What's New in Cardiac MRI? — July 02, 2026

AI-summarised digest of 90 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.

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Cardiac MRI/CT for Acute Coronary Syndromes, MI, and Viability Cardiac MRI/CT for Myocarditis and Pericarditis Cardiac MRI for Cardiomyopathies and Inherited Heart Disease Cardiac MRI for Heart Failure (including HFpEF and Remodeling) Cardiac MRI for Cardiac Amyloidosis Cardiac MRI for Sarcoidosis (Cardiac involvement and FDG PET) Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and ANOCA/MINOCA Cardiac Imaging Biomarkers of Inflammation, Systemic Disease, and Environmental Exposures Cardiac Imaging for Thromboembolism/Stroke Risk and Arrhythmia Outcomes Cardiac Imaging Safety, Protocol Optimization, and Reproducibility Advanced Cardiac MRI/CT Physics, Quantitative Methods, and Reconstruction/Acceleration AI/ML and Automated Image Interpretation in Cardiac Imaging Multimodality Imaging Integration and Clinical Decision Support Cardiovascular Imaging in Congenital/Structural Heart Disease and Interventions Cardiovascular Imaging in Oncology and Treatment-Related Cardiotoxicity

What’s New in Cardiac MRI?

July 02, 2026 · 90 articles · 15 research themes · covering June 25, 2026 – July 02, 2026

Overview

Across this week’s set, a dominant theme is the push to make cardiac imaging more actionable and reliable in real-world care. Multiple studies and reviews focus on improving diagnostic accuracy and interpretation—whether by refining how gated CT datasets are read for acute cardiac pathology, harmonizing stress perfusion CMR use in patients with CIEDs, clarifying guideline differences for myocarditis/pericarditis, or addressing inter-site variability in stress testing interpretation (e.g., ISCHEMIA). Several papers also emphasize that “what you measure” matters: ECG-based localization for anterior MI may not match CMR injury maps, and resting strain approaches may or may not detect microvascular disease in specific MINOCA subgroups.

A second major thread is quantitative cardiac MRI as a prognostic engine across diverse diseases. New or improved biomarkers—such as CMR-derived left atrioventricular coupling indices (LACI) in hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy, epicardial/pericardial adipose tissue measures and radiomics in HFpEF/ESRD, extracellular volume and strain metrics in amyloidosis, and serial CMR mapping for long-term risk after acute myocarditis—are repeatedly linked to hard outcomes (MACE, death, readmission, AF/stroke). Mechanistic imaging is also prominent: studies connect troponin release, edema, and inflammation in takotsubo; characterize microvascular obstruction after STEMI; and explore diffuse fibrosis signals in settings like HIV-associated inflammation and air pollution exposure.

Finally, the technical and computational frontier is strongly represented. Many articles develop or validate faster acquisition and reconstruction (accelerated diffusion tensor imaging, undersampled 4D flow MRI, single-breath-hold cine, low-field CMR, and denoising), improve quantitative accuracy (e.g., sodium quantification at 7T with motion/B1 correction, MT-aware cMRF, and spatial-resolution effects for T2* iron), and deploy AI/ML for segmentation, reconstruction, and scalable interpretation (federated learning for segmentation, LLM-based diagnostic support, automated EF extraction from reports, and genome-wide association using deep imaging latent traits). Together, these efforts point toward a future where cardiac imaging is not only more precise, but also more standardized, scalable, and integrated into personalized risk prediction.

Cardiac MRI/CT for Acute Coronary Syndromes, MI, and Viability

Cardiac Safety Outcomes in Delandistrogene Moxeparvovec Clinical Trials for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with Up to 5 Years of Follow-up.

This study assessed cardiac safety outcomes in clinical trials of delandistrogene moxeparvovec, a gene transfer therapy delivering a functional dystrophin gene product, in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) with up to 5 years of follow-up. The key finding was that cardiac adverse events and echocardiographic measures were systematically monitored across trials (101, 102, ENDEAVOR, and EMBARK) with exclusion of patients with LVEF <40%, and troponin I was regularly assessed as part of safety surveillance. The scientific significance is that it provides longer-term cardiac safety evidence for dystrophin gene therapy, supporting risk assessment for DMD patients receiving this treatment.

Veerapandiyan A, Bourke J, Soslow JH et al. · Cardiology and therapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

CMR Reveals the Influence of Trigger and Classification on the Myocardial Tissue Response in Takotsubo Syndrome.

