Series.
This retrospective case series reviewed five patients with cardiac echinococcosis (hydatid cysts) presenting with varied symptoms between 2009 and 2024, including chest pain, lumbalgia, abdominal pain, and an asymptomatic case. While initial work-up used X-ray or transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed the diagnosis in all cases and characterized cyst locations across myocardial and epicardial layers, the interventricular septum, and the right atrium. The series is significant for endemic-region clinicians because it emphasizes CMR’s diagnostic value for rare cardiac cystic masses and supports early consideration of echinococcosis in the differential.
Delibaş D, Soylu BG, Yumak T et al. · Journal of clinical ultrasound : JCU · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac imaging in Chagas cardiomyopathy for phenotypic characterisation and risk stratification.
This review article summarizes how cardiac imaging is used to characterize phenotypes and stratify risk in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy caused by chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection. It highlights that advanced imaging detects myocardial involvement (e.g., fibrosis and conduction/arrhythmia risk substrates) that may precede abnormalities seen with conventional clinical markers. Scientifically and clinically, it supports imaging-guided phenotyping and earlier risk stratification to improve management of Chagas cardiomyopathy.
Johnson A, Katraj SVK, Pooranachandran V · Heart failure reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Extensive Cardiac Involvement in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Presenting With Severe Aortic Regurgitation and Atrioventricular Block.
This JACC Case Reports article describes a 53-year-old woman with ANCA-associated vasculitis presenting with severe aortic regurgitation and progressive high-grade atrioventricular (AV) block. Multimodality imaging showed inflammatory valvuloaortic thickening with cusp retraction, moderate pericardial effusion, and nonischemic septal late gadolinium enhancement, supporting extensive inflammatory cardiac involvement despite no obstructive coronary disease. The case is clinically important because it highlights a rare vasculitic cardiac presentation where early multimodality imaging can guide urgent diagnosis and treatment.
David-Pardo DG, Reyes-T RE, Luna G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Phenotypic Spectrum of Cardiac Involvement in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis.
This JACC Case Reports article presents three patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) showing distinct cardiac phenotypes. The cases included inflammatory cardiomyopathy with severe biventricular dysfunction responsive to intensified immunosuppression, an advanced fibrotic phenotype with cardiogenic shock requiring mechanical circulatory support, and relapsing-remitting eosinophilic pericardial involvement (details truncated). The significance is that EGPA cardiac involvement can vary from reversible inflammation to irreversible fibrosis, affecting prognosis and therapeutic strategy.
Majeed Z, Manaila AS, Xu B et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Coronary Artery Involvement in Kawasaki Disease and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: Imaging, Risk Stratification, and Long-Term Cardiovascular Considerations.
This narrative review summarized coronary artery involvement in Kawasaki disease (KD) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), emphasizing imaging, risk stratification, and long-term cardiovascular considerations. It highlights that coronary artery dilation and aneurysm formation are the major long-term sequelae in KD, while coronary involvement in MIS-C appears less frequent and often transient. The review supports ongoing cardiovascular surveillance strategies in children after these inflammatory syndromes to mitigate future coronary complications.
Fatima A, Akram MB, Asghar AH et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiomyopathy Etiologies & Rare Causes
Primary Aldosteronism: CXCR4- and FAP-Targeted PET/MR for Adrenal-Cardiac Axis.
This study evaluated the adrenal–cardiac axis in 82 participants with primary aldosteronism (40: 21 aldosterone-producing adenoma and 19 idiopathic hyperaldosteronism) versus essential hypertension (42) using CXCR4-targeted 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/MR and FAP-targeted 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET combined with cardiac MRI. Patients with primary aldosteronism showed increased fibroblast activation (FAP signal) and CXCR4-mediated inflammatory activity in the adrenal–cardiac axis, linking adrenocortical aldosterone excess to myocardial remodeling phenotypes on CMR. These findings support CXCR4/FAP PET–CMR as a mechanistic imaging framework for explaining cardiovascular risk in primary aldosteronism beyond hemodynamic load.
Ding J, Wang K, Song J et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiovascular effects of metyrapone treatment in patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion: a secondary analysis.
