What's New in Cardiac MRI? — June 27, 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 27, 2026 · 51 articles · 15 research themes · covering June 20, 2026 – June 27, 2026
Overview
This week’s cardiovascular research is dominated by a push toward standardization and earlier, more reliable detection of disease using advanced imaging—especially cardiac MRI. Multiple studies and consensus statements focus on harmonizing how imaging is performed and interpreted: ESC guidance for athletes emphasizes multimodality workflows (CMR/CT/nuclear) and exercise stress echocardiography to separate physiological remodeling from pathology. In parallel, several CMR-focused works aim to reduce variability from the “human factors” side (e.g., ambiguity in report language, segmentation/contouring offsets) and from the “modeling” side (cross-scanner generalization for automated strain and pathology segmentation). Together, these efforts target a common bottleneck: making quantitative imaging outputs reproducible enough to support clinical decisions.
A second major theme is risk stratification using novel CMR-derived biomarkers that go beyond traditional measures. Studies link stress CMR perfusion, 4D flow hemodynamics (including coronary sinus flow and valve pressure gradients), and adiposity metrics (epicardial fat volume) to subsequent adverse outcomes in diverse populations (hypertension without known CAD, post-STEMI patients, and those with LV systolic impairment). Complementing this, work on early disease states—such as CKD-associated “pre-heart failure” and preclinical diastolic dysfunction—reinforces the value of detecting subclinical cardiac remodeling before overt heart failure develops.
Finally, inflammatory and immune-mediated cardiac conditions remain prominent, with updated scenario-based pericarditis pathways and studies/reports on myocarditis across etiologies (systemic sclerosis, immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis, infectious myopericarditis, and time-dependent IL-1 blockade in inflammatory cardiomyopathy). Across these conditions, the recurring message is early recognition and phenotype-guided management—often leveraging CMR—while acknowledging that clinical presentations can be heterogeneous and sometimes misleading when standard diagnostic assumptions fail.
Cardiac MRI/Imaging AI for Reporting & Quantification
Toxic and explosive risks in pharmacy: an underestimated reality.
This article reviewed occupational toxic and explosive hazards faced by pharmacists, focusing on compounding pharmacies handling carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substances such as chemotherapy drugs, anesthetic gases, antibiotics, and hormones. It highlights that secondary exposure can occur via fine powder dispersion or volatile vapors even when standard protective gear is used, and it emphasizes fire/explosion risks from volatile solvents like ethanol, acetone, and ethyl ether. The review is significant for improving pharmacy safety protocols, risk assessment, and protective measures to reduce occupational harm.
Larioui KY, Khoukh K, Zekri S et al. · Presse medicale (Paris, France : 1983) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Hierarchical Semantic Concept Modeling for Generalizable Myocardial Pathology Segmentation on Multisequence CMR Images.
This paper proposed HSCM-Net, a hierarchical semantic concept modeling deep learning framework for generalizable myocardial pathology segmentation on multisequence cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images, targeting scar and edema quantification relevant to myocardial infarction (MI) severity. The key finding was that integrating hierarchical semantic concepts across multisequence CMR and labels improves robustness to cross-domain distribution shifts, yielding better generalization on unseen data than conventional segmentation approaches. Clinically and scientifically, more generalizable MyoPS models can support consistent, automated quantification of MI-related tissue pathology across imaging sites and protocols.
Dong J, Li L, Huang L et al. · IEEE transactions on neural networks and learning systems · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 imaging domains, targeting cross-scanner/institution generalization. It introduced CardiacSAM (Segment Anything Model fine-tuned with Low-Rank Adaptation) for cardiac structure segmentation paired with uniGradICON for myocardial motion estimation, aiming to determine minimal data requirements for robust deployment. The significance is improved reliability of automated strain quantification in clinical workflows when transferring models between different MRI/ultrasound acquisition settings.
Bernardo A, Mato G, Calandrelli M et al. · Biomedical physics & engineering express · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CineScribe: LLM-based detection and mitigation of ambiguity in cine cardiac magnetic resonance reports.
This study developed CineScribe, a lightweight large language model (LLM) trained on expert-annotated cine cardiac magnetic resonance (cineCMR) free-text reports to detect and mitigate ambiguity and to convert them into structured regional wall-motion abnormality (RWMA) representations. CineScribe achieved strong performance on the report-structuring task, reaching a macro-F1 of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.89–0.94). Standardizing cineCMR reporting with ambiguity detection could reduce miscommunication and improve the reliability of left-ventricular wall-motion assessments in clinical workflows.
