What's New in Cardiac MRI? — June 29, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 56 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
June 29, 2026 · 56 articles · 15 research themes · covering June 22, 2026 – June 29, 2026
Overview
This week’s cardiovascular literature is dominated by efforts to make advanced cardiac imaging more actionable: extracting quantitative biomarkers from CMR (including 4D flow hemodynamics, RV–pulmonary coupling, and diastolic function surrogates) and using them to refine prognosis or risk stratification. Studies and method papers emphasize not only what to measure—e.g., coronary sinus flow after AMI, epicardial adipose tissue volume after STEMI, and LV remodeling indices across age/sex—but also how measurement choices (segmentation contour offsets, spatial resolution, and acquisition coaching) can materially affect reliability.
A second major theme is earlier detection and better characterization of “inflammatory and substrate” cardiac disease. Work on immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated myocarditis, IL-1 blockade in inflammatory cardiomyopathy, and Takotsubo myocardial injury links clinical timing and biomarkers to CMR-defined tissue changes. Related reviews broaden the lens to systemic sclerosis cardiac involvement, reinforcing that subclinical disease is common and often missed without structured surveillance. In parallel, sports cardiology consensus statements and exercise imaging guidance highlight standardized multimodality and stress-echocardiography approaches to distinguish physiological remodeling from concealed pathology.
Finally, several papers push toward scalable implementation: deep learning frameworks for cross-scanner myocardial strain/segmentation, automated CMR disease identification pipelines, and device/CIED feasibility for stress perfusion CMR. Together with clinical pathway studies (e.g., structured MINOCA diagnostic protocols) and technical reviews (e.g., photon-counting CT), the overall direction is clear: integrate better imaging physics, robust analytics, and scenario-based clinical decision-making to improve safety and outcomes across diverse patient groups.
Cardiac MRI hemodynamics & flow biomarkers
Experimentally validated dual-band GHz metamaterial perfect absorber biosensor with negative-index response and AI-assisted electromagnetic analysis for breast cancer dielectric discrimination.
This proof-of-concept study developed and experimentally validated a dual-band GHz metamaterial perfect absorber (MPA) biosensor for dielectric discrimination relevant to breast cancer sensing. The copper–FR-4–copper three-layer sensor showed near-unity absorption at 6.0 GHz and 9.1 GHz with engineered negative-index behavior, and AI-assisted broadband spectral analysis matched simulations with absorption >92.5% and 99.8% at the resonant frequencies. The significance is that PCB-fabricated metamaterial sensors combined with AI could enable noninvasive, label-free electromagnetic characterization of breast cancer–associated dielectric properties.
Hamza MN, Islam MT, Koziel S et al. · Biosensors & bioelectronics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cine-derived mitral annular relaxation velocity for detection of preclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
This substudy of the PARABLE trial (NCT04687111) studied whether cine-derived mitral annular relaxation velocity measured by CMR (CMR-MARV, also termed CMR e-prime) detects preclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (ALVDD) in 236 at-risk patients compared with 25 matched controls. The key finding was that CMR-MARV differed between groups and provided diagnostic accuracy for identifying ALVDD, with additional diastolic strain-rate information assessed from feature tracking. The significance is that CMR-MARV offers a potentially practical imaging biomarker for earlier detection of diastolic dysfunction before overt heart failure.
McVeigh N, Ryan D, Ryan F et al. · Magnetic resonance imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Influence of Sb-doping on structural, optical and UV photodetector properties of CdS thin films.
This materials study investigated how antimony (Sb) doping affects structural, optical, and ultraviolet (UV) photodetector properties of cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin films. The key finding was that Sb-doped CdS films fabricated by nebulizer spray pyrolysis (NSP) showed improved crystallinity and morphology, with the 2 wt% Sb-doped film exhibiting the highest crystallinity and enhanced UV photodetection performance. Scientifically, it identifies Sb doping (especially ~2 wt%) as a route to optimize CdS-based UV photodetectors.
Murahari P, Alagarasan D, Hegde SS et al. · Scientific reports · (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 patients with hypertension without known coronary artery disease (CAD). Over follow-up for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: cardiovascular death or non-fatal myocardial infarction), stress CMR parameters were evaluated using Cox regression to determine whether they predict future events. The clinical significance is that stress CMR could help risk-stratify hypertensive patients without known CAD and potentially guide downstream prevention strategies.