In a prospective open-label single-center study, 15 patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) were treated for 12 weeks with evening metyrapone (500 mg at 6 p.m. and 250 mg at 10 p.m.) and assessed for blood pressure regulation, cardiac fat depots, heart function/morphology, and cardiovascular risk factors. Metyrapone-induced cortisol lowering improved cardiovascular parameters related to cardiac structure/function and fat depots compared with baseline after treatment. Clinically, this provides evidence that pharmacologic cortisol suppression with metyrapone may partially reverse MACS-associated cardiovascular remodeling risk.
Niziolek H, Just I, Baumgartner C et al. · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Puberty-Associated Emergence of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: When Genetics Meets Growth.
This JACC Case Report presents a 13-year-old boy with a strong family history of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who developed phenotypic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during puberty, illustrating genotype–phenotype timing. The report emphasizes that genetic predisposition may remain clinically silent in childhood and that growth/puberty-associated factors can coincide with phenotypic conversion. Scientifically, it underscores the need to consider developmental modifiers when counseling genotype-positive individuals and planning longitudinal surveillance.
Mashiah G, Schamroth N, Yaeger-Yarom G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Recurrent Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Triggered by COVID-19 Infection Complicated by Ventricular Tachycardia Arrest and Cardiogenic Shock: A Case Report.
This Cureus case report described a 73-year-old Hispanic woman with recurrent Takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by COVID-19 infection, complicated by ventricular tachycardia arrest and cardiogenic shock. The key finding was that SARS-CoV-2 infection precipitated a recurrence of stress cardiomyopathy with malignant ventricular arrhythmias and hemodynamic collapse. The case is important for clinicians because it highlights COVID-19 as a potential trigger for recurrent Takotsubo with severe electrical and shock-related complications, supporting heightened surveillance in high-risk presentations.
Gonzalez Alvarez RR · Cureus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Takotsubo Syndrome: From Pathophysiology and Diagnosis to Management.
This narrative review summarized current understanding of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), focusing on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of the acute heart failure syndrome characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction without culprit coronary lesions. It highlights multifactorial mechanisms including catecholamine-mediated cardiotoxicity and coronary microvascular dysfunction, and it reviews diagnostic approaches that distinguish TTS from acute myocardial infarction. The review is clinically important because it consolidates evolving evidence to improve recognition and treatment of a common MI mimic, particularly in postmenopausal women.
Marschall A, Salamanca J, Cecconi A et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Independent prognostic value of left ventricular stroke volume index in patients with takotsubo syndrome: insights from the EVOLUTION registry.
This observational EVOLUTION registry analysis studied 376 patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at a median of 5 days after admission to test prognostic value of left ventricular stroke volume indexed (LVSVi). Patients with lower LVSVi (<35 mL/m²) had worse outcomes, with LVSVi showing independent prognostic value for major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause death over a median follow-up of 360 days. The findings support using CMR-derived LVSVi early in TTS to refine risk stratification and guide follow-up intensity.
Arcari L, Cau R, Pontone G et al. · Heart (British Cardiac Society) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Hydroxychloroquine Cardiotoxicity Confirmed by Electron Microscopy: The Myocarditis Mimic.
This JACC Case Reports report describes a 79-year-old woman with long-term hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) exposure who presented with low-output physiology and was evaluated for myocarditis versus cardiotoxicity. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed diffuse patchy midmyocardial and subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement, while cardiac positron emission tomography showed diffuse fluorodeoxyglucose uptake sparing the subendocardium, and endomyocardial biopsy with electron microscopy confirmed HCQ cardiotoxicity mimicking myocarditis. The case emphasizes that HCQ can produce inflammatory-appearing imaging patterns and that electron microscopy/biopsy may be required for definitive diagnosis.
Behr P, Paik KS, Park C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The Heart of the Thymus: A Rare Tale of Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy in the Absence of Myasthenia Gravis.
This case report described a 54-year-old man with nonischemic cardiomyopathy who presented with septic shock and ventricular arrhythmias, ultimately found to have a calcified anterior mediastinal mass diagnosed as a thymoma. The key finding was that thymoma can cause paraneoplastic or immune-mediated myocardial injury independent of myasthenia gravis (MG), even in the absence of MG symptoms. The report underscores the need to consider thymic tumors as a rare nonischemic cardiomyopathy etiology when mediastinal masses are present.