Villanueva Benito G, Descalzo ML, Pujadas S et al. · Computers in biology and medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI/CT/Nuclear Imaging in Athletes (Sports Cardiology Consensus)
Indications, protocols, and interpretation of cardiovascular imaging for the evaluation and management of athletes: a clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), Part 2: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance, cardiac CT, and nuclear imaging.
This European Society of Cardiology (ESC) consensus statement studied how to use multimodality cardiovascular imaging—cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), cardiac CT, and nuclear imaging—for evaluating and managing athletes in clinical practice. It provides structured indications, protocol recommendations, and interpretation guidance to distinguish physiological cardiac remodeling from pathology and to identify substrates linked to exercise-related adverse events. The significance is that it standardizes advanced imaging workflows across sports cardiology, improving risk stratification and diagnostic consistency for competitive and recreational athletes.
Maestrini V, Gati S, D’Ascenzi F et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Indications, protocols, and interpretation of cardiovascular imaging for the evaluation and management of athletes. A Clinical Consensus Statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Part 2-Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Cardiac CT and Nuclear Imaging.
This ESC clinical consensus statement studied how to apply multimodality cardiovascular imaging—CMR, cardiac CT, and nuclear imaging—in athletes undergoing evaluation for potential exercise-related cardiac risk. It concludes that CMR, cardiac CT, and nuclear imaging offer complementary information on cardiac structure/function, coronary anatomy, and tissue characteristics, with guidance on when and how to interpret findings. The significance is harmonizing imaging protocols and interpretation to better separate normal training effects from clinically important disease in athletes.
Maestrini V, Gati S, D’Ascenzi F et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Exercise Stress Imaging in Athletes (ESE and Exercise Testing)
High Intensity Interval Training Versus Moderate Continuous Training in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
This 2026 randomized controlled trial studied whether 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate continuous training (MCT) improves peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2) in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). The key finding was not available in the provided abstract text (the results section was truncated). Scientifically, the trial is designed to determine whether HIIT provides superior exercise-capacity and cardiac-structure/quality-of-life benefits over MCT in ACHD patients.
Mao RT, Willner JP, Pylypchuk S et al. · The Canadian journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Feasibility of real-time in-magnet exercise cardiovascular MRI with an individualized exercise protocol: Quantitative assessment at low, intermediate, and high exercise intensities.
This 2026 study developed and tested a real-time in-magnet exercise cardiovascular MRI (ExCMR) protocol using an individualized workload strategy based on age-predicted maximal heart rate (APMHR%) and Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in healthy volunteers and patient volunteers with dyspnea on exertion (DO). The key finding was not included in the truncated abstract, so the achieved exercise intensities and quantitative imaging performance at low/intermediate/high intensities cannot be determined from the provided text. If successful, the protocol would enable higher, symptom- or fatigue-limited exercise stress during CMR while preserving image quality for quantitative assessment.
Crabtree CD, Stoner J, Chandrasekaran PS et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Indications, protocols, and interpretation of cardiovascular imaging for the evaluation and management of athletes: a clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) of the ESC: Part 1-Exercise imaging.
This ESC consensus statement studied exercise imaging, focusing on exercise stress echocardiography (ESE), in both competitive and recreational athletes to differentiate physiological adaptations from pathology. It finds that ESE is pivotal for assessing cardiac reserve, unmasking concealed cardiomyopathies, and supporting risk stratification using practical guidance on indications, protocols, and interpretation. The significance is improved non-invasive detection of exercise-related cardiovascular abnormalities and more consistent athlete screening and management.
D’Ascenzi F, Sanz-de la Garza M, Maestrini V et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Indications, protocols, and interpretation of cardiovascular imaging for the evaluation and management of athletes: a clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) of the ESC: Part 1-Exercise imaging.
This ESC clinical consensus statement studied exercise imaging—particularly exercise stress echocardiography (ESE)—for cardiovascular evaluation in athletes, including both competitive and recreational populations. It reports that ESE can assess cardiac reserve, reveal concealed cardiomyopathies, and stratify risk by applying standardized indications, protocol elements, and interpretation principles. The significance is providing a unified, evidence-synthesized approach to reduce missed pathology while avoiding over-calling normal training-related changes.
D’Ascenzi F, Sanz-de la Garza M, Maestrini V et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI Hemodynamics & 4D Flow Biomarkers
Impact of Contour Boundary Offsets on 4D Flow CMR-Derived Intracardiac Haemodynamic Parameters.
