What's New in Cardiac MRI? — June 13, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 54 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
June 13, 2026 · 54 articles · 16 research themes · covering June 06, 2026 – June 13, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set, a dominant theme is the move from “single-number” cardiac assessment toward richer, stage-based and mechanism-informed risk stratification—especially using cardiac MRI. Multiple studies leverage CMR tissue characterization (LGE, edema/AAR, ECV, T1-rho) and hemodynamic metrics (e.g., congestion staging; LA–LV coupling via LACI) to predict remodeling and adverse outcomes in conditions ranging from acute myocardial infarction to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Takotsubo syndrome. Importantly, several papers also address interpretability and standardization—such as field-strength effects in T2 mapping, probabilistic/uncertainty-aware segmentation, and the granularity of LGE—highlighting that reproducible acquisition and calibrated AI outputs are becoming central to clinical translation.
A second major thread is disease heterogeneity and tailored surveillance. Case reports and cohorts emphasize that cardiac involvement can be highly variable even within the same diagnosis: EGPA shows treatment-responsive versus irreversible cardiomyopathic phenotypes; HCM phenotype may “convert” around puberty in genotype-positive children; Takotsubo can recur after COVID-19 with malignant arrhythmias; and congenital anomalies (e.g., shunt physiology, rare LAA absence, repaired tetralogy of Fallot RV remodeling) require physiology-specific interpretation rather than generic assumptions. Systemic and infectious etiologies (ANCA vasculitis, HIV-related remodeling, Chagas, toxoplasmosis, hydatid disease) further reinforce that imaging is often the key to uncovering cardiac involvement that would otherwise be missed.
Finally, the digest reflects parallel advances in methodology and care delivery. Several AI/ML papers focus on robustness under real-world constraints—cross-domain adaptation for strain, explainable pre-reperfusion IMH prediction, and uncertainty calibration—while other studies extend imaging into alternative modalities (low-contrast DECT scar quantification) and multimolecular PET/MR approaches (adrenal–cardiac axis in primary aldosteronism). Outside cardiology, work on dementia-related admissions, nursing decision-making for PICC care, and suicide timing in incarceration underscores a broader public-health push toward reducing avoidable harm through better measurement and targeted intervention.
Cardiac MRI biomarkers & tissue characterization (CMR-LGE/ECV/edema/scar)
The Feasibility of Low Contrast Dose Dual-energy CT for Quantifying Myocardial Focal Scar via Extracellular Volume Fraction.
This prospective study evaluated whether low-contrast-dose dual-energy CT (DECT) using late iodine enhancement (LIE) to estimate myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) can quantify myocardial focal scar (MFS) compared with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and CMR ECV. The key finding is that DECT-LIE-derived ECV measurements can be compared segmentally (1–16 LV segments) against CMR-LGE-defined MFS and remote myocardium, with quantitative performance assessed against CMR as reference. If validated, low-contrast DECT could provide a radiation/contrast-sparing alternative for scar quantification in patients with prior myocardial infarction.
Chen F, Jia T, Luo L et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Clinical significance of incidental pericardial late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance.
This retrospective single-center study examined whether incidentally detected pericardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on CMR—typically interpreted as active pericardial inflammation—predicts adverse outcomes, comparing patients with incidental pericardial LGE to controls without LGE. The key finding was that incidental pericardial LGE carried clinical significance consistent with a risk signal rather than being purely benign, implying association with clinically relevant processes beyond the index indication for CMR. These results refine interpretation of pericardial LGE discovered during unrelated CMR studies and may influence risk stratification and follow-up decisions.
Lepre V, Moretto N, De Martino M et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Field Strength Dependence, Physiologic Correlates, and Prognostic Significance of Ventricular Blood Pool T2 Mapping on Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
This retrospective CMR study evaluated field-strength dependence, physiologic correlates, and prognostic significance of ventricular blood pool (BP) T2 mapping by measuring right-to-left ventricular BP T2 ratios in adults undergoing cardiomyopathy evaluation at 1.5T or 3T. It found that RV/LV BP T2 ratio determinants varied by field strength and that field-specific T2 ratio cut-points were associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACE), with reproducibility assessed in a subset of 100 patients. Scientifically, it supports standardizing BP T2 interpretation across 1.5T and 3T to improve prognostic use of 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 ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with acute myocardial infarction: The added clinical value.
This article reviewed the added clinical value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), focusing on techniques such as late gadolinium enhancement and parametric mapping (native T1, T2, T2*, and extracellular volume). It found that CMR can comprehensively characterize myocardial injury and remodeling—quantifying infarct size, ischemic area at risk, microvascular obstruction, intramyocardial hemorrhage, and interstitial remodeling—beyond standard ventricular function metrics. The clinical significance is that these CMR biomarkers can better predict adverse left ventricular remodeling and long-term outcomes, supporting more precise risk stratification after AMI.