This study used cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) to compare left ventricular function, myocardial edema, and myocardial injury across InterTAK trigger-based classification and between primary versus secondary TTS. The key finding was that CMR tissue responses differed according to both the triggering factor/classification and whether TTS was primary (emotionally primed) versus secondary (driven by direct myocardial injury). These results support a trigger- and mechanism-informed refinement of TTS phenotyping that could improve risk stratification and interpretation of pathophysiology in clinical trials and practice.

Gotschy A, Cammann VL, Schweiger V et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Comparison of Cardiac MR with PET CT in Evaluation of Myocardial Viability: Single-Center Experience.

This prospective single-center study compared cardiac MRI (including end-diastolic wall thickness, regional wall motion abnormalities, and late gadolinium enhancement) with PET-CT in 28 adult patients with perfusion/metabolism matched or mismatched defects. The key finding was that specific CMR parameters used to assess myocardial viability aligned with PET-CT findings and could be used to evaluate infarcted versus viable tissue. Scientifically and clinically, the results support CMR as a practical alternative or complement to PET-CT for viability assessment when PET-CT is not available.

Arafath MY, Debi U, Singhal M et al. · The Indian journal of radiology & imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Impact of Microvascular Obstruction on Left Atrial and Ventricular Myocardial Deformation and In-hospital Complications in Reperfused ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients.

This retrospective study investigated how microvascular obstruction (MVO) affects left atrial and ventricular myocardial deformation and in-hospital complications in 95 reperfused ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) within 7 days. MVO was defined on late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) as a hypo-enhanced core surrounded by hyper-enhanced myocardium, and patients with MVO had worse deformation metrics and higher in-hospital complication rates than those without MVO. The clinical significance is that CMR-defined MVO provides prognostically relevant information beyond reperfusion status, potentially guiding risk stratification early after STEMI.

Cau R, Pinna A, Bassareo PP et al. · Journal of thoracic imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The imaging spectrum of myocardial infarction and its associated complications: a contemporary pictorial review of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

This contemporary pictorial review summarized the imaging spectrum of myocardial infarction (MI) and its complications using cardiac computed tomography (CCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in clinical practice. It highlights that CMR provides multiparametric assessment beyond acute reperfusion, including left ventricular function and myocardial tissue characterization such as edema and infarct/area-at-risk. The review is significant for guiding selection and interpretation of CT/CMR techniques to improve diagnosis and risk stratification across MI stages.

Zhang Y, Ko SM · Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) · (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 MRI study enrolled 94 patients with acute takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and related peak high-sensitivity troponin T release to myocardial edema measured by CMR T2 mapping and to systemic inflammatory biomarkers. The key finding was the observed relationship between troponin T release, CMR-detected edema, and inflammatory biomarker profiles when patients were stratified by a prognostic peak troponin T cut-off (≥28.8× ULN vs <28.8× ULN). Scientifically and clinically, it helps clarify mechanisms of myocardial injury in TTS and may support biomarker-informed risk assessment.

Arcari L, Camastra G, Ciolina F et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac MRI/CT for Myocarditis and Pericarditis

Septic cardiomyopathy: Fact or fiction?

This article reviewed septic cardiomyopathy (SCM) in the context of sepsis, contrasting it with other acute cardiomyopathies such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. The key finding is that SCM is a dynamic, potentially reversible myocardial dysfunction driven by inflammatory, metabolic, endothelial, and microvascular mechanisms, but it remains poorly defined due to the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria and overlap with other conditions. Scientifically and clinically, clarifying SCM definitions and diagnostic frameworks is important to improve recognition and management of myocardial dysfunction during sepsis.

Naimi A, Rodriguez M, Qadeer YK et al. · American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A case report of nonrheumatic myocarditis following group G streptococcus pharyngitis.

This case report studied a 22-year-old man who developed nonrheumatic myocarditis after group G streptococcal pharyngitis. Cardiac MRI showed focal myocardial hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging with corresponding elevated T2 values, supporting myocarditis in the post-bacterial setting. The scientific significance is highlighting a rare bacterial trigger and demonstrating how CMR T2-based edema findings can support diagnosis and guide management.

Perkins SJ, Lim JGS, Gans C et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac MRI monitoring in acute myocarditis: predicting outcomes through serial imaging.