This methodological study investigated how systematic contour boundary offsets affect 4D flow CMR-derived intracardiac hemodynamic parameters, focusing on kinetic energy (KE), vorticity, and viscous energy loss (vE/vEL). Using deep learning-derived automated segmentations in five cases, it compared a baseline chamber mask with one-voxel and two-voxel inward contour offsets and found that gradient-based metrics (notably vorticity and viscous energy loss) are sensitive to partial volume effects near the fluid–tissue boundary. The significance is that standardized contouring/segmentation practices are needed to make 4D flow CMR hemodynamic measurements reproducible and comparable across studies.
Gall A, Li R, Grafton-Clarke C et al. · Journal of cardiovascular development and disease · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic Value of Coronary Sinus Flow and Aortic Pressure Gradient Quantified by 4D Flow CMR in AMI.
This retrospective study examined prognostic value in 103 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients who underwent CMR before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), quantifying coronary sinus flow (CS Flow) and aortic valve pressure gradients using 4D flow CMR. It found that CS Flow (normalized to left ventricular mass) and supra- and sub-aortic valve peak pressure gradients (Supra-APGmax, Sub-APGmax) were associated with a composite endpoint including all-cause death, unplanned revascularization, recurrent MI, heart failure rehospitalization, and stroke. The significance is that 4D flow CMR-derived hemodynamic biomarkers may enable improved post-AMI risk stratification beyond conventional imaging.
Li Y, Wang S, Li G et al. · Academic radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CMR Tissue Characterization & Myocardial Substrate for Risk Prediction
A Case of Brugada Syndrome… or Something Else? Behind Type 1 Brugada Pattern.
This 2026 case report evaluated a 51-year-old man with syncope during febrile illness who had a transient spontaneous type-1 Brugada ECG pattern, using Holter monitoring and cardiac evaluation to distinguish Brugada syndrome from alternative diagnoses. Holter monitoring showed multifocal ventricular ectopy including non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT), and the authors emphasize that overt myocardial scar or a biventricular arrhythmogenic substrate should prompt reconsideration of Brugada syndrome as the primary explanation. Clinically, the report highlights the need to look beyond a purely electrical diagnosis when Brugada-like ECG patterns occur, especially when arrhythmia burden and structural findings suggest an alternative arrhythmogenic substrate.
Scarà A, Borrelli A, Romano S et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Digital Twin Guided Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation: Design and Rationale of the APOLO-VT Trial.
This 2026 paper describes the design and rationale of the APOLO-VT trial, which will test a digital twin–guided, multimodal ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation workflow integrating noninvasive ECG imaging (ECGi) with invasive electroanatomic mapping (EAM). The key finding was not reported because this is a design/rationale article rather than results, and the abstract was truncated before any outcomes. Scientifically, the trial targets improved identification and durable elimination of slow-conduction VT substrate by combining structural/functional substrate characterization with invasive mapping for targeting and verification.
Bhagirath P, Regany M, Borràs R et al. · Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Morphological and functional evaluation of the left ventricle in severe aortic stenosis with afterload mismatch: a South African single-centre, cross-sectional cardiovascular MRI-based study.
This single-centre South African cross-sectional cardiovascular MRI study compared left ventricular (LV) remodeling and systolic function in high-gradient severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients with afterload mismatch (low ejection fraction high-gradient, LVEF <50%) versus those with normal ejection fraction high-gradient severe AS. The study tested whether insufficient LV hypertrophy (LVH) leading to high wall stress explains systolic dysfunction in afterload mismatch. The results are relevant for refining mechanistic understanding and CMR-based phenotyping of severe AS severity and progression risk.
Rajah MR, Doubell AF, Herbst PG · BMJ open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Feasibility and Yield of a Diagnostic Protocol for Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries.
This prospective multicenter cohort study evaluated the feasibility and diagnostic yield of a structured MINOCA (myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries) diagnostic protocol beyond initial invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in MINOCA patients enrolled from December 2020 to June 2024. The protocol used stepwise testing with ad-hoc optical coherence tomography (OCT) after ICA to determine the final diagnosis. The findings are important for translating guideline-recommended MINOCA workups into real-world practice under time and resource constraints.
Nishimiya K, Yosofi B, Dimitriu-Leen AC et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
[Incremental value of CMR for the 2025 appropriate use criteria of ICD implantation in sudden cardiac death risk stratification of dilated cardiomyopathy].
This single-center retrospective study evaluated whether the 2025 ACC/AHA appropriate use criteria for ICD implantation improves sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk prediction in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T1 mapping at Fuwai Hospital (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences) from 2012–2021. The key finding was that applying the 2025 appropriate use criteria stratified SCD risk and that adding CMR tissue characterization (LGE/T1 mapping) provided incremental predictive value beyond the criteria alone. Clinically, this supports using CMR-derived myocardial substrate measures to refine ICD decision-making in DCM patients considered for SCD prevention under the 2025 appropriate use framework.