Alberti M, Faggioni L, Cioni D et al. · Vascular pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI hemodynamics & congestion staging
MRI staging of haemodynamic congestion and clinical outcomes.
This study evaluated cardiovascular MRI–derived hemodynamic congestion metrics—MRI-wedge (left ventricular filling pressure) and pulmonary blood volume index (PBVi)—for prognostic prediction of clinical outcomes. The key finding was that patients stratified into four MRI hemodynamic stages (normal, isolated volume overload, isolated pressure overload, combined overload) showed differing prognostic risk, and these MRI measures were associated with non-invasive markers of myocardial fibrosis. Scientifically and clinically, it supports MRI-based staging of congestion as a noninvasive tool for risk stratification and fibrosis-related disease characterization.
Mantini C, Sorella A, Falco D et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index in Health and Disease: A Longitudinal Multicohort Analysis.
This longitudinal multicohort analysis studied the Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index (LACI)—the ratio of left atrial (LA) to left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume (EDV)—across health and disease using CMR-derived measurements. The study established population-specific reference thresholds and characterized how LACI relates to cardiac structure and function, while evaluating whether LACI adds incremental predictive value beyond established clinical/imaging markers. The work supports LACI as a potentially implementable CMR biomarker of LA–LV coupling by providing reference ranges and clarifying its prognostic utility.
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 ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac risk prediction & prognostic modeling (imaging/biomarkers)
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 significance of stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance in adults (≥18 years) with known or suspected coronary artery disease and supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥65% on CMR). It found that stress perfusion CMR provided additional prognostic information in this subgroup, helping identify patients at higher risk despite preserved/supranormal LVEF. The scientific significance is that stress perfusion CMR can refine risk stratification beyond LVEF alone in patients with supranormal systolic function.
Pakdeesrisakda K, Kaolawanich Y · Open heart · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) phenotyping, surveillance, and SCD/HF risk
Prognostic Value of MRI-Based Left Ventricular Trabecular Complexity for Sudden Cardiac Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
This prospective study evaluated whether MRI-based left ventricular trabecular complexity measured by fractal dimension (FD) predicts sudden cardiac death (SCD) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Using 3T steady-state free precession (SSFP) cine imaging in 835 HCM patients, blinded cardiologists assessed FD and related it to biventricular function and late gadolinium enhancement, including analysis of associations with sarcomere variants. The findings support FD-derived CMR phenotyping as a potential tool for improving SCD risk stratification in HCM.
Zhang J, Yu M, Pu L et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Puberty-Associated Emergence of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: When Genetics Meets Growth.
This case report studied puberty-associated phenotypic conversion of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a 13-year-old boy who was genotype-positive with a strong family history of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. The key finding was that HCM phenotype emerged during adolescence after earlier childhood evaluations were negative, consistent with growth- and hormone-associated timing of genetic penetrance. Clinically, it highlights the need for longitudinal cardiac surveillance through puberty in genotype-positive children even when early childhood imaging is normal.
Mashiah G, Schamroth N, Yaeger-Yarom G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters Predict New-Onset Symptoms of Heart Failure in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
This retrospective cohort study evaluated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients to determine whether CMR imaging parameters predict new-onset heart failure (HF) symptoms. The key finding was that specific CMR-derived measures of cardiac structure and tissue/functional characteristics were associated with subsequent development of HF symptoms in individuals with HCM. Clinically, this supports using CMR risk markers to identify HCM patients at higher risk for symptomatic HF before clinical deterioration.
da Silva DS, Karlinski Vizentin V, Ferreira Felix I et al. · ESC heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Predictors of Long-Term Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The NHLBI HCM Registry.
This registry-based study analyzed 2750 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) enrolled across 44 North American and European sites to improve prediction of adverse outcomes using prospectively collected clinical history, imaging, genetic, and biomarker data, including CMR. The key finding was that integrating multimodal clinical, imaging, genetic, and biomarker information improved long-term risk prediction beyond existing guidelines that primarily target sudden cardiac death. This advances personalized risk stratification in HCM and may reduce both avoidable implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use and preventable adverse events.
Kramer CM, Kolm P, DiMarco JP et al. · JAMA · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) diagnosis, mechanisms, and outcomes
Sinus Node Dysfunction in Takotsubo Syndrome: An Uncommon Presentation.