This prospective multicenter study followed patients with MRI-confirmed acute myocarditis with serial cardiac MRI at baseline (median ~6 days after symptom onset), short-term (~36 days), and long-term (~392 days) to determine whether changes in MRI mapping parameters predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 5-year follow-up. Serial MRI evolution of myocarditis-related parameters was used to stratify risk for subsequent MACE. Clinically, it supports using longitudinal cardiac MRI to forecast prognosis and potentially guide follow-up intensity in acute myocarditis.

Palmisano A, Rancoita PMV, Gatti M et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Myocarditis and pericarditis in focus: A critical appraisal of the 2025 ESC vs ACC position statements from the Italian society of cardiology working group on cardiomyopathies and pericardial diseases.

This critical appraisal compared the 2025 ESC position statement and the 2024–2025 ACC consensus documents for myocarditis and pericarditis management, focusing on diagnostic and treatment implications in clinical decision-making. Both frameworks emphasize early accurate diagnosis with CMR often superseding immediate biopsy in stable uncomplicated acute myocarditis, while ESC proposes an “inflammatory myopericardial syndrome” (IMPS) framework and ACC introduces a four-stage clinical classification. The analysis is clinically significant because it clarifies how guideline differences may affect diagnosis pathways and therapeutic strategies for myocarditis/pericarditis.

Imazio M, Collini V, Merlo M et al. · Trends in cardiovascular medicine · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Management of pericarditis: recent advances.

This narrative review summarized recent advances in pericarditis management, emphasizing a shift from empiric anti-inflammatory therapy toward mechanism-based, risk-stratified, and imaging-supported care. It highlighted that while diagnosis remains clinical (chest pain, pericardial rub, ECG changes, and effusion), inflammatory biomarkers and multimodality imaging—especially cardiac magnetic resonance—are increasingly used to improve diagnostic confidence, differential diagnosis, and treatment decisions. The review supports more precise, imaging-guided management strategies for acute idiopathic or presumed viral pericarditis and other pericarditis etiologies.

Imazio M · Polish archives of internal medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac MRI for Cardiomyopathies and Inherited Heart Disease

Assessment of left atrioventricular coupling index in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: improving risk stratification with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

This retrospective analysis studied 2,240 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) to determine whether the left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI)—defined as left atrial end-diastolic volume divided by left ventricular end-diastolic volume—predicts sudden cardiac death (SCD) and adds incremental value to guideline-based risk models. LACI was associated with SCD risk and provided additional prognostic information beyond standard guideline risk stratification, alongside CMR features such as LGE and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Clinically, incorporating LACI into CMR-based assessment may refine SCD risk stratification and guide management decisions in HCM.

Zhang D, Qian Y, Gu Z et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac magnetic resonance-derived atrioventricular coupling index for predicting left ventricular reverse remodeling in dilated cardiomyopathy.

This retrospective study evaluated a CMR-derived left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) in 64 hospitalized patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) receiving guideline-directed medical therapy to predict left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR). LACI improved prediction of LVRR and, in multivariable models, provided incremental prognostic value when combined with other CMR/LA strain–related predictors. Scientifically and clinically, CMR-derived LACI may help identify DCM patients most likely to experience favorable structural recovery under standardized therapy.

Ke J, Zhang C, Wang X et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Left atrioventricular coupling index and atrial fibrillation and stroke in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a CMR study.

This CMR study retrospectively analyzed 287 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) to test whether the left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) predicts new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and thromboembolic events (TIA/ischemic stroke). LACI was associated with higher risk of AF and related ischemic outcomes in this HCM population. The results are significant because LACI may improve AF/stroke risk prediction in HCM, where existing models perform poorly.

De Raffele M, Casas G, Delgado V et al. · Revista espanola de cardiologia (English ed.) · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

MRI-derived wall thickness heterogeneity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and in carriers of sarcomeric gene mutations.

This CMR-based study evaluated whether left ventricular end-diastolic wall thickness heterogeneity, quantified as wall thickness standard deviation (WTSD), improves identification of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and sarcomeric gene mutation carriers without overt hypertrophy. Across 382 healthy controls, 297 HCM patients, 82 sarcomere mutation carriers, and 180 patients with other cardiac conditions, WTSD was tested as an alternative to absolute wall thickness cut-offs that may miss subtle or early phenotypes. If WTSD performs better, it could improve detection of early HCM and mutation-carrier phenotyping using CMR rather than relying solely on fixed thickness thresholds.

Aquaro GD, Licordari R, Todiere G et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Late diagnosis of late onset Fabry disease.