Zhou D, Wang LL, Lian XQ et al. · Zhonghua xin xue guan bing za zhi · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Influence of Sb-doping on structural, optical and UV photodetector properties of CdS thin films.
This study investigated how spatial resolution affects detection of chronic myocardial iron remnants after hemorrhagic myocardial infarction (hMI) using T2* cardiac MRI, combining digital phantom simulations across voxel sizes (in-plane 0.4–2.0 mm²; slice thickness 2–8 mm) at multiple signal-to-noise ratios with ex vivo swine hearts (n=10) imaged 8 weeks after hMI. The key finding was that spatial resolution meaningfully influenced the ability to detect chronic iron deposits, with performance varying by voxel size and slice thickness. The scientific significance is that optimizing T2* MRI spatial resolution is important for reliable identification of chronic hemorrhage-related iron in hMI, which can affect downstream research and potentially clinical assessment.
Murahari P, Alagarasan D, Hegde SS et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Multiomics Insights Into the Role of Spondin-1 in the Pathogenesis and Prognosis of Atrial Fibrillation.
This integrative multiomics study used Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses of plasma protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) and atrial expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) with atrial fibrillation (AF) genome-wide association studies to identify molecular drivers, prioritizing SPON1 (spondin-1). The key finding was that SPON1 emerged as a priority candidate and was further supported by single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, along with experimental validation of its role in AF pathogenesis and prognosis. Scientifically, the work positions SPON1 as a potential causal biomarker/therapeutic target in AF and demonstrates a pipeline for moving from genetic association to tissue-level mechanism.
Long X, Zhang Y, Gao X et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Long-term Prognostic Value of Stress Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Patients with Hypertension without known coronary artery disease.
This cohort study investigated the long-term prognostic value of vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) perfusion in consecutive patients with hypertension but no known coronary artery disease (CAD). It found that stress CMR parameters were associated with subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as cardiovascular death or non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), using Cox regression models. The significance is that stress CMR may improve risk prediction and guide CAD screening/management strategies in hypertensive patients without known CAD.
Houssany-Pissot S, Garot J, Duhamel S et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Right Side Accessory Pathway Mediated Cardiomyopathy Treated with Amiodarone: First Adult Case Report.
This first adult case report studied a 44-year-old man with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and a right-sided accessory pathway causing ventricular dyssynchrony and reversible cardiomyopathy. The key finding was that amiodarone produced complete pharmacologic reversal of the preexcitation/right-sided accessory pathway–mediated cardiomyopathy, with no prior adult reports identified in the literature review. The significance is that, in selected adult patients, antiarrhythmic drug therapy may temporarily reverse accessory-pathway physiology when catheter ablation is not immediately feasible.
Costa A, Laxina I, Hakim F et al. · American journal of therapeutics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR in Heart Failure/Diastolic Dysfunction & Early Disease States
Cine-derived mitral annular relaxation velocity for detection of preclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
This 2026 substudy of the PARABLE trial evaluated a novel cardiac MRI biomarker—cine-derived mitral annular relaxation velocity measured as CMR e-prime (CMR-MARV)—for detecting preclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (ALVDD) in 236 at-risk patients and compared performance with 25 matched controls. The key finding was not available in the truncated abstract, so diagnostic accuracy and predictors of diastolic dysfunction cannot be specified from the provided text. If validated, CMR-MARV could improve early detection of diastolic dysfunction before overt heart failure develops.
McVeigh N, Ryan D, Ryan F et al. · Magnetic resonance imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pre-heart failure in early chronic kidney disease: clinical epidemiology and treatment.
This review studied the epidemiology and treatment implications of “pre-heart failure” in early chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in CKD stages G1–G3 and when accompanied by albuminuria (KDIGO A2–A3). It concludes that even mild eGFR reductions in this population are linked to subclinical cardiac abnormalities such as left ventricular hypertrophy, concentric remodeling, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and arrhythmias. The significance is that early CKD represents a high-risk window for cardiovascular prevention, motivating earlier detection and targeted therapy to prevent progression to overt heart failure.
Zoccali C, De Caterina R, Tuttle KR et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
CMR Structural Metrics (LV/RV Geometry, Remodeling, Reference Values)
Age-Related Concentric Remodeling and Sex-Dependent Dimensional Variation in Left Ventricular Geometry: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study.
This retrospective cross-sectional cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) study evaluated how age and sex influence left ventricular (LV) geometry using linear indices derived from standard CMR reports in 95 adult patients. It found age-related concentric remodeling patterns and sex-dependent differences in LV dimensional measures such as wall thickness and LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), along with proportional indices like relative wall thickness (RWT). The significance is that routinely reported CMR linear geometry metrics may improve understanding of normal aging versus sex-specific remodeling relevant to cardiovascular risk.