Barman M, Al Hariri B, Babiker T et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Congenital Heart Disease & Shunts
Evaluation of an unbalanced right dominant atrioventricular canal with a single 4D flow dataset.
This Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery case report describes pre-operative imaging for a pediatric patient with an unbalanced, right-dominant atrioventricular canal using a novel approach based on a single 4D flow cardiac MRI dataset. The brief single-dataset 4D flow MRI enabled accurate assessment of ventricular volumes and atrioventricular valve sizes, directly informing the decision for successful single-ventricle palliation. The report suggests that streamlined 4D flow MRI acquisition can improve surgical planning in complex congenital heart disease.
Ream S, Schoeneberg L, King W · Journal of cardiothoracic surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 in whom multimodality imaging identified a permanent right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale (PFO) causing hypoxemia and embolism. Despite normal right-sided pressures, the key finding was that flow-driven redirection enabled clinically significant shunting across the PFO, explaining hypoxemia and thromboembolic events. The case highlights a non-pressure-dependent mechanism of PFO shunting in rare congenital right-heart disorders, informing diagnostic evaluation of unexplained hypoxemia and stroke in similar patients.
Laboratto LE, Vannoni G, Nieto G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right Ventricular Apical Hypoplasia With a Novel Morphologic Presentation: The “Christmas Hat” Sign.
This JACC Case Reports paper described a 9-year-old boy with congenital right ventricular (RV) apical hypoplasia presenting with chronic cyanosis and clubbing. Using multimodal imaging and cardiac magnetic resonance, the key finding was a novel compensatory ventricular configuration in which an elongated left ventricular apex projected rightward, producing a distinctive “Christmas hat” morphology. The case expands the phenotypic spectrum of RV apical hypoplasia and illustrates how CMR can reveal unique anatomic adaptations relevant for diagnosis and longitudinal assessment.
Meléndez-Ramírez G, Patrón-Chi SA, Figueroa-Galván FS et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Thromboembolism, Atrial Anatomy & Anticoagulation Strategies
Congenital Absence of the Left Atrial Appendage in Atrial Fibrillation With Gastrointestinal Bleeding.
This JACC Case Report describes a 78-year-old man with permanent atrial fibrillation and recurrent obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in whom congenital absence of the left atrial appendage (LAA) was evaluated for thromboembolism prevention strategy. Transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac MRI confirmed congenital LAA absence without atrial thrombus, shifting the anticoagulation/occlusion risk–benefit considerations in a patient with high bleeding risk. The case highlights how rare LAA anatomy variants can materially influence AF stroke-prevention planning.
Nashtar MA, Steinmetz M, Trippe J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Percutaneous Aspiration Thrombectomy for a Large Right Atrial Thrombus in a Critically Ill Patient.
This JACC Case Report describes a 52-year-old dialysis-dependent woman with type 1 diabetes and prior pancreas and kidney transplantation who developed catheter-related sepsis with a large right atrial thrombus (4×2 cm) on transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac MRI. Because surgical risk was prohibitive, percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy using the FlowTriever system achieved near-complete thrombus removal, with residual thrombus treated using systemic anticoagulation. The case supports percutaneous mechanical aspiration as a feasible option for critically ill patients with large right atrial thrombi when surgery is high risk.
Nashtar MA, Steinmetz M, Schnitzbauer A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Imaging Technology, Workflow Automation & Gating
Exploration of 3D fetal cardiac MRI in the late second trimester.
This study assessed feasibility and diagnostic potential of automated motion-correction tools for 3D fetal cardiac MRI in late second trimester fetuses. Using black-blood fetal CMR datasets from controls and fetuses with congenital heart disease (20–27+6 weeks’ gestation), the authors reconstructed 3D volumes and evaluated image quality and 19 cardiovascular structures with sequential segmental analysis, correlating performance with gestational age and fetal body volume (details truncated). The significance is that automated motion correction could expand fetal CMR beyond late gestation by improving 3D visualization earlier in pregnancy.