Houssany-Pissot S, Garot J, Duhamel S et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Impact of Contour Boundary Offsets on 4D Flow CMR-Derived Intracardiac Haemodynamic Parameters.
This 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 4D flow imaging in five cases with deep learning-based automated chamber segmentations, it compared a baseline segmentation mask versus one- and two-voxel inward contour offsets and quantified sensitivity to partial volume effects near the fluid–tissue boundary. The significance is that standardizing contouring offsets could improve reproducibility and reliability of gradient-based hemodynamic metrics for clinical and research use.
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 evaluated 103 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients who underwent coronary sinus flow (CS Flow) and aortic valve pressure-gradient assessment using 4D flow cardiac MRI (CMR) before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). 4D flow CMR-derived CS Flow (normalized to left ventricular mass) and peak supra-/sub-aortic valve pressure gradients were analyzed for association with a composite endpoint of all-cause death, unplanned revascularization, recurrent MI, heart-failure rehospitalization, and stroke. If validated, these 4D flow CMR hemodynamic biomarkers could improve risk stratification after AMI beyond conventional clinical variables.
Li Y, Wang S, Li G et al. · Academic radiology · (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 generalization. It proposed CardiacSAM (Segment Anything Model fine-tuned with Low-Rank Adaptation) for cardiac structure segmentation and uniGradICON for myocardial motion estimation, aiming to determine minimal data requirements for robust deployment. If effective, this approach could enable more reliable automated strain quantification in routine practice despite differences in scanners and institutions.
Bernardo A, Mato G, Calandrelli M et al. · Biomedical physics & engineering express · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI tissue characterization & myocardial injury
A Case of Brugada Syndrome… or Something Else? Behind Type 1 Brugada Pattern.
This case report studied a 51-year-old man who developed syncope during a febrile illness with a transient spontaneous type-1 Brugada ECG pattern. Holter monitoring revealed multifocal ventricular ectopy including non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT), prompting consideration that overt myocardial scar/arrhythmogenic substrate may indicate a diagnosis other than primary Brugada syndrome. Clinically, it emphasizes that transient type-1 Brugada patterns—especially with arrhythmic burden—should trigger evaluation for structural heart disease rather than assuming Brugada syndrome alone.
Scarà A, Borrelli A, Romano S et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Troponin release, myocardial function and inflammation in patients with takotsubo syndrome: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.
This cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) study investigated 94 patients with acute takotsubo syndrome (TTS) to relate cardiac troponin T release to myocardial edema measured by CMR T2 mapping and systemic inflammatory biomarkers. Patients were stratified by a prognostic peak high-sensitivity troponin T cut-off (≥28.8× upper limit of normal vs <28.8× ULN), and the study assessed how troponin magnitude tracked with edema and inflammation. Scientifically, it aims to clarify mechanisms of myocardial injury in TTS and potentially improve risk stratification by linking biochemical injury markers to CMR-defined tissue changes.
Arcari L, Camastra G, Ciolina F et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
A woman in her 70s with chest pain and elevated troponin T levels.
This is a clinical case report of 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 ECG and coronary angiography. The key finding was that despite persistent troponin T elevation (~270 ng/L) and suspicion for myopericarditis, cardiac MRI and echocardiography did not show definitive pathology. Scientifically and clinically, it highlights diagnostic uncertainty in troponin-positive chest pain when standard ACS workup is negative and 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 ↗
Heart involvements in systemic sclerosis beyond pulmonary hypertension: From conduction, rhythm and function defects to coronary artery disease.
This review summarized cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients beyond pulmonary arterial hypertension, covering conduction/rhythm and functional defects through coronary artery disease and coronary microvascular dysfunction. It reports that clinically manifest cardiac disease occurs in roughly 15–35% of SSc patients, while subclinical dysfunction is detected in about 70% when advanced screening is used, and that cardiac involvement is an underestimated driver of morbidity and mortality. The work supports broader cardiac surveillance in SSc to detect early conduction, arrhythmia, myocardial fibrosis, and ischemic coronary complications before overt disease.
Barile R, Rotondo C, Giancaspro G et al. · La Revue de medecine interne · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Right Side Accessory Pathway Mediated Cardiomyopathy Treated with Amiodarone: First Adult Case Report.