Capkan DU, Kaplan M · Tomography (Ann Arbor, Mich.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI Biomarkers of Adiposity & Obesity Paradox
Mortality among adolescent and young adults in specialized substance use treatment: a Swedish register study.
This Swedish registry cohort study examined all-cause and cause-specific mortality among adolescents and young adults aged 13–25 years receiving specialized substance use treatment between 2011 and 2021. Mortality risk was assessed using registry-derived predictors including sex, migrant background, parental education, convictions, and treatment variables. The findings are clinically important for identifying high-risk subgroups and informing targeted prevention and follow-up strategies in youth substance use care.
Karlsson P, Ekendahl M, Lindner P · Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic value of epicardial adipose tissue assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction after successful revascularization.
In 540 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after successful revascularization from the NCT03768453 registry, epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume was quantified using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) cine sequences and related to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Higher EAT volume was associated with worse outcomes, with Cox proportional hazards modeling used to test the prognostic value and correlation analyses linking EAT to myocardial injury markers. This supports CMR-measured EAT as a potential imaging biomarker for risk stratification after STEMI.
Wei L, Zhao CX, Dong JX et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Regional fat distribution as a determinant of mortality in populations with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: challenging the obesity paradox.
Using UK Biobank Imaging Enhancement Programme participants who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), this study assessed whether regional fat distribution predicts mortality in people with CMR-defined left ventricular systolic impairment (LVEF <50%), addressing the “obesity paradox.” It evaluated adiposity phenotypes beyond body mass index (BMI) to determine whether metabolically adverse fat patterns better explain mortality risk. The findings are significant for more accurate prognostication and for targeting interventions based on fat distribution rather than BMI alone.
Khanna S, Ho W, Takeuchi F et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Standardized MRI-Based Quantification of Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume: Reproducibility and Agreement With Cardiac Computed Tomography.
This retrospective study evaluated a standardized MRI-based method to quantify epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) and tested its reproducibility and agreement with cardiac computed tomography (CT) in 127 patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent paired CT and MRI, plus 11 additional volunteers. The key finding was that the standardized MRI approach produced reproducible EATV measurements and showed agreement with CT, supporting MRI as a radiation-free alternative for EATV quantification. The clinical significance is that standardized MRI EATV measurement can enable broader cardiometabolic risk assessment without CT radiation exposure.
Gronwald J, Gersch SS, Böttiger Z et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pulmonary Artery & Right-Sided Imaging (Pediatric/PH/TR)
Prognostic Implications of RV-Arterial Coupling Estimated by CMR in a Large Cohort of Tricuspid Regurgitation Patients.
This 2026 Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging study evaluated prognostic implications of right ventricular–pulmonary arterial coupling estimated by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in a large cohort of patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR). The key finding was not included in the truncated abstract, so the specific association between the CMR coupling surrogate and outcomes (e.g., mortality/heart failure events) cannot be stated from the provided text. Scientifically, it aims to establish whether a CMR-derived coupling metric improves risk stratification across TR severity spectra.
Margonato D, Fukui M, Nishihara T et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Right Ventricular Metrics as End Points in Clinical Trials: A Review.
This review article summarized evidence and methodological considerations for using right ventricular (RV) structure and function metrics as endpoints in cardiovascular clinical trials. It focuses on how RV-focused imaging and hemodynamic parameters can be developed, validated, and implemented to improve trial efficiency and sensitivity. The review is significant for guiding endpoint selection in interventional studies where RV involvement is central.
Surkova E, Lakatos B, Kempton H et al. · JAMA cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pulmonary Artery Diameters in Children, Teenagers and Young Adults Derived from Quiescent Interval Slice Selective (QISS) Magnetic Resonance Angiography.
This study analyzed CMR pulmonary artery (PA) dimensions in 139 children, teenagers, and young adults aged 6 weeks to 20 years without evidence of PA disorders using the contrast-free radial Quiescent Interval Slice Selective (QISS) magnetic resonance angiography technique. Main PA, right PA, and left PA diameters and cross-sectional areas were measured at multiple locations to establish reference measurements. The work is important for enabling standardized, motion-robust, contrast-free PA assessment in pediatric populations.
Zalas-Piotrowiak D, Rozewicz Juraszek M, Gabbert DD et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right Ventricular Mechanical Dyssynchrony Reflects Hemodynamic Load in Pre-Capillary Pulmonary Hypertension.