This case report describes a male with delayed recognition of late-onset Fabry disease who was initially misdiagnosed based on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and later underwent cardiac MRI and endomyocardial biopsy. The key finding was that genetic testing identified a pathogenic variant in the GLA gene (encoding α-galactosidase A), explaining the extensive LV scarring/fibrosis and hypertrophy that were not definitively diagnosed by biopsy. Clinically, it highlights the importance of considering Fabry disease in unexplained LVH/cardiomyopathy and using GLA genetic testing when imaging and histology are inconclusive.

Scully TG, Chalinor H, Theuerle J · BMJ case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac MRI for Heart Failure (including HFpEF and Remodeling)

Analysis of cardiac magnetic resonance characteristics in patients with ejection fraction preserved heart failure.

This study used cardiac MRI to quantify epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume in 117 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and compared findings with 65 healthy controls and 62 high-risk individuals, relating EAT to left ventricular function and outcomes. Higher or abnormal EAT measures were associated with left ventricular strain/function and predicted the primary endpoint of heart failure readmission or all-cause death during follow-up. The results support EAT quantification by CMR as a potential prognostic biomarker to better stratify HFpEF risk.

Zhang Y, Li Y, Yang X et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac MRI for Cardiac Amyloidosis

Incremental Prognostic Value of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Beyond Biomarker Staging in Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

This retrospective multicenter study analyzed 266 transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) patients who underwent CMR (2007–2023) to test whether adding CMR parameters to National Amyloidosis Center (NAC) biomarker staging improves prediction of death. The key finding was that CMR provided incremental prognostic value beyond NAC staging, with CMR-derived predictors improving risk stratification for mortality and potentially informing evaluation for advanced heart failure therapies and emerging disease-modifying treatments. Clinically, integrating CMR into ATTR-CA staging could better identify patients at highest risk and guide treatment selection.

Chiou T, Minga I, Subashchandran V et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Extracellular Volume Mapping by Cardiac MRI Predicts Sudden Cardiac Death in AL Amyloidosis: A South Asian Cohort Study.

This ambispective South Asian cohort study evaluated 188 patients with biopsy-proven AL amyloidosis, using cardiac MRI T1 mapping to calculate extracellular volume (ECV) at diagnosis and assess association with sudden cardiac death. The key finding was that higher ECV (abnormal ECV defined as ≥25%) was observed in patients and ECV at diagnosis predicted sudden cardiac death risk. Clinically, ECV mapping could serve as a noninvasive prognostic biomarker to identify AL amyloidosis patients at elevated risk for sudden cardiac death.

Pattnaik SA, Ahamed H, Gutjahr G et al. · Indian journal of hematology & blood transfusion : an official journal of Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Multi-Chamber Strain Analysis by Cardiac MRI in Amyloidosis.

This retrospective study evaluated multi-chamber myocardial strain on cardiac MRI in 47 patients with cardiac amyloidosis and tested correlations with native T1 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), alongside prognostic association with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Multi-chamber strain parameters showed diagnostic and prognostic utility and correlated with amyloid burden measures derived from T1 mapping and LGE (including QALE). These findings suggest that strain-based CMR metrics can improve risk assessment and characterization of cardiac amyloidosis beyond conventional imaging alone.

Chilkuri SK, Dsouza R, Houbois C et al. · Journal of thoracic imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac MRI for Sarcoidosis (Cardiac involvement and FDG PET)

FDG PET for cardiac sarcoidosis: Protocol optimization, quantification, pitfalls, and multimodality imaging integration.

This review assessed the role of FDG PET within multimodality diagnostic strategies for cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), integrating PET with echocardiography and cardiac MRI and focusing on protocol optimization, quantification, and common pitfalls. It emphasizes how dietary preparation, acquisition/interpretation choices, and standardized integration with other imaging modalities affect diagnostic performance and clinical management. The article’s significance is to improve real-world accuracy and consistency of FDG PET for CS diagnosis and treatment planning.

Wopperer SB, Kronzer E, Ivare J et al. · Seminars in nuclear medicine · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Prognostic impact of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance-proven cardiac involvement in pulmonary sarcoidosis: a single centre long-term cohort study.

This single-centre long-term cohort study evaluated prognostic impact in patients with histologically confirmed pulmonary sarcoidosis by comparing outcomes based on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-proven cardiac involvement. The key finding was that cardiac involvement detected by FDG-PET and CMR in pulmonary sarcoidosis was associated with worse prognosis and helped clarify causes of death over follow-up. Clinically, combining FDG-PET with CMR can improve risk stratification for patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis by identifying those with cardiac sarcoidosis.