This first adult case report described a 44-year-old man with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and a right-sided accessory pathway causing reversible cardiomyopathy, treated pharmacologically with amiodarone rather than catheter ablation. The key finding was complete pharmacologic reversal of the preexcitation/accessory-pathway–mediated cardiomyopathy with amiodarone, with literature review indicating no prior adult cases of complete drug reversal. Scientifically and clinically, it suggests that in selected adult patients, amiodarone may transiently suppress right-sided accessory pathway conduction and reverse cardiomyopathy when ablation is not immediately feasible.
Costa A, Laxina I, Hakim F et al. · American journal of therapeutics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI/CT-based risk stratification after MI and aortic stenosis
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 (ages 13–25) 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, linking these factors to subsequent deaths during the same follow-up window. The results are clinically significant for identifying which subgroups in youth substance treatment have the highest mortality risk and for targeting prevention and follow-up resources.
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.
This registry analysis studied whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) cine sequences predicts major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in 540 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after successful revascularization. Higher EAT volume was associated with increased risk of MACE, and correlations were explored between EAT volume and myocardial injury biomarkers. The findings support EAT volume as a CMR-derived prognostic imaging biomarker that could improve risk stratification after STEMI.
Wei L, Zhao CX, Dong JX et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) with afterload mismatch, defined by low ejection fraction high-gradient AS (LVEF <50%) versus normal ejection fraction high-gradient AS. The study tested the hypothesis that insufficient LV hypertrophy (LVH) leads to high wall stress and thereby systolic dysfunction in afterload mismatch. Clinically, the work helps clarify the mechanistic imaging phenotype of LV failure in high-gradient AS, potentially guiding more tailored management.
Rajah MR, Doubell AF, Herbst PG · BMJ open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Standardized MRI-Based Quantification of Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume: Reproducibility and Agreement With Cardiac Computed Tomography.
This retrospective study developed and tested a standardized MRI-based method to quantify epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) and compared its reproducibility and agreement with cardiac computed tomography (CT). The key finding was that the standardized MRI EATV quantification showed acceptable reproducibility and demonstrated agreement with CT in a paired cohort of 127 patients with aortic stenosis (AS) plus additional volunteers. Clinically, it supports MRI as a radiation-free alternative for EATV risk-marker assessment when CT is not desirable.
Gronwald J, Gersch SS, Böttiger Z et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac imaging in myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathy
Time-dependent effects of interleukin-1 blockade by anakinra in myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathy.
This observational study evaluated time-dependent outcomes of 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 that clinical outcomes varied according to treatment exposure and discontinuation over time in this IL-1–targeted population. These results are scientifically important for defining how long anakinra should be continued (and what happens after stopping) to improve long-term prognosis in inflammatory myocardial disease.
Peretto G, Villatore A, Trezza AF et al. · European journal of heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Myocarditis: A Retrospective Case Series.
This retrospective case series reviewed five patients at Mayo Clinic Florida (2019–2024) with suspected immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated myocarditis, categorizing cases as definite/probable/possible using cardiac MRI (CMR) findings and histopathology when available. Myocarditis onset occurred 5–30 days after starting anti–PD-1 therapy in four of five patients, highlighting a short latency window after treatment initiation. Clinically, the findings emphasize the need for rapid CMR-based evaluation and heightened monitoring for myocarditis soon after anti–PD-1 therapy in older male cancer patients.
Monsanto MA, Schneider A, Chirila RM et al. · Romanian journal of internal medicine = Revue roumaine de medecine interne · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac imaging in cardiomyopathies & sudden cardiac death prevention
Regional fat distribution as a determinant of mortality in populations with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: challenging the obesity paradox.
This UK Biobank Imaging Enhancement Programme study assessed whether regional fat distribution measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) predicts mortality in people with CMR-defined left ventricular systolic impairment (LVEF <50%), challenging the “obesity paradox.” It evaluated adiposity phenotypes beyond body mass index (BMI), aiming to determine whether specific fat distribution patterns confer higher or lower mortality risk in the setting of LV dysfunction. The findings are clinically relevant because they may improve prognostic models and help identify metabolically adverse adiposity even when BMI appears protective.
Khanna S, Ho W, Takeuchi F et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 evaluated gadolinium-enhanced free-running 5D MRI (FISS) versus conventional 2D bSSFP cine and 3D bSSFP in 45 consecutive congenital heart disease (CHD) patients undergoing clinically indicated cardiac MRI at 1.5 T. The key finding was that gadolinium-enhanced 5D FISS provided comparable left and right ventricular end-diastolic/end-systolic volumes and ejection fractions to 2D measurements while also assessing scan time and image quality on a Likert scale. This supports using gadolinium-enhanced free-running 5D whole-heart MRI for more efficient, motion-resolved CHD assessment without relying on ferumoxytol.