This prospective observational study assessed clinical, hemodynamic, and biochemical correlates of right ventricular (RV) mechanical dyssynchrony in 30 patients with pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (83% female; mean age ~56 years) without intraventricular conduction delay (QRS <120 ms) using right heart catheterization, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. The key finding was that RV mechanical dyssynchrony tracked with hemodynamic load in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension, indicating it reflects maladaptive RV response to increased afterload. Scientifically and potentially clinically, RV dyssynchrony could serve as a noninvasive marker of RV hemodynamic burden and may help phenotype disease severity in pre-capillary PH.
Igata S, Tahara N, Tahara A et al. · Pulmonary circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Congenital Heart Disease Imaging & Interventions
Evaluation of the systemic right ventricle in transposition of the great arteries using fast strain encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance.
This 2026 prospective single-center study assessed global and regional systolic function in patients with a systemic right ventricle (SRV) due to transposition of the great arteries after Senning/Mustard repair (TGA) or congenitally corrected TGA (ccTGA) using fast strain-encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance (fSENC). The key finding was not included in the truncated abstract, so the magnitude of SRV dysfunction detected by fSENC and its diagnostic/prognostic performance cannot be determined from the provided text. Scientifically, it aims to validate fSENC as an early, sensitive imaging tool for SRV impairment in this high-risk congenital population.
Haney AC, Ochs A, Darino J et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Performance of Free-Running Cardiac and Respiratory Motion-Resolved Whole-Heart 5D MRI in Congenital Heart Disease Patients Using a Gadolinium Enhanced Fast-Interrupted Steady-State Sequence.
This retrospective study in 45 consecutive congenital heart disease (CHD) patients compared gadolinium-enhanced free-running whole-heart 5D MRI (using a fast-interrupted steady-state sequence) against conventional 2D and 3D MRI. It evaluated scan time, ventricular volumes and ejection fractions (LVEDV/LVESV/LVEF and RVEDV/RVESV/RVEF), and image quality using a Likert scale. The findings are significant for determining whether gadolinium-enhanced 5D MRI can improve efficiency and image quality for CHD assessment compared with standard approaches.
Roy CW, Vogeli E, Megalo A et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Diagnostic accuracy of fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in cardiac and thoracic vascular anomalies: a meta-analysis.
This meta-analysis synthesized observational studies evaluating fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (FCMRI) for detecting cardiac and thoracic vascular anomalies, comparing its diagnostic accuracy against reference standards across complex lesions, late gestation, and poor acoustic window scenarios where fetal echocardiography (FE) can be limited. The key finding was that FCMRI provides complementary diagnostic information and demonstrates measurable diagnostic accuracy for cardiac and thoracic vascular anomalies, supporting its potential role alongside FE in prenatal decision-making. Scientifically, the work supports broader consideration of FCMRI as an adjunct imaging modality when FE is constrained by lesion complexity or imaging conditions.
Bhargavi C, Shenoy RD, Rassaf A et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Single-Port Robotic Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery for Rectal Cancer: A Novel Approach With FishBowl-Early Case Series.
This early case series studied single-port robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery (SP-TAMIS) using the Da Vinci SP platform for rectal cancer in patients undergoing organ-preservation approaches after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The key finding is that SP-TAMIS is presented as a novel, feasible approach for mid- and low-rectal cancers, leveraging improved dexterity/visualization in the confined pelvis while acknowledging adoption limits due to docking constraints. Scientifically and clinically, it supports further evaluation of robotic SP-TAMIS as an alternative to conventional TAMIS within Watch-and-Wait–adjacent strategies for selected early responders.
Mellano A, Pellegrino L, Salomone S et al. · Surgical laparoscopy, endoscopy & percutaneous techniques · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pathophysiologic Consequences of Early Coarctation Stenting in a Longitudinal Porcine Model.
This longitudinal porcine study examined the pathophysiologic consequences of early coarctation stenting (COA) with serial dilation to adult aortic diameters, comparing sham, COA controls, and COA stents in swine. The key finding (from the reported study design and outcomes section, truncated in the abstract) is that early stent implantation in a controlled animal model enables assessment of how cardiovascular structure/function changes evolve over time up to terminal evaluation at 20 weeks. Scientifically, it provides preclinical evidence needed to predict mid-to-long-term effects of early COA stenting and to guide future stent technology and timing decisions.
Gober LM, Stellon MA, Culver MA et al. · Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Transplantation & Cardiac–Brain Effects
Brain Cortex Thinning in Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy - Associations With Myocardial Fibrosis and Cognitive Impairment.