Yoshikawa S, Sato T, Komori T et al. · BMC pulmonary medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and ANOCA/MINOCA

Stress native mapping does not distinguish patients with previous myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries from healthy volunteers.

The study tested whether stress native T1 and T2 mapping on 1.5T CMR can distinguish patients with previous myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) from healthy volunteers. The key finding was that stress native mapping did not differentiate MINOCA patients with normal CMR (n=15) from matched healthy controls, despite the hypothesis that coronary microvascular dysfunction would reduce stress perfusion. This is clinically significant because it suggests that non-contrast adenosine stress native T1/T2 mapping may be insufficient for detecting microvascular dysfunction in this MINOCA subgroup.

Andersson DF, Johansson RS, Tornvall P et al. · Clinical physiology and functional imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Detection of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Diabetic Mice Using Arterial Spin Labeling Cardiac MRI: A Multimodality Imaging Comparison.

This prospective animal study compared arterial spin labeling cardiac MRI (ASL-MRI) versus transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for detecting coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in type 1 and type 2 diabetic mouse models (C57BL/6J males), including early-stage 8-week T2DM. ASL-MRI and TTE provided CMD-related functional indices that were linked to histological measures of microvascular injury and myocardial remodeling across T1DM, T2DM, and control groups. The multimodality validation supports ASL-MRI as a noninvasive imaging approach for studying diabetic CMD mechanisms and progression in preclinical models.

Miao Q, Shi Y, Li B et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Prognostic implications of coronary microvascular dysfunction in STEMI with and without metabolic syndrome.

This multicenter prospective study evaluated prognostic implications of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS), using an angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance. CMD measured by microcirculatory resistance was examined for its association with cardiovascular outcomes stratified by MetS status after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The study is important because it addresses whether CMD adds prognostic value beyond MetS in STEMI, potentially refining post-PCI risk stratification.

Guo Q, Guo Y, Shi S et al. · Revista espanola de cardiologia (English ed.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Oxygenation-sensitive cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging to identify coronary microvascular and vasomotor dysfunction in angina and no obstructive coronary artery disease.

The study compared oxygenation-sensitive cardiovascular magnetic resonance (OS-CMR) against vasoactive breathing manoeuvres and invasive coronary function testing (ICFT) with intracoronary acetylcholine in patients with angina and no obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA) with endothelial-dependent coronary microvascular and vasomotor dysfunction (CMVD) and in healthy controls. OS-CMR was evaluated as a non-invasive, needle-free approach to identify endothelium-dependent CMVD, benchmarked against the gold-standard ICFT findings. If validated, OS-CMR could improve diagnosis and risk stratification of ANOCA patients by replacing invasive acetylcholine-based testing with a CMR-based functional assessment.

Hillier E, Palmer C, Lindsay K et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Can resting segmental strain identify obstructive coronary artery disease in chronic coronary syndrome patients referred to CABG?

This retrospective study evaluated whether resting segmental systolic strain on echocardiography can identify obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in chronic coronary syndrome patients referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), comparing tissue Doppler imaging strain with two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. The key finding was the diagnostic performance of resting segmental strain for detecting obstructive multivessel/left-main CAD in this CABG-referred cohort. If validated, this could provide a noninvasive, at-rest risk stratification tool to better select patients for invasive coronary evaluation and revascularization.

Rösner A, Kjønås D, Sandberg ML et al. · Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac Imaging Biomarkers of Inflammation, Systemic Disease, and Environmental Exposures

Myocardial Calcification as a Rare Cardiac Sequela: When Sepsis Leaves Its Mark.

This JACC Case Reports article described a 33-year-old woman who developed myocardial calcification after severe sepsis from disseminated Streptococcus pneumoniae, with markedly elevated troponin but normal coronary angiography. The key finding was that repeat chest CT four weeks later showed extensive left ventricular and papillary muscle calcifications, supporting sepsis-related myocardial calcification as a rare sequela. The clinical significance is that it alerts clinicians to persistent structural cardiac injury after sepsis and the potential need for follow-up imaging when cardiac biomarkers are disproportionately high.

El-Hamad A, Sene PM, El Mehdi El Yamani M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Atypical Case of Takayasu Aortitis Presenting as Embolic Stroke With Concomitant Massive Thoracic Artery Aneurysm.