Roy CW, Vogeli E, Megalo A et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (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 assessed whether the 2025 appropriate use criteria (AUV) for ICD implantation in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) predicts sudden cardiac death (SCD), and tested the incremental value of CMR tissue characterization using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T1 mapping in DCM patients. The key finding was that applying the 2025 ICD AUV improved SCD risk stratification and that adding CMR-derived tissue characterization (LGE and T1 mapping) provided incremental predictive value beyond AUV alone. Clinically, this suggests CMR biomarkers can refine ICD decision-making for SCD prevention in DCM patients.
Zhou D, Wang LL, Lian XQ et al. · Zhonghua xin xue guan bing za zhi · (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 with or without albuminuria (KDIGO A2–A3). It concluded that even mild CKD is associated with subclinical cardiac abnormalities such as left ventricular hypertrophy, concentric remodeling, diastolic dysfunction, and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), increasing cardiovascular risk. The significance is that recognizing early CKD-related cardiac changes could enable earlier interventions 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 ↗
Atrial fibrillation biomarkers & mechanistic genomics
Multiomics Insights Into the Role of Spondin-1 in the Pathogenesis and Prognosis of Atrial Fibrillation.
This study investigated the role of the plasma protein SPON1 (spondin-1) in atrial fibrillation (AF) by integrating Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses of protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) and atrial expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) with AF genome-wide association studies, followed by single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. SPON1 was prioritized as a causal/prognostic candidate and further supported by multi-omic and tissue-level expression analyses in the AF context. Identifying SPON1 as a molecular driver and biomarker candidate could improve mechanistic understanding and risk stratification for AF, potentially enabling targeted future therapies.
Long X, Zhang Y, Gao X et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Sports cardiology imaging & exercise stress testing
High Intensity Interval Training Versus Moderate Continuous Training in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
This 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). HIIT and MCT were compared against a control arm with outcomes including V˙O2 change, exercise-related adverse events, cardiac structure/function, and quality of life. The findings are clinically relevant for optimizing exercise prescriptions in ACHD by determining whether higher-intensity interval training yields superior functional capacity and safety.
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 study evaluated the feasibility of real-time in-magnet exercise cardiovascular MRI (ExCMR) using an individualized supine protocol in healthy volunteers and patient volunteers with dyspnea on exertion (DO). The investigators used age-predicted maximal heart rate (APMHR%) and Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPE) to reach symptom- or fatigue-limited peak effort while acquiring quantitative-quality images at low, intermediate, and high intensities. The work is significant because it advances practical ExCMR implementation for physiological provocation and quantitative cardiac assessment without needing to achieve workloads that degrade image quality.
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 ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 clinical consensus statement studied how to evaluate athletes using advanced cardiovascular imaging modalities, focusing on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), cardiac computed tomography (CT), and nuclear imaging in sports cardiology. It concluded that a multimodality imaging strategy is needed to distinguish physiological cardiac remodeling from pathology and to guide management, with modality-specific roles for structure, function, coronary anatomy, and tissue characterization. The guidance is significant because it standardizes indications, protocols, and interpretation to reduce exercise-related adverse events in 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 clinical consensus statement studied how to evaluate athletes using advanced cardiovascular imaging modalities, focusing on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), cardiac computed tomography (CT), and nuclear imaging in sports cardiology. It concluded that a multimodality imaging approach helps differentiate physiological remodeling from disease and supports clinical decision-making. The significance lies in providing standardized indications and interpretation frameworks to improve safety and management of athletes with suspected cardiac substrates.
Maestrini V, Gati S, D’Ascenzi F et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 2 citations · 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 clinical consensus statement studied exercise imaging—especially exercise stress echocardiography (ESE)—for evaluating cardiovascular function in athletes and distinguishing physiological adaptation from pathology. It found that ESE is pivotal for assessing cardiac reserve, unmasking concealed cardiomyopathies, and stratifying risk in both competitive and recreational athletes. The significance is that it offers practical, evidence-based guidance on when and how to use exercise imaging to improve detection and management of exercise-related cardiovascular risk.