This observational imaging study investigated brain cortex thinning in patients with cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) after heart transplantation and tested associations with myocardial fibrosis and cognitive impairment. In 77 post-transplant patients (35 with CAV, 42 without) plus 45 healthy controls, brain MRI and cardiac MRI (CMR) showed significant cortical thinning in specific regions in the CAV group, with analyses (ANCOVA/partial correlation/mediation) linking these changes to myocardial fibrosis and cognition (abstract truncated). The significance is that CAV-related cardiac pathology may have measurable neuroanatomical and cognitive correlates, supporting integrated cardiac–brain monitoring in transplant recipients.
Qin Q, Zhu D, Zheng N et al. · Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Inflammatory/Immune-Mediated Myocarditis & Pericarditis
Time-dependent effects of interleukin-1 blockade by anakinra in myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathy.
This 2026 European Journal of Heart Failure study evaluated time-dependent outcomes of interleukin-1 (IL-1) blockade with the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra in 42 consecutive patients with definite myocarditis or inflammatory cardiomyopathy (Infl-CMP), diagnosed by cardiac magnetic resonance with or without endomyocardial biopsy. The key finding was not present in the truncated abstract, so the specific time-dependent clinical effects and implications of treatment exposure/discontinuation cannot be extracted here. Clinically, the work targets whether anakinra’s benefit in myocarditis/Infl-CMP depends on duration and stopping, informing longer-term anti-inflammatory management strategies.
Peretto G, Villatore A, Trezza AF et al. · European journal of heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
A woman in her 70s with chest pain and elevated troponin T levels.
This case report described a woman in her 70s presenting with chest pain and markedly elevated troponin T (initial 108 ng/L, rising to 263 ng/L) with normal electrocardiogram and coronary angiography, later showing persistently elevated troponin T (~270 ng/L) despite clinical improvement. The key finding was that the diagnostic workup raised suspicion for myopericarditis but did not demonstrate definitive pathology on cardiac MRI and echocardiography, leaving a persistent troponin elevation as the central feature. The clinical significance is that elevated troponin T with normal coronaries can reflect non-ACS etiologies and may require careful longitudinal reassessment even when advanced imaging is unrevealing.
Bertelsen BC, Qvigstad E, Larstorp ACK et al. · Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pathway for the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Disease: Contemporary Perspective.
This contemporary perspective studied diagnostic and management pathways for pericardial disease across clinical scenarios including acute pericarditis, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, effusive-constrictive pericarditis, and constrictive pericarditis. It reports that updated European Society of Cardiology and American College of Cardiology guidance—incorporating improved phenotyping, multimodal imaging, and targeted immunomodulatory therapies—can be operationalized via a structured, scenario-based pathway framework. The significance is more consistent, timely clinical decision-making and treatment selection across the heterogeneous pericardial disease spectrum.
Sivalokanathan S, Herzog E, Haider SW et al. · Critical pathways in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Heart involvements in systemic sclerosis beyond pulmonary hypertension: From conduction, rhythm and function defects to coronary artery disease.
This review studied cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, focusing on conduction, rhythm, and functional abnormalities as well as coronary artery disease beyond pulmonary arterial hypertension. It found that clinically manifest cardiac disease occurs in about 15–35% of patients and that subclinical dysfunction is detectable in ~70% when advanced screening tools are used, with a broad spectrum including myocardial fibrosis, coronary microvascular dysfunction, arrhythmias, conduction disorders, pericardial/valvular disease, and heart failure. The significance is that comprehensive cardiac screening in SSc—independent of pulmonary hypertension—could reduce morbidity and mortality by identifying treatable early disease.
Barile R, Rotondo C, Giancaspro G et al. · La Revue de medecine interne · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Infectious Cardiac Disease (Myopericarditis/ARF/Toxoplasma)
A forgotten cause of chest pain in the United States: a case report on acute rheumatic fever.
This U.S.-based acute rheumatic fever (ARF) case report highlighted diagnostic challenges of ARF in a setting where it is rare, describing a young white man with recurrent illness and suspected ARF evaluated using the revised Jones criteria including serologic evidence of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection. The key finding was that clinicians may misinterpret or under-recognize ARF when GAS serology and cardiac imaging are pursued without familiarity with the condition’s low prevalence in the United States. The significance is educational: ARF should remain in the differential diagnosis of compatible cardiac presentations to enable timely treatment and prevent long-term sequelae such as valvular disease.
Miller JA, Kim R, Kadiyala M et al. · Journal of medical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myopericarditis Secondary to Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in an Immunocompetent Young Male-A Case Report.