This case report described a 44-year-old woman with hypertension who presented with embolic stroke symptoms and was found to have a massive thoracic aortic aneurysm along with Takayasu aortitis. The key finding was that surgical repair with a Dacron graft was performed and pathology showed granulomatous inflammation consistent with an autoimmune or infectious etiology. The report highlights that Takayasu aortitis can present atypically with embolic stroke and large thoracic aneurysm, emphasizing the need for vascular imaging and pathology-directed diagnosis.

Henson JC, Myers JH, Cummins M et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A 12-week Exercise Intervention Among Older Adults With Chronic Coronary Syndrome: Changes and Associations of Movement Behaviors and Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

This 12-week group exercise intervention studied 35 older adults with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) to assess changes in movement behaviors (via 7-day accelerometry), obesity markers, VO2peak, cardiometabolic risk, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and to test associations with these outcomes from baseline to 9 months. The key finding is that the intervention evaluated how changes in movement behaviors relate to improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak), cardiometabolic risk, and BDNF over follow-up. Clinically, the results support the role of structured exercise in modifying behavioral and cardiometabolic pathways relevant to prognosis in CCS patients.

Ullrich A, Bahls M, Voigt L et al. · European journal of sport science · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac MRI Identifies Subclinical Myocardial Tissue Abnormalities in Individuals With Hepatitis C Regardless of Myocardial Damage Markers or Fibrosis Stage.

The study used 3T cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to measure myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) fraction in 10 untreated individuals with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and compared results with age-matched healthy volunteers. The key finding was that HCV-infected participants had significantly higher ECV fraction (0.30±0.03 vs 0.26±0.03, p=0.0036) regardless of myocardial damage markers, hypertension, smoking pack-years, or fibrosis stage. This suggests that cardiac tissue inflammation/fibrosis surrogate abnormalities can occur as an extrahepatic manifestation of untreated HCV before overt liver fibrosis, supporting early HCV treatment.

D’Amore A, Sirajuddin A, George N et al. · Journal of viral hepatitis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Mortality Risk Among U.S. Veterans Receiving Dialysis With Diabetes.

This cohort study examined the association between continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use versus non-CGM use and mortality risk among U.S. veterans receiving dialysis who also have diabetes, using linked national Veterans Affairs, US Renal Data System, and Medicare data. The key finding is that CGM use was evaluated as a prognostic factor for survival in this high-risk dialysis population. Clinically, establishing whether CGM improves outcomes could inform dysglycemia monitoring strategies in dialysis patients where conventional glycemic markers are less accurate.

Narasaki Y, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Zisman-Ilani Y et al. · Diabetes care · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Intentional self-harm mortality among 15-24 year olds in Asian American subgroups, 2005-2022: a population-based incidence study.

This population-based incidence study analyzed National Center for Health Statistics mortality data (2005–2022) to quantify intentional self-harm mortality among 15–24-year-old Asian American subgroups in the U.S., using ICD-10 codes X60–X84 and Y87.0. It reported differences in annualized mortality rates across Asian subgroups (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese) compared with non-Hispanic White and Asian youth overall. The significance is improved surveillance granularity that can inform targeted prevention strategies for youth suicide risk by specific Asian American communities.

Uy LA, Chang E, Desai S et al. · Lancet regional health. Americas · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Interpersonal Relationship, Academic Performance, & Life Skills: A Comparative Study of Children With and Without Emotional and Behavioral Problems.

This cross-sectional comparative study examined 120 children aged 6–14 years from West Bengal, comparing those with emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) versus those without, using standardized psychosocial scales. Children with EBPs scored significantly lower on interpersonal relationships and life skills compared with controls. The clinical significance is that EBPs are associated with measurable functional impairments beyond symptoms, supporting early identification and targeted interventions.

Kheto P, Pallerla S, Bhattacharjee K et al. · Clinical child psychology and psychiatry · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Construction and modification of a low-copy plasmid-based infectious clone for GI-19 genotype IBV via Red/ET recombineering: A simplified and efficient reverse genetics system for coronavirus.

This study constructed and modified a low-copy plasmid-based infectious clone for avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) GI-19 genotype IBV using Red/ET recombineering as a reverse genetics system. The key finding is that the workflow enabled streamlined genome cDNA assembly, precise genetic modification, and rapid screening of recombinant viruses using RecE/RecT-mediated recombination with positive/counter-selection strategies. The scientific significance is providing an efficient platform to generate and study IBV mutants for virology and vaccine/antiviral research.