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 clinical consensus statement studied exercise imaging—especially exercise stress echocardiography (ESE)—for evaluating cardiovascular function in athletes and distinguishing physiological adaptation from pathology. It concluded that ESE should be used to assess cardiac reserve, unmask concealed cardiomyopathies, and stratify risk across competitive and recreational athletes. The significance is that it provides standardized indications, protocols, and interpretation to support safer sports participation and earlier identification of occult disease.
D’Ascenzi F, Sanz-de la Garza M, Maestrini V et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Pulmonary hypertension and right-heart mechanics
Prognostic Implications of RV-Arterial Coupling Estimated by CMR in a Large Cohort of Tricuspid Regurgitation Patients.
This cohort study evaluated prognostic implications of right ventricular–pulmonary arterial coupling estimated by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in a large population of patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR). The investigators calculated a CMR surrogate of RV–pulmonary arterial coupling by dividing forward right ventricular stroke volume (f-RVS) by an RV afterload measure (as described in the abstract) and assessed its association with outcomes across TR severity. The significance is that CMR-derived RV–arterial coupling may provide a clinically actionable prognostic biomarker for risk stratification in TR patients.
Margonato D, Fukui M, Nishihara T et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Efficacy of post-transplant brentuximab vedotin maintenance by pre-transplant disease status in relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma.
This study evaluated real-world efficacy of post-transplant brentuximab vedotin (BV) maintenance in adult relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) patients after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), stratified by pre-ASCT metabolic response (complete metabolic response vs not) and by the number of AETHERA-defined clinical risk factors. BV maintenance showed differential benefit depending on pre-transplant disease status, with the study addressing uncertainty about whether patients transplanted in complete metabolic response derive the same progression-free survival (PFS) advantage seen in the overall AETHERA population. These findings refine how BV maintenance should be risk- and response-stratified after ASCT to improve outcomes in high-risk cHL.
Desai SH, Geyer SM, Pederson L et al. · Blood cancer journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right Ventricular Metrics as End Points in Clinical Trials: A Review.
This review article evaluated right ventricular (RV) structure and function metrics as endpoints for cardiovascular clinical trials, focusing on how RV-focused imaging and hemodynamic parameters can be developed, validated, and implemented. It emphasized that RV-specific endpoints are currently underused and inconsistently applied despite RV involvement in many cardiovascular conditions. The review is significant for trial design by providing a framework to select more sensitive and reliable RV endpoints to improve efficiency and evidence quality.
Surkova E, Lakatos B, Kempton H et al. · JAMA cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Right Ventricular Mechanical Dyssynchrony Reflects Hemodynamic Load in Pre-Capillary Pulmonary Hypertension.
This prospective observational study examined determinants of right ventricular (RV) mechanical dyssynchrony in 30 patients with pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) without intraventricular conduction delay (QRS <120 ms) using right heart catheterization, cardiac MRI, and 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. The key finding was that RV mechanical dyssynchrony (quantified by the coefficient of variation of time-to-peak systolic strain) reflected hemodynamic load in pre-capillary PH, linking dyssynchrony to catheter-measured and imaging-derived burden. This provides a mechanistic and potentially actionable imaging/echo marker for assessing RV maladaptation under increased pulmonary vascular afterload.
Igata S, Tahara N, Tahara A et al. · Pulmonary circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Congenital heart disease imaging & functional assessment
Diastolic echocardiographic parameters identify pediatric kidney transplant recipients with structural myocardial alterations.
This study investigated pediatric kidney transplant recipients to determine whether diastolic echocardiographic parameters can identify structural myocardial alterations detected by CMR native T1 mapping. Pediatric KTx patients underwent comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography and CMR with native T1 mapping, and the analysis tested associations between echocardiographic measures and CMR-defined diffuse myocardial changes. Scientifically, it aims to enable earlier, more accessible screening for transplant-related cardiac injury using echocardiography as a proxy for CMR findings.
von der Born J, Ubenauf TA, Sugianto RI et al. · Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Evaluation of the systemic right ventricle in transposition of the great arteries using fast strain encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance.
This prospective single-center study evaluated systemic right ventricular (SRV) systolic function in patients with 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 that fSENC enabled global and regional assessment of SRV function, supporting early detection of cardiac impairment in this high-risk congenital population. Clinically, the work supports fSENC as a quantitative CMR technique to better characterize SRV dysfunction and potentially improve risk stratification after atrial switch or in ccTGA.