Pm van Poppel M, Uus A, Steinweg JK et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Fully Automated Free-Breathing Cardiac MRI at 3T: A Prospective Randomized Study of Image Quality, Efficiency, and Workflow Burden.
This prospective randomized study compared a fully automated versus manual free-breathing cardiac MRI (CMR) workflow in consecutive patients referred for non-stress CMR. The automated workflow integrated automated plane prescription across multiple acquisition steps and was evaluated primarily for total examination time and secondarily for plane prescription accuracy and image quality. If validated in routine practice, fully automated free-breathing 3T CMR could reduce workflow burden and improve scan consistency while maintaining diagnostic image quality.
Li K, Zhou W, Yang X et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Laser HeartBeat: Feasibility of a Contactless Optical Gating Method for Cardiac MRI.
This feasibility paper evaluated Laser HeartBeat (Laser HB), a contactless optical gating method for cardiac MRI that uses defocused laser speckle imaging to track chest-wall microvibrations. The key finding was that Laser HB provides an MRI-compatible, real-time processing and triggering pipeline to extract cardiac timing without ECG or other contact sensors. If robust in broader testing, contactless optical gating could reduce setup constraints and electromagnetic interference, improving CMR gating reliability in challenging patients.
Gao Q, Zhu Y, Zhang X et al. · IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Artificial Intelligence & Computational Imaging
NOTO: Noise-Tolerate Evidential Learning for Open-Set Cross-modal Retrieval.
This paper proposes NOTO (Noise-Tolerate Evidential Learning) for open-set cross-modal retrieval, addressing scenarios where training labels are both noisy and incomplete due to open-set category emergence. The method is designed to be robust to open-set noisy labels (OSNL) where true categories fall outside the closed training label space, improving retrieval under realistic multimodal conditions. Scientifically, it advances cross-modal retrieval reliability when annotation noise and unseen categories coexist.
Pu R, Su C, Hu P et al. · IEEE transactions on image processing : a publication of the IEEE Signal Processing Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Invariant state modelling for robust adaptive intrusion detection in software-defined internet of things environments.
This Scientific Reports study proposes an invariant state modeling approach for robust adaptive intrusion detection in software-defined internet of things (SD-IoT) environments. The RADIUS framework uses a Temporal Convolution Encoder (TCE) with dilated causal convolutions to build traffic embeddings and an Adaptive State Transition Module (ASTM) to identify latent state transitions for attack detection. The significance is improved deployability and robustness of intrusion detection under non-stationary, heterogeneous SD-IoT traffic and attacks.
Gowroju S, Reddy SSS, Choudhary S et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Artificial intelligence for right ventricular assessment: current evidence and future directions.
This review synthesized evidence for artificial intelligence (AI)–based right ventricular (RV) assessment across echocardiography, cardiac MRI (CMR), and computed tomography in conditions where RV function is crucial for risk stratification (e.g., pulmonary hypertension, valvular disease, congenital heart disease). It reports that AI has achieved segmentation and chamber quantification accuracy approaching interobserver variability, reducing interpreter dependence for RV structural and functional measurements. Clinically, this could standardize RV evaluation and improve reproducibility for diagnosis, monitoring, and prognostication across multiple imaging platforms.
Tan X, Fowler J, Li M et al. · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Noninvasive Diagnostics Beyond Standard Imaging
Correlation Between Computer-Assisted Ultrasonographic Parameters and Histological Findings in Glomerular Diseases: A Multivariate Ordinal Analysis.
This 2026 study correlated computer-assisted renal ultrasonography and Doppler parameters with kidney biopsy histology in patients with glomerular diseases, using multivariate ordinal analysis. Quantitative ultrasound measures—including cortical-to-liver (or spleen) echogenicity ratio, corticomedullary ratio (CMR), renal resistivity index (RRI), splenic resistivity index (SRI), and the derived DI-RISK—were compared against lupus nephritis activity and chronicity histologic indices, with the key finding being statistically significant associations between specific imaging/Doppler metrics and biopsy lesion severity. Scientifically and clinically, the work supports using standardized, computer-assisted ultrasound biomarkers to noninvasively reflect histopathologic burden in glomerular disease, potentially aiding diagnosis and monitoring when biopsy is limited.