This case report evaluated a 68-year-old patient with Takotsubo syndrome using coronary angiography and CMR to confirm stress cardiomyopathy and to assess conduction system complications. Although LV systolic function fully recovered, sinus node dysfunction (SND) developed during hospitalization and persisted, ultimately requiring a permanent pacemaker. The report emphasizes that, while arrhythmias are uncommon in Takotsubo syndrome, clinically significant conduction abnormalities can outlast apparent myocardial recovery.
Zakynthinos GE, Kalogeras K, Vlachojannis GJ et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Recurrent Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Triggered by COVID-19 Infection Complicated by Ventricular Tachycardia Arrest and Cardiogenic Shock: A Case Report.
This case report studied a 73-year-old Hispanic woman with prior Takotsubo cardiomyopathy who developed recurrent stress cardiomyopathy after COVID-19 infection, with clinical evaluation for myocardial injury and complications including ventricular tachycardia arrest and cardiogenic shock. The patient’s course was complicated by malignant ventricular arrhythmias and hemodynamic collapse, demonstrating severe recurrence in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The findings suggest COVID-19 can be a trigger for recurrent Takotsubo cardiomyopathy with life-threatening arrhythmias, supporting heightened monitoring for ventricular events and shock in similar patients.
Gonzalez Alvarez RR · Cureus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Takotsubo Syndrome: From Pathophysiology and Diagnosis to Management.
This review studied the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) in predominantly postmenopausal women presenting with acute heart failure that mimics myocardial infarction. It found that TTS is characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction with regional wall-motion abnormalities beyond a single coronary territory and no culprit coronary lesions, with multifactorial mechanisms including catecholamine-mediated cardiotoxicity and coronary microvascular dysfunction. Scientifically and clinically, it consolidates current diagnostic criteria and management strategies for stress-triggered TTS, including cases without identifiable precipitants.
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 registry analysis studied 376 patients with takotsubo syndrome who underwent CMR at a median of 5 days after admission, focusing on the prognostic value of left ventricular stroke volume indexed (LVSVi). It found that CMR-derived LVSVi stratification (<35 vs ≥35 mL/m²) had independent prognostic value for a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause death, with follow-up to a median of 360 days. Clinically, it supports using LVSVi from early CMR to risk-stratify TTS patients and potentially guide intensity of follow-up and management.
Arcari L, Cau R, Pontone G et al. · Heart (British Cardiac Society) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Valvular heart disease (aortic stenosis/regurgitation, TAVI, calcification)
Aortic Stenosis Progression: Lessons from Multimodality Imaging.
This 2026 review synthesized evidence on calcific aortic stenosis progression in aging populations and how multimodality imaging characterizes valve calcification, metabolic activity, and severity. It concludes that echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac computed tomography, and nuclear imaging provide complementary “imaging checkpoints” that can quantify disease activity and progression. The work supports using these imaging endpoints to stratify patients and as targets for clinical trials aiming to halt or slow aortic stenosis progression.
Jain R, Padang R, Postalian A et al. · Mayo Clinic proceedings · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance reclassification of aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A COMPARE-TAVI 1 substudy.
In a prespecified COMPARE-TAVI 1 substudy, patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) were randomized to Sapien 3/Sapien 3 Ultra versus Myval/Myval Octacor valves, and aortic regurgitation (AR) was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) using standardized VARC-3 criteria. The study compared the semiquantitative, operator-dependent TTE approach with CMR’s direct quantification of regurgitant flow to reclassify post-TAVI AR severity. This has clinical significance for more accurate AR grading after TAVI, potentially improving post-procedure risk assessment and management decisions.
Pedersen AAU, Pedersen ALD, Mogensen NSB et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Impact of Concomitant Mitral Regurgitation in Moderate Aortic Stenosis: Assessment of Remodeling and Clinical Outcomes.
This CMR-based observational study evaluated how concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) affects cardiac remodeling and clinical outcomes in patients with moderate aortic stenosis (AS), comparing groups with moderate AS plus MR burden versus isolated moderate and severe AS. The key finding is that MR presence/burden in moderate AS is associated with differences in remodeling and outcomes, highlighting that symptoms and risk may be driven by the combined valvular lesion rather than AS severity alone. This is clinically significant because it supports more comprehensive risk assessment and follow-up strategies for patients with dual valve disease.
Gabr EM, Xiao M, Saeed M et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Congenital heart disease & rare shunt/anatomy physiology
Right Ventricular Remodeling in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Imaging, Arrhythmia Risk, and Timing of Pulmonary Valve Replacement.