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 ↗
Pulmonary Artery Diameters in Children, Teenagers and Young Adults Derived from Quiescent Interval Slice Selective (QISS) Magnetic Resonance Angiography.
This study derived pulmonary artery (PA) diameters in children, teenagers, and young adults using quiescent interval slice selective (QISS) magnetic resonance angiography, a contrast-free CMR technique. Using scans from 139 participants aged 6 weeks to 20 years without PA disorders, the authors measured main PA (MPA), right PA (RPA), and left PA (LPA) diameters and cross-sectional areas at multiple locations. The results are important for establishing reference measurements and enabling safer, motion-robust PA assessment in pediatric populations using QISS CMR.
Zalas-Piotrowiak D, Rozewicz Juraszek M, Gabbert DD et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI acquisition optimization & reproducibility
Optimization of Respiratory Training Methods for Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
This prospective study enrolled 93 patients undergoing 3T cardiac MRI to optimize respiratory training methods for breath-holding and reduce respiratory motion artifacts across multiple sequences (including single-shot fast spin-echo, SSFP, first-pass perfusion, and late gadolinium enhancement). It evaluated how different breath-hold training approaches affected image quality in the setting of poor breath-holding. The findings are intended to standardize patient coaching for cardiac MRI to improve diagnostic image quality and reliability.
Ma Z, Zhang X, Li G et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Applicability of Stress Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Cardiac Implantable Devices: A Systematic Review.
This systematic review studied the applicability of stress perfusion cardiac MRI in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) by screening 1695 records and including eight eligible studies. It synthesized evidence on image quality, CIED compatibility and safety, scanner/device protocols and exclusion criteria, and vasodilator use where applicable. The significance is that it clarifies practical feasibility and safety considerations for expanding stress CMR to patients with implanted devices.
Zakavi S, Khorgami MR, Babaee P et al. · Cardiology research and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The importance of spatial resolution in detecting chronic myocardial iron remnants following hemorrhagic myocardial infarction with T2* MRI.
This study quantified how spatial resolution affects detection of chronic myocardial iron remnants after hemorrhagic myocardial infarction (hMI) using T2* cardiac MRI. The key finding was that detection performance of iron deposits depended strongly on voxel size and slice thickness across digital phantom simulations (0.4–2.0 mm² in-plane; 2–8 mm slice thickness) and was further evaluated in ex vivo swine hearts (n=10) imaged 8 weeks post-hMI. Clinically, it provides evidence for selecting MRI spatial resolution parameters to reliably visualize chronic iron deposition after hMI.
Zhang X, Yang HJ, Dharmakumar R · Biomedical physics & engineering express · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 investigated how age and sex influence left ventricular (LV) geometry using linear indices (e.g., wall thickness and LV end-diastolic diameter, LVEDD) and proportional measures derived from standard CMR reports. In 95 adult patients, it assessed age-related concentric remodeling and sex-dependent dimensional variation using CMR-derived wall thickness and relative wall thickness (RWT) metrics. The significance is that routine linear CMR measures may better characterize remodeling patterns than mass/volume alone, improving interpretation of LV geometry across demographic groups.
Capkan DU, Kaplan M · Tomography (Ann Arbor, Mich.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
AI/deep learning for cardiac MRI segmentation and automated diagnosis
Deep learning and red deer optimiser for automatic cardiovascular disease identification on magnetic resonance images.
This study developed an automated cardiovascular disease identification framework (ACVD-RDODL) that combines deep learning with the Red Deer Optimiser (RDO) for MRI-based detection of cardiovascular disease. It used image enhancement steps such as Wiener Filtering (WF) and Dynamic Histogram Equalization (DHE) before feature extraction and model training for automatic classification. The significance is that it proposes a potentially scalable AI pipeline to improve automated interpretation of cardiovascular MRI for anomaly detection.
Singh A, Agarwal H, Singh AP et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Hierarchical Semantic Concept Modeling for Generalizable Myocardial Pathology Segmentation on Multisequence CMR Images.
This machine-learning study proposed HSCM-Net, a hierarchical semantic concept modeling framework for generalizable myocardial pathology segmentation on multisequence CMR images. The key finding was that explicitly modeling hierarchical semantic concepts and integrating complementary information across sequences improved generalization under cross-domain distribution shifts compared with conventional deep learning segmentation approaches. This is significant for robust, clinically usable scar/edema segmentation across scanners and patient populations in myocardial infarction assessment.