This case report studied myopericarditis due to Toxoplasma gondii infection in a young immunocompetent male. The key finding is that T. gondii can cause clinically significant myocardial injury/myopericardial disease even in patients without immunosuppression, presenting with pleuritic chest pain after a flu-like illness. Clinically, it emphasizes including toxoplasmosis in the differential diagnosis of myopericarditis in immunocompetent patients and supports timely infectious evaluation.
Leahy N, Quinn S, Crinion D · Reports (MDPI) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Ischemia, Microvascular Dysfunction & Ischemic Memory
BMIPP Imaging in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Exercise-Induced Vasospastic Angina With Ventricular Fibrillation.
This 2026 JACC Case Reports article describes a 51-year-old man with exercise-induced vasospastic angina (VSA) who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation (OHCA), using iodine-123 BMIPP SPECT to detect postischemic “ischemic memory.” The key finding was not fully available due to truncation, but the case emphasizes that BMIPP imaging can noninvasively suggest myocardial ischemia when coronary angiography shows no significant stenosis. Clinically, it supports BMIPP SPECT as a potential diagnostic adjunct to guide evaluation for vasospastic/ischemic causes after OHCA when standard ischemic evidence is limited.
Aikawa H, Murai K, Seiki S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Microvascular dysfunction and neurovascular signalling impairment in diabetic silent myocardial ischemia.
This mechanistic review studied diabetic silent myocardial ischemia (DSMI) in the context of coronary microvascular dysfunction and neurovascular signaling impairment. It found that chronic hyperglycemia drives oxidative stress, advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction in endothelial and smooth-muscle cells, reducing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and impairing coronary flow reserve and capillary integrity, while diabetic peripheral/autonomic neuropathy blunts nociceptive signaling. The significance is that DSMI is not only a perfusion problem but also a neurovascular dysfunction syndrome, suggesting combined vascular-neurotargeted strategies may be needed.
Rajasekaran HK · Microvascular research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Protective effect of coumarin on diabetes-induced sciatic nerve damage in rats via TRPV1 modulation.
This preclinical study investigated whether coumarin protects against diabetes-induced sciatic nerve damage in Wistar rats and whether it modulates the TRPV1 signaling pathway. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (45 mg/kg i.p.), and rats received coumarin (100 mg/kg/day by gavage) for 14 days starting immediately after diabetes confirmation. The significance is that TRPV1 modulation by coumarin may represent a therapeutic strategy to reduce oxidative stress/inflammation/apoptosis–linked peripheral neuropathy in diabetes.
Yıldızhan K, Altındağ F, Bayir MH et al. · Experimental neurology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Oncology & Hematology Biomarkers/Therapies (ctDNA/MRD, Lymphoma, ICI-related)
Efficacy of post-transplant brentuximab vedotin maintenance by pre-transplant disease status in relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma.
This 2026 Blood Cancer Journal study assessed the real-world efficacy of post-transplant brentuximab vedotin (BV) maintenance after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in adult relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), stratified by pre-transplant disease status (metabolic response) and by the number of clinical risk factors. The key finding was not available in the truncated abstract, so the magnitude of BV maintenance benefit by metabolic response/risk-factor subgroup cannot be extracted here. Clinically, the analysis addresses whether BV maintenance meaningfully improves outcomes in patients transplanted in complete metabolic response (CMR), refining post-ASCT treatment selection.
Desai SH, Geyer SM, Pederson L et al. · Blood cancer journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Meta-analysis of survival by phased-variant ctDNA and PET response in large B-cell lymphoma.
This meta-analysis pooled data from three curative-intent frontline therapy studies (367 patients) in large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) to assess how phased-variant ctDNA measurable residual disease (MRD) status at end of treatment relates to PET response. Undetectable MRD versus detectable MRD showed substantially higher progression-free survival, with hazard ratios reported for MRD status stratified by PET complete metabolic response. The results support phased-variant ctDNA as a highly sensitive MRD tool that may improve risk prediction beyond PET in LBCL.
Gordon MJ, Choo-Wosoba H, Ozcan G et al. · Blood advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Myocarditis: A Retrospective Case Series.
This retrospective case series studied immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated myocarditis in five patients treated at Mayo Clinic Florida (2019–2024), categorizing cases using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings and histopathology when available. Myocarditis developed 5–30 days after starting anti–PD-1 therapy, and the report highlights the high case-fatality risk of ICI myocarditis (up to ~50) while summarizing definite/probable/possible cases. Clinically, the findings support early recognition and CMR-based evaluation of suspected myocarditis soon after anti–PD-1 initiation to improve outcomes.
Monsanto MA, Schneider A, Chirila RM et al. · Romanian journal of internal medicine = Revue roumaine de medecine interne · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on June 27, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published June 20, 2026 – June 27, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.