Feng K, Li Y, Song C et al. · Poultry science · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Incremental Prognostic Value of Pericardial Adipose Tissue Radiomic Phenotype Based on Cardiac MRI in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease.

This retrospective multi-center study evaluated whether pericardial adipose tissue (PEAT) radiomic features from cardiac MRI add prognostic value for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in 248 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The key finding was that PEAT radiomic phenotypes were associated with MACE risk beyond PEAT volume alone, with models validated across development and validation cohorts. The clinical significance is improved risk stratification in ESRD using noninvasive cardiac MRI radiomics that may better capture adverse cardiac risk biology.

Zhang TY, Liu Y, Chen SZ et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Systemic inflammation, myocardial fibrosis, and subclinical cardiovascular disease in people living with HIV.

This cross-sectional pilot study in matched veterans with and without HIV assessed whether systemic inflammation is associated with myocardial fibrosis and subclinical cardiovascular disease using blood inflammatory markers plus echocardiography and cardiac MRI (along with coronary calcium scoring and stress testing). It found relationships linking HIV-associated systemic inflammation to myocardial fibrosis and markers of subclinical cardiac disease. These findings suggest that inflammation-driven fibrotic remodeling may contribute to earlier cardiovascular dysfunction in people living with HIV.

Simkevich M, Chen YY, Parent M et al. · American heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Splenic tissue alterations in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: determinants and prognostic implications.

This retrospective CMR study assessed splenic tissue alterations in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (within 10 days) by measuring native splenic T1 times and extracellular volume (ECV) and relating splenic T1 patterns to infarction patterns, myocardial function, and adverse outcomes. The key finding was that specific determinants of splenic T1/ECV patterns were identified and that these splenic tissue alterations carried prognostic information for subsequent outcomes after STEMI. Clinically, CMR-visible cardio-splenic inflammatory changes may help refine risk prediction beyond myocardial injury alone.

Yin TX, Zhu GJ, Gu XY et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Association between particulate matter air pollution and subclinical myocardial fibrosis in structurally normal hearts: a CMR-based study.

This CMR-based observational study examined whether long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) is associated with subclinical myocardial fibrosis in patients with structurally normal hearts and no late gadolinium enhancement. Using CMR mapping-derived markers of diffuse fibrosis/inflammation and multivariable regression adjusted for demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors, the study tested associations between PM exposure and CMR parameters. The findings could support a link between air pollution and early myocardial remodeling, providing imaging biomarkers for cardiovascular risk in otherwise normal hearts.

Figliozzi S, Filiberti G, Catapano F et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 3 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Circulating monocyte gene expression profiles associated with cardiac remodeling and incident heart failure in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

This Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) analysis linked circulating CD14+ monocyte gene expression profiles to cardiac remodeling metrics and incident heart failure in participants free of ischemic heart disease. Using Illumina microarrays on isolated monocytes and concurrent contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance, the study identified specific monocyte transcriptomic patterns associated with imaging-derived remodeling and subsequent heart failure risk among 1,195 community-based participants. The results support a mechanistic role for circulating monocyte biology in non-ischemic cardiac remodeling and may enable gene-expression biomarkers for predicting incident heart failure.

Peterson TE, Hahn VS, Ding J et al. · Communications medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac Imaging Safety, Protocol Optimization, and Reproducibility

Treatment of Premature Ventricular Contractions: A Review of Medical Therapy, Catheter Ablation, and Emerging Treatments.

This review studied the management of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in patients with and without structural heart disease, focusing on medical therapy, catheter ablation, and emerging treatments. It found that clinical significance varies by symptom burden, PVC frequency, ventricular function, and underlying myocardial disease, with PVC-induced cardiomyopathy and malignant ventricular arrhythmia risk in selected patients. The review is clinically important because it frames how diagnostic workup (ECG, ambulatory monitoring, echocardiography, exercise testing, and cardiac MRI) and treatment selection can be tailored to reduce symptoms and prevent progression.

Elattar S, Hodhod A, Basha NR et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Variability in Cardiac Stress Test Interpretation: Agreement Between Enrollment Sites and Core Laboratories in the Global ISCHEMIA Trial.

This analysis studied variability in cardiac stress test interpretation between enrollment sites and core laboratories within the global ISCHEMIA trial population with chronic coronary disease and moderate-to-severe ischemia. The key finding was that interpretation of myocardial ischemia showed measurable differences across sites and core labs, indicating inconsistency in how ischemia was identified and categorized. This is clinically important because it affects risk stratification and trial comparability, and it underscores the need for harmonized stress-testing interpretation standards.