This narrative review summarized right ventricular (RV) remodeling after repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), linking imaging findings to arrhythmia risk and the timing of pulmonary valve replacement. It emphasizes that chronic pulmonary regurgitation, residual RV outflow obstruction, fibrosis, and electromechanical dyssynchrony drive dynamic RV dilation/geometry changes and formation of arrhythmogenic substrate. The review is clinically important for refining surveillance and decision-making about pulmonary valve replacement to reduce long-term RV dysfunction and arrhythmia risk.
Fatima H, Akram MB, Sher A et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Congenital Absence of the Left Atrial Appendage in Atrial Fibrillation With Gastrointestinal Bleeding.
This JACC Case Reports report described 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 identified. The key finding is that transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac MRI confirmed congenital LAA absence without atrial thrombus, informing anticoagulation/occlusion considerations in a patient with high bleeding risk. This is significant because rare LAA anatomy variants may alter thromboembolic risk assessment and guide individualized stroke-prevention strategies.
Nashtar MA, Steinmetz M, Trippe J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Evaluation of an unbalanced right dominant atrioventricular canal with a single 4D flow dataset.
This case report studied preoperative imaging of an unbalanced, right-dominant atrioventricular (AV) canal in a pediatric patient using a single 4D flow cardiac MRI dataset. The key finding was that this brief 4D flow acquisition accurately quantified ventricular volumes and AV valve sizes, enabling correct surgical planning. The clinical significance is that streamlined 4D flow MRI may improve decision-making between univentricular palliation versus biventricular repair in complex congenital AV canal anatomy.
Ream S, Schoeneberg L, King W · Journal of cardiothoracic surgery · (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 report studied a partial Uhl anomaly in a 49-year-old woman, focusing on how flow-driven right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale (PFO) caused hypoxemia and embolism. The key finding was that despite normal right-sided pressures, a permanent right-to-left shunt was present, predominantly driven by flow redirection from the abnormal right ventricular physiology. Clinically, it emphasizes that shunt physiology in rare congenital anomalies may be flow-mediated rather than pressure-mediated, affecting diagnostic and management strategies for unexplained hypoxemia and embolic events.
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.
The study described a 9-year-old boy with congenital right ventricular (RV) apical hypoplasia using multimodal cardiac imaging and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to characterize a novel ventricular morphology. CMR showed compensatory left ventricular (LV) apical elongation projecting rightward, producing a distinctive “Christmas hat” configuration despite severe hypoplastic, dysplastic RV apical anatomy. This case expands the phenotypic spectrum of RV apical hypoplasia and highlights CMR’s value for defining rare congenital ventricular morphologies that may affect diagnosis and management.
Meléndez-Ramírez G, Patrón-Chi SA, Figueroa-Galván FS et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac involvement in systemic/immune diseases (vasculitis, EGPA, Chagas, etc.)
Association Between HIV Infection Duration and Left Ventricular Concentric Remodeling and Myocardial Fibrosis: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Cardiac MRI.
This cross-sectional cardiac MRI study assessed whether HIV infection duration is associated with left ventricular concentric remodeling and myocardial fibrosis. Among 83 HIV-infected participants (short-duration <5 years vs long-duration ≥5 years) and 34 matched HIV-negative controls, it used 1.5T SSFP cine and MOLLI sequences to compare LV volumes, ejection fraction, mass, mass-to-volume ratio, and global myocardial measures of fibrosis. The results are significant for identifying MRI markers of cardiac injury that may worsen with longer HIV duration and for informing monitoring strategies in HIV care.
Deng C, Sun W, Gao T et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The association between current CD4 counts and subclinical myocardial injury by cardiac magnetic resonance in HIV: independence from cardiovascular risk factors.
This prospective study assessed 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 traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The key finding was that current CD4+ T-cell counts were associated with CMR measures of myocardial injury (including tissue characterization such as native T1/T2 mapping, extracellular volume fraction, and late gadolinium enhancement), even after accounting for cardiovascular risk factors. This links immunologic status to subclinical cardiac damage in HIV and supports CD4 count as a potential marker for CMR-detected myocardial injury risk.
Gan Y, Zhan Y, Zhang R et al. · AIDS (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac imaging in Chagas cardiomyopathy for phenotypic characterisation and risk stratification.
This narrative review studied cardiac imaging approaches for phenotypic characterization and risk stratification in Chagas cardiomyopathy caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. It found that advanced imaging detects myocardial involvement earlier than conventional clinical markers, capturing features such as diffuse fibrosis, focal aneurysms, conduction abnormalities, and arrhythmia risk. Clinically, it supports imaging-based risk stratification to identify patients who will progress to cardiomyopathy and to better guide management in chronically infected populations.