Dong J, Li L, Huang L et al. · IEEE transactions on neural networks and learning systems · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Advanced imaging modalities and technical innovations (CT/PET/other)
Photon-counting detector CT in cardiovascular imaging: technical advances, clinical applications, and future perspectives.
This narrative review studied the state of the art of photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) for cardiovascular imaging by synthesizing technical advances, clinical applications, limitations, and future directions from literature published between January 2015 and March 2025. It summarizes how PCD-CT’s spectral capabilities and detector technology translate into cardiovascular use cases while also addressing current constraints such as availability and performance tradeoffs. The review is significant for guiding researchers and clinicians on where PCD-CT may improve cardiovascular diagnostics and what technical hurdles remain.
Hong Z, Yao B, Wu H · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
A rare capillary type cardiac hemangioma in the right atrium.
This case report studied a rare capillary-type cardiac hemangioma located in the right atrium, a primary cardiac tumor subtype associated with potential arrhythmias and sudden death. It emphasizes that preoperative diagnosis is challenging and that multimodality imaging—especially echocardiography, CT, and cardiac MRI (CMR)—is important for characterization. The clinical significance is that recognizing imaging patterns of right atrial hemangioma can support more accurate diagnosis and safer management planning.
Ku L, Qiu R, Ma X · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Blunt Trauma-Induced Atrial Fibrillation as First Sign of an Unspecified Cardiac Hemangioendothelioma.
This case report studied blunt chest trauma as the presenting event in a 40-year-old man later found to have an unspecified cardiac hemangioendothelioma. Imaging with cardiac magnetic resonance and PET-CT identified a large nonmetastatic right atrial tumor (76×76 mm) obstructing inflow and encasing the right coronary artery, and radical surgical resection of the right atrium and RCA was performed. The report highlights that atrial fibrillation after trauma can be an early clue to rare primary cardiac vascular tumors and supports multimodality imaging plus aggressive resection for diagnosis and management.
van Dinter S, Maathuis H, Verkroost M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Digital Twin Guided Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation: Design and Rationale of the APOLO-VT Trial.
This article described the design and rationale of the APOLO-VT trial, which studies digital twin–guided ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation using an integrated multimodal workflow combining noninvasive ECG imaging (ECGi) with invasive electroanatomic mapping (EAM). The trial’s key premise is that combining structural/functional substrate characterization from ECGi with invasive mapping can improve identification and durable elimination of slow-conduction VT substrate and support targeting/verification. Scientifically and clinically, APOLO-VT aims to test whether this integrated, workflow-ready approach reduces VT recurrence and ICD therapies compared with conventional mapping strategies.
Bhagirath P, Regany M, Borràs R et al. · Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Diagnostic accuracy of fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in cardiac and thoracic vascular anomalies: a meta-analysis.
This meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of fetal cardiac MRI (FCMRI) for detecting cardiac and thoracic vascular anomalies across observational studies, focusing on populations where fetal echocardiography (FE) is limited (e.g., complex lesions, late gestation, poor acoustic windows). The key finding was that FCMRI has measurable diagnostic test accuracy for these anomalies and may add value to prenatal decision-making when FE is insufficient. This supports incorporating FCMRI as a complementary prenatal imaging tool in selected high-complexity fetal cases.
Bhargavi C, Shenoy RD, Rassaf A et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical diagnostic pathways for ischemic syndromes (MINOCA/vasospasm/ischemic memory)
BMIPP Imaging in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Exercise-Induced Vasospastic Angina With Ventricular Fibrillation.
This JACC Case Reports study examined BMIPP (iodine-123 β-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid) imaging in a 51-year-old man who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) due to exercise-induced vasospastic angina (VSA) with ventricular fibrillation. Despite emergency coronary angiography showing no significant stenosis, BMIPP SPECT was used to demonstrate postischemic “ischemic memory” consistent with myocardial ischemia and to support the diagnosis when invasive spasm provocation testing was uncertain. The significance is that BMIPP imaging may help identify ischemic mechanisms in OHCA/VSA cases where angiography is nonobstructive.
Aikawa H, Murai K, Seiki S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (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 ad-hoc testing, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) when indicated, to reach a final underlying diagnosis. The findings are important scientifically and clinically because they address real-world constraints and support a practical pathway to improve diagnostic accuracy in MINOCA.