Araújo NC, da Silveira Rioja L, Suassuna JHR · Journal of clinical ultrasound : JCU · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Noninvasive Detection of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction.
This narrative review evaluates noninvasive methods for detecting coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMVD), a cause of ischemia and adverse cardiovascular outcomes that can mimic obstructive coronary artery disease. It synthesizes evidence on noninvasive diagnostic tools (including positron emission tomography approaches, with additional modalities truncated in the abstract) and emphasizes the clinical need to distinguish CMVD from epicardial CAD. The scientific significance is improved diagnostic pathways for earlier, targeted management of CMVD.
Li L, Tse G, Bazoukis G et al. · Current cardiology reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Endotype-informed therapy and effects on illness perception and psychological health in patients with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease.
This prospective, multicentre randomized controlled superiority trial (CorCMR) tested whether non-invasive stress perfusion CMR used to define ischaemic endotypes and guide targeted therapy improves illness perception and psychological health versus standard angiography-guided care in patients with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA). The key finding was the evaluation of endotype-informed therapy effects on patient-reported illness perception and psychological outcomes. If effective, endotype-guided stress perfusion CMR could address diagnostic uncertainty and improve psychosocial health alongside symptom management in ANOCA.
Bradley CP, McKinley G, Orchard V et al. · European heart journal. Quality of care & clinical outcomes · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical Prediction Models, Registries & Population Risk
Da Vinci® X™, Versius®, and Hugo™ RAS in minimally invasive robotic-assisted hysterectomy: the COMPAR-HYST prospective study.
This prospective single-center non-randomized COMPAR-HYST study compared three robotic platforms—da Vinci X™, Versius®, and Hugo™ RAS—for elective laparoscopic hysterectomy in consecutive adult women scheduled for surgery in 2024. Patients were assigned 1:1:1 based on platform availability, and the study’s primary composite outcome assessed “optimal hysterectomy” performance along with perioperative outcomes across the three systems. The results are intended to inform evidence-based selection of robotic technology for minimally invasive hysterectomy by directly comparing platform-specific performance and perioperative safety in a real-world surgical cohort.
Garzon S, Landi S, Da Ros A et al. · Surgical endoscopy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters Predict New-Onset Symptoms of Heart Failure in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
This single-center retrospective cohort studied hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients to identify cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging parameters that predict new-onset heart failure (HF) symptoms. CMR-derived measures of cardiac structure/function were associated with subsequent development of HF symptoms in HCM, enabling risk stratification beyond baseline clinical assessment. These findings support using CMR biomarkers to improve early identification of HCM patients at risk for HF symptom onset, potentially guiding closer monitoring and earlier intervention.
da Silva DS, Karlinski Vizentin V, Ferreira Felix I et al. · ESC heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Estimating the Effect of Hospital Admission on Health Care Outcomes and Spending Among Persons With Dementia : A Quasi-experimental Study.
This quasi-experimental instrumental variable study evaluated the effect of hospital admission on health care outcomes and spending among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged ≥66 years with dementia who visited an emergency department (ED) in 2017–2019. Using emergency physicians’ admission propensity as the instrument, hospital admission was estimated to causally affect downstream outcomes and costs for persons with dementia. The findings are clinically significant for care-transition planning and resource allocation by quantifying the downstream impact of ED-to-inpatient admission decisions in dementia.
Ikesu R, Mayeda ER, McGarry K et al. · Annals of internal medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Predictors of Long-Term Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The NHLBI HCM Registry.
This registry-based study from the NHLBI HCM Registry analyzed 2750 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) across 44 North American and European sites to improve prediction of adverse events using prospectively collected clinical history, imaging (including CMR), genetic data, and biomarkers. The study developed or refined risk prediction models that better stratify patients for outcomes beyond existing guidelines focused mainly on sudden cardiac death. Improved prediction could reduce avoidable implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantations while preventing missed high-risk patients, with direct implications for HCM management.
Kramer CM, Kolm P, DiMarco JP et al. · JAMA · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on June 11, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published June 04, 2026 – June 11, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.