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 described a 53-year-old woman with ANCA-associated vasculitis presenting with severe aortic regurgitation and progressive high-grade atrioventricular (AV) block, initially misdiagnosed as non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Multimodality imaging showed inflammatory valvuloaortic thickening with cusp retraction, moderate pericardial effusion, and nonischemic septal late gadolinium enhancement, alongside the development of high-grade AV block. The significance is that it highlights rare but severe cardiac involvement of ANCA-associated vasculitis and the importance of multimodality imaging to distinguish inflammatory valvuloaortic disease from ischemic causes.
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 characterized the phenotypic spectrum of cardiac involvement in three patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). The cases showed distinct patterns including (1) inflammatory cardiomyopathy with severe biventricular dysfunction responsive to escalated immunosuppression and guideline-directed medical therapy, (2) an advanced fibrotic phenotype with irreversible cardiomyopathy and cardiogenic shock requiring mechanical circulatory support, and (3) a relapsing-remitting eosinophilic peri—(truncated in the abstract). The scientific/clinical significance is that EGPA cardiac disease can present with heterogeneous, treatment-responsive versus irreversible phenotypes, informing prognosis and management decisions.
Majeed Z, Manaila AS, Xu B et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Infectious cardiac disease (toxoplasmosis, hydatid, echinococcosis)
Amazonian toxoplasmosis complicated by severe hypoxemic pneumonia and myopericarditis in an immunocompetent adult.
This case report studied Amazonian toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent adult with severe hypoxemic pneumonia complicated by myopericarditis. The key finding was documented cardiac involvement (myopericarditis) in a previously healthy young adult, despite the rarity and underdiagnosis of cardiac manifestations in toxoplasmosis. Clinically, it underscores the importance of considering cardiac evaluation when severe AT presents with cardiopulmonary symptoms, even in patients without immunosuppression.
Fréville B, Herrebrecht C, Samawak C et al. · BMC infectious diseases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Isolated Cardiac Hydatid Disease Presenting as Ventricular Remodeling and Tamponade.
This case report studied isolated cardiac hydatid disease (Echinococcus) presenting with ventricular remodeling and cardiac tamponade in a 16-year-old woman. The key finding was a large intact pericardial hydatid cyst with adjacent myocardial thinning, concentric hypertrophy of uninvolved left ventricular segments, active pericarditis, and tamponade physiology confirmed intraoperatively. Clinically, it highlights that hydatid cysts can cause life-threatening tamponade and secondary myocardial remodeling, supporting the need for multimodality imaging and prompt surgical planning in endemic settings.
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 studied five patients (ages 26–58) with cardiac echinococcosis due to Echinococcus infection, describing their clinical presentations and diagnostic pathway. It found that while initial work-up used X-ray and/or transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed the diagnosis in all cases and showed cyst locations including intramyocardial/epicardial layers, interventricular septum, and right atrium. Scientifically and clinically, it emphasizes that in endemic regions, cardiac cystic masses should prompt consideration of hydatid disease and confirmatory CMR.
Delibaş D, Soylu BG, Yumak T et al. · Journal of clinical ultrasound : JCU · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardio-oncology & cancer-related cardiac manifestations
Association of Subclinical Cardiac Remodeling With Incident Cancer in the MESA Cohort.
This study examined whether CMR-derived measures of subclinical cardiac remodeling are associated with incident cancer in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) cohort. Using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, the key finding was that specific patterns of subclinical cardiac remodeling on CMR were associated with higher risk of developing cancer during follow-up. Scientifically, it suggests that cardiovascular remodeling detectable by CMR may reflect systemic processes relevant to carcinogenesis, offering a potential imaging-based risk signal beyond traditional risk factors.
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 studied a 69-year-old woman with FIGO grade 3 ovarian endometrioid carcinoma (after hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) who developed a presumed right ventricular intracardiac metastasis with superimposed thrombus. Imaging identified a right ventricular mass with associated thrombus, highlighting an exceedingly rare cardiac metastatic presentation of gynecologic malignancy. Clinically, it underscores the need to consider intracardiac metastasis and thrombus in patients with endometrioid ovarian cancer who develop cardiac masses on oncologic imaging.
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 studied diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and risk scores for heart failure in patients with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), a cardio-oncology population with shared thrombo-inflammatory pathways. It found that current clinical risk models often underrepresent HF-specific variables in MPNs and that emerging biomarkers and imaging approaches may better capture cardiovascular risk driven by clonal hematopoiesis and cancer therapy. Clinically, it argues for integrating HF-relevant biomarkers and risk scoring tools to improve cardiovascular risk prediction in this complex at-risk cancer population.