Nishimiya K, Yosofi B, Dimitriu-Leen AC et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pericardial disease management pathways
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 concluded that updated European Society of Cardiology and American College of Cardiology guidance—incorporating improved phenotyping, multimodal imaging, and targeted immunomodulatory therapies—should be operationalized through a scenario-based pathway framework. The significance is improved implementation of evidence-based care by structuring clinical decisions around urgency and hemodynamic context.
Sivalokanathan S, Herzog E, Haider SW et al. · Critical pathways in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Non-cardiac or unrelated clinical topics (oncology/substance use/occupational safety/materials)
Atypical Case of Takayasu Aortitis Presenting as Embolic Stroke With Concomitant Massive Thoracic Artery Aneurysm.
This case report studied a 44-year-old woman with hypertension who presented with embolic stroke and was found to have Takayasu aortitis with a concomitant massive ascending thoracic artery aneurysm (6.0×6.0) and transverse arch aneurysm. She underwent open surgical repair with Dacron graft placement, and pathology showed granulomatous inflammation consistent with autoimmune or infectious etiology. The report highlights that atypical Takayasu aortitis can present with multifocal embolic infarcts and large thoracic aortic aneurysms, requiring prompt surgical and etiologic evaluation.
Henson JC, Myers JH, Cummins M et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
From metabolic to pathologic complete response: case report of Neoadjuvant Lorlatinib in Stage IIIB ALK-positive NSCLC combined with uniportal VATS.
This case report studied a 35-year-old non-smoking woman with stage IIIB (cT1bN2bM0) ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) who received neoadjuvant lorlatinib followed by uniportal VATS. After 10 weeks of lorlatinib, she achieved a complete metabolic response on restaging PET-CT, enabling a multidisciplinary decision to proceed with surgery. The report is clinically significant because it supports the potential of lorlatinib to downstage unresectable stage IIIB ALK-positive NSCLC and enable path toward resection.
Li R, Wang C, Li Y et al. · Journal of cardiothoracic surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Toxic and explosive risks in pharmacy: an underestimated reality.
This article reviewed 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 highlighted that secondary exposure can occur via fine powder dispersion or volatile vapors even when standard protective equipment is used, and it emphasized fire/explosion risks from volatile solvents like ethanol, acetone, and ethyl ether. The review is significant for occupational safety by underscoring the need for improved risk assessment, storage, and handling protocols in pharmacy practice.
Larioui KY, Khoukh K, Zekri S et al. · Presse medicale (Paris, France : 1983) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Meta-analysis of survival by phased-variant ctDNA and PET response in large B-cell lymphoma.
This meta-analysis synthesized evidence on survival outcomes using phased-variant circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) MRD status and PET response in large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with curative-intent frontline therapy. Across three studies (367 patients), undetectable versus detectable phased-variant ctDNA MRD showed markedly different progression-free survival (PFS) risk, with strong separation also reported within PET complete metabolic response (CMR) subgroups. The results are significant because they support phased-variant ctDNA as a highly sensitive MRD tool that may refine risk assessment beyond PET in LBCL.
Gordon MJ, Choo-Wosoba H, Ozcan G et al. · Blood advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
A forgotten cause of chest pain in the United States: a case report on acute rheumatic fever.
This case report described a young man in the United States with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) presenting as a forgotten cause of chest pain, emphasizing diagnostic challenges due to rarity. The key finding was that revised Jones criteria supported ARF diagnosis in the setting of serologic evidence of preceding Group A Streptococcus infection, despite clinicians’ low suspicion in the US. The report is significant because it reinforces considering ARF in troponin- or chest-pain presentations and using guideline-based serology and criteria to guide cardiac imaging and management.
Miller JA, Kim R, Kadiyala M et al. · Journal of medical case reports · (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) for rectal cancer using the Da Vinci SP platform in patients undergoing local excision or organ-preservation approaches after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The key reported focus was feasibility and early outcomes despite known SP-TAMIS adoption limits related to docking constraints in the confined pelvis. If outcomes remain favorable in larger cohorts, SP-TAMIS could expand minimally invasive options for mid- and low-rectal cancers within watch-and-wait or cCR/cMR pathways.
Mellano A, Pellegrino L, Salomone S et al. · Surgical laparoscopy, endoscopy & percutaneous techniques · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on June 29, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published June 22, 2026 – June 29, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.