O’Keefe E, Sperry BW, Jones PG et al. · Circulation. Population health and outcomes · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A Case of Brugada Syndrome… or Something Else? Behind Type 1 Brugada Pattern.

This case report described a 51-year-old man with syncope during a febrile illness who had a transient spontaneous type-1 Brugada ECG pattern. The key finding was that despite an initial Brugada-like presentation, subsequent evaluation (including Holter monitoring showing multifocal ventricular ectopy and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia) raised concern for an alternative diagnosis rather than classic primary Brugada syndrome. The clinical significance is that overt myocardial scar or arrhythmogenic substrate should prompt reconsideration of Brugada syndrome and drive further structural and arrhythmia evaluation.

Scarà A, Borrelli A, Romano S et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Optimizing Cine Cardiac MRI: Technical Advances and Clinical Applications.

This review studied technical optimization of cine cardiac MRI in the context of clinical cardiac function assessment, focusing on pulse-sequence parameter tuning (TR, TE, flip angle, bandwidth) for balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) at higher field strengths. It found that adjusting these parameters can improve signal-to-noise ratio and temporal resolution while addressing limitations from off-resonance effects, SAR constraints, and susceptibility artifacts, especially at ≥3T. The clinical significance is more reliable cine MRI quantification of cardiac motion and function across scanners and patient conditions (e.g., limited breath-hold or arrhythmia).

Dehghani S, Rajabi A, Rahmati A et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Correlation across modalities and clinical phenotypes between left Ventricular global longitudinal strain by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated cross-modality agreement between left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) and by cardiac MRI feature tracking (CMR-FT) in the same cohorts. Across 11 studies, patient-level correlations (Pearson r) between STE and CMR-FT LV-GLS were pooled with random-effects models, with subgroup analyses for healthy versus cardiovascular disease cohorts. The results clarify how consistently LV-GLS can be compared across imaging platforms, informing clinical interpretation and research harmonization.

Pascalis L, Fazzini L, Pugliesi GM et al. · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Reproducibility of cardiac volumetric parameters derived from fully automatically prescribed image planes: a direct comparison to manual planning at 1.5-T and 3-T MRI.

This prospective single-center study compared reproducibility of cardiac MRI volumetric parameters derived from fully automatically prescribed image planes versus manual planning at 1.5 T and 3 T in 52 healthy volunteers. Automated planning produced volumetric measurements with reproducibility comparable to manual planning when using identical acquisition protocols across field strengths. The findings support automated CMR plane prescription as a way to reduce time and planning variability, improving consistency of longitudinal volumetric assessment.

Deyerberg KK, Meinel FG, Watzke LM et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Comparing contact dermatitis due to tissue adhesives in port-site closure.

This randomized controlled intra-patient trial compared contact dermatitis risk from two tissue adhesives—Dermabond™ (Ethicon; DB) versus LiquiBand® (Advanced Medical Solutions; LB)—in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery. The study directly tested whether one adhesive had a higher rate of contact dermatitis than the other using a randomized design within the same patient. The results are significant for selecting safer closure materials to reduce postoperative dermatologic complications in minimally invasive surgery.

Holihan JL, Wrather AG, Lancaster C et al. · Surgical endoscopy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Optimization of Respiratory Training Methods for Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

This prospective study tested different respiratory training and breath-holding methods in 93 patients undergoing cardiac MRI at 3T using sequences including single-shot fast spin-echo, SSFP, first-pass perfusion (fast gradient echo), and late gadolinium enhancement. The key finding was the comparative effect of these breath-hold/respiratory training approaches on reducing respiratory motion artifacts and improving image quality. This is significant because optimizing respiratory training can directly improve the diagnostic quality of cardiac MRI in routine clinical practice.

Ma Z, Zhang X, Li G et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Spatial proximity or vector orientation? Re-evaluating ECG interpretation in anterior myocardial infarction using cardiac magnetic resonance.

This prospective study evaluated how ECG interpretation methods for anterior myocardial infarction (MI)—based on anatomical lead proximity versus ST-segment vector orientation—perform against direct CMR injury distribution in 105 patients scanned 3–7 days after presentation. The key finding was that CMR-defined injury distribution did not fully align with ECG localization approaches, prompting re-evaluation of whether spatial proximity or vector orientation better reflects true myocardial injury. This is