Muraretu IR, Gurghean AL, Gradinaru A et al. · Cardio-oncology (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac complications of myocardial infarction (IMH, microvascular dysfunction, post-MI complications)
Intramyocardial Dissecting Hematoma After Myocardial Infarction Diagnosed by Multimodality Imaging.
This JACC Case Reports report studied a 47-year-old man with myocardial infarction complicated by a rare intramyocardial dissecting hematoma that initially mimicked a left ventricular (LV) thrombus. Despite anticoagulation, the patient deteriorated to cardiogenic shock and ventricular tachycardia, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging ultimately demonstrated extensive anterior transmural infarction with a dissecting intramyocardial cavity consistent with intramyocardial dissection. The case highlights the clinical importance of multimodality imaging—especially CMR—to distinguish thrombus from mechanical post-MI complications that require different management.
Borg BC, Josephs C, Ghincea C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Inhibition of late sodium current (INa) to prevent coronary MICROvascular dysfunction in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease: A phase IIb multicenter, randomized, controlled and open label study (INaMICRON).
This phase IIb multicenter randomized open-label trial (INaMICRON) studied whether early inhibition of the late sodium current with ranolazine, added to guideline-directed medical therapy, can prevent residual coronary microvascular dysfunction in adults with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent successful primary PCI and had at least one significant non-culprit lesion planned for staged PCI. The trial’s key finding is not yet available because the abstract describes the study design and planned randomization rather than results. If effective, ranolazine-mediated late INa inhibition could become an early post-STEMI strategy to improve microvascular function and recovery beyond successful epicardial reperfusion.
Di Serafino L, Ciaramella L, De Rosa S et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Percutaneous Aspiration Thrombectomy for a Large Right Atrial Thrombus in a Critically Ill Patient.
This case report studied percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy for a large right atrial thrombus in a 52-year-old dialysis-dependent woman with type 1 diabetes and prior pancreas and kidney transplantation. Using the FlowTriever system after catheter removal, the procedure achieved near-complete thrombus removal with only a small residual thrombus managed by systemic anticoagulation. Scientifically and clinically, it suggests a feasible minimally invasive alternative when surgery is prohibitive for infected catheter–associated right atrial thrombi.
Nashtar MA, Steinmetz M, Schnitzbauer A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial salvage and functional recovery prediction: T1 rho vs conventional CMR in acute myocardial infarction.
This study evaluated whether cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 rho–derived edema-defined area at risk (AAR) and infarcted myocardium can predict adverse left ventricular remodeling in 60 reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It found that both edema-defined AAR and infarcted myocardium were detectable by T1 rho and that these measures (including in the presence of microvascular obstruction in 61.7% of patients) could be used for prediction of convalescent remodeling. The results support using T1 rho CMR to improve prognostication after AMI beyond conventional approaches.
Guo M, Qian Y, Wu C et al. · Magnetic resonance imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiotoxicity & medication-related myocardial injury (e.g., HCQ, cortisol, ranolazine context)
Cardiovascular effects of metyrapone treatment in patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion: a secondary analysis.
This secondary analysis studied cardiovascular effects of cortisol-lowering therapy with metyrapone in 15 patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) before and after 12 weeks of evening dosing (500 mg at 6 p.m. and 250 mg at 10 p.m.). The key finding is that metyrapone treatment was evaluated for changes in blood pressure regulation, cardiac fat depots, heart function and morphology, and other cardiovascular risk factors, addressing whether reducing cortisol improves cardiovascular phenotype. If benefits are demonstrated, metyrapone could support medical management aimed at reducing cardiovascular risk in MACS.
Niziolek H, Just I, Baumgartner C et al. · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Hydroxychloroquine Cardiotoxicity Confirmed by Electron Microscopy: The Myocarditis Mimic.
This case report studied a 79-year-old woman with 10 years of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) therapy who presented with symptoms and hemodynamic findings consistent with low-output physiology. It found that CMR showed diffuse patchy midmyocardial and subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement and that FDG-PET demonstrated diffuse uptake sparing the subendocardium, while endomyocardial biopsy confirmed cardiomyocyte vacuolization consistent with HCQ cardiotoxicity mimicking myocarditis. Clinically, it highlights that HCQ can cause myocarditis-like cardiomyopathy and that electron microscopy/biopsy may be needed to confirm diagnosis and avoid misclassification.
Behr P, Paik KS, Park C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Advanced cardiac imaging methods & AI/automation (segmentation, uncertainty, explainability, LGE granularity)
Modeling Aleatoric Uncertainty in Cardiac MRI Segmentation: Probabilistic Detection and Contour Regression.
This 2026 methods paper studied probabilistic cardiac MRI segmentation for left and right ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF/RVEF) biomarker estimation, focusing on aleatoric uncertainty calibration at the individual-patient level. It proposes probabilistic detection and contour regression approaches to estimate segmentation uncertainty so that biomarker variance reflects true variability rather than only population-average accuracy. Reliable uncertainty-aware biomarker outputs are scientifically important for safer AI-assisted cardiac MRI interpretation and for clinical decision-making that depends on calibrated confidence.
Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Tourais J et al. · IEEE transactions on medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Segmental strain in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy: clarifying the role of multiple-comparison adjustment and the clinical interpretation of limits of agreement.
This methodological correspondence addressed segmental left ventricular longitudinal strain in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy, focusing on how multiple-comparison adjustment affects interpretation of limits of agreement between feature-tracking CMR (FT-CMR) and 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). The authors argue that segment-level paired comparisons require explicit multiplicity handling and that agreement limits should be interpreted carefully for clinical use rather than assuming interchangeability. This is significant because it guides more rigorous statistical interpretation when clinicians compare strain values across imaging modalities for individual patients or longitudinal follow-up.
Malik MMUD, Jayaswal RP · Journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical Importance of All the Characteristics of Late Gadolinium Enhancement from Acquisition to Expert and Artificial Intelligence Analysis: State-of-the-Art.
This state-of-the-art review examined how late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) “granularity” on cardiac magnetic resonance—covering LGE location, extent, and pattern—can be assessed from acquisition through expert interpretation and artificial intelligence analysis. The key finding is that clinical prognostic value of LGE depends not only on presence/extent but also on standardized acquisition choices (contrast-media and post-processing) and on robust interpretation pipelines, including AI approaches. This matters because improving LGE characterization could refine myocardial tissue diagnosis and risk stratification across diverse cardiac diseases.
Florence J, Unger A, Gonçalves T et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Parameter-efficient adaptation of foundational models for automated myocardial strain analysis.
This study investigated parameter-efficient adaptation of foundational deep learning models for automated myocardial strain analysis across scanners and institutions, focusing on segmentation and motion tracking for global strain estimation. The key finding is that CardiacSAM—built from the Segment Anything Model (SAM) fine-tuned with Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) for cardiac structure segmentation—paired with uniGradICON for myocardial motion estimation can achieve robust cross-domain strain estimation with minimal adaptation data. This is significant because it enables more reliable automated strain quantification for clinical use despite domain shifts in imaging hardware and protocols.
Bernardo A, Mato G, Calandrelli M et al. · Biomedical physics & engineering express · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Predicting Intramyocardial Hemorrhage Before Reperfusion in STEMI Patients With Intrinsically Explainable Artificial Intelligence.
This study developed and validated an intrinsically explainable artificial intelligence approach to predict intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) before reperfusion in 288 STEMI patients from the MIRON-PREDICT cohort (252 development, 36 validation). The key finding is that a bedside score derived from pre-reperfusion electrocardiographic, angiographic, and clinical variables can identify patients at risk for IMH, addressing the lack of prior pre-reperfusion IMH stratification. Clinically, this could support earlier risk-informed management decisions in reperfused STEMI.
Youssef K, Vora KP, Gupta R et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cross-modal / multimodal AI for retrieval under noise & open-set conditions
NOTO: Noise-Tolerate Evidential Learning for Open-Set Cross-modal Retrieval.
This paper studied NOTO (Noise-Tolerate Evidential Learning) for open-set cross-modal retrieval under conditions of open-set noisy labels (OSNL) in multimodal datasets. The key finding was that NOTO improves retrieval robustness compared with closed-set assumptions by explicitly tolerating label noise and handling categories outside the training label space. Scientifically, it advances methods for real-world cross-modal retrieval where both annotation noise and emergent unseen classes occur simultaneously.
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 ↗
Non-cardiac health services & public health (dementia admissions, nursing practice, suicide timing, etc.)
Nurses’ Clinical Decision-Making During Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Dressing Application and Removal: A Qualitative Study.
This qualitative study used a Think Aloud method to examine how registered nurses in adult and paediatric quaternary cancer wards in Brisbane, Australia decide to apply and remove peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) dressing and securement combinations. Nurses’ clinical reasoning was characterized using Framework Analysis and interpreted through Dual Process Theory, highlighting how they weigh patient- and device-specific factors when choosing actions during dressing application/removal. These findings can inform PICC dressing protocols and targeted training to improve consistency and safety in cancer-care nursing practice.
Larsen EN, Wickins J, Marsh N et al. · Seminars in oncology nursing · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Rates, Timing and Correlates of Suicide in Norwegian Prisons: A 23-Year National Cohort Study.
This 23-year national cohort study examined suicide timing and correlates among people incarcerated in Norwegian prisons from 2000–2022 using linked Norwegian registry data (nPRIS). It aimed to quantify when suicides occur relative to imprisonment and to identify sociodemographic, criminological, and clinical factors associated with suicide mortality. The results are significant for correctional health surveillance and for designing targeted prevention strategies during high-risk periods of incarceration.
Bukten A, Mehlum L, Lokdam NT et al. · Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 evaluated minimally invasive robotic-assisted hysterectomy outcomes across three robotic platforms—da Vinci X™, Versius®, and Hugo™—in consecutive adult women scheduled for elective laparoscopic hysterectomy in 2024. The key finding was comparative performance and perioperative outcomes across platforms based on a composite “optimal hysterectomy” endpoint and related perioperative measures. Clinically, it provides platform-specific evidence to inform selection of robotic systems for hysterectomy in routine elective practice.
Garzon S, Landi S, Da Ros A et al. · Surgical endoscopy · (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 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 66+ with dementia who visited an emergency department (ED) in 2017–2019, using emergency physician admission propensity as an instrument to estimate causal effects of hospital admission. The key finding was that hospital admission after an ED visit was associated with worse health outcomes and increased health care spending among persons with dementia. These results highlight the clinical and economic importance of minimizing avoidable admissions and improving care transitions for patients with dementia.
Ikesu R, Mayeda ER, McGarry K et al. · Annals of internal medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Invariant state modelling for robust adaptive intrusion detection in software-defined internet of things environments.
The study developed and evaluated a unified, deployable intrusion detection framework (RADIUS) for software-defined Internet of Things (SD-IoT) environments using a Temporal Convolution Encoder (TCE) with dilated/causal convolutions and an Adaptive State Transition Module (ASTM). RADIUS improved robustness against heterogeneous traffic and non-stationary, non-recurrent attacks by modeling invariant latent state transitions for adaptive detection. This is significant because it provides a practical deep-learning IDS architecture that can generalize to evolving SD-IoT threat patterns without relying on fixed attack signatures.
Gowroju S, Reddy SSS, Choudhary S et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Non-cardiac imaging/biomarkers & other organ disease (renal ultrasound, MASLD/liver, adrenal-cardiac axis)
Primary Aldosteronism: CXCR4- and FAP-Targeted PET/MR for Adrenal-Cardiac Axis.
This imaging study assessed the adrenal–cardiac axis in primary aldosteronism (PA) by integrating CXCR4-targeted 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/MR and FAP-targeted 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET with cardiac MRI in 82 participants (40 PA: 21 aldosterone-producing adenoma and 19 idiopathic hyperaldosteronism; 42 essential hypertension). The key finding is that dual molecular imaging of adrenocortical activity (CXCR4) and fibroblast activation (FAP) can be used to evaluate in vivo links between PA and myocardial remodeling signals. This is significant because it provides mechanistic, noninvasive evidence connecting aldosterone-driven biology to cardiac structural changes beyond blood pressure effects.
Ding J, Wang K, Song J et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 used large-scale health examination data to determine how weight gain relative to other cardiometabolic risk factors contributes to incident metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and to estimate a weight-gain threshold. The key finding is that among obesity-related indices (BMI and waist circumference) and other cardiometabolic risk factors, the relative importance of weight gain for developing MASLD can be quantified over 5-year follow-up in 7,687 individuals without baseline steatotic liver disease. This matters because it can refine prevention targets by identifying which weight-change metrics most strongly predict MASLD onset.
Sahara K, Yokoyama S, Ito T et al. · Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Correlation Between Computer-Assisted Ultrasonographic Parameters and Histological Findings in Glomerular Diseases: A Multivariate Ordinal Analysis.
This study correlated computer-assisted renal ultrasonographic and Doppler parameters with kidney biopsy histology in patients with glomerular diseases. The key finding was that quantitative ultrasound measures (including cortical-to-liver/spleen echogenicity ratio, corticomedullary ratio, resistivity indices, and DI-RISK) showed multivariate associations with lupus nephritis activity and chronicity histological components. Clinically, it suggests that standardized, image-analysis–based ultrasound metrics could help noninvasively reflect biopsy-defined disease severity.
Araújo NC, da Silveira Rioja L, Suassuna JHR · Journal of clinical ultrasound : JCU · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Generated automatically on June 13, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published June 06, 2026 – June 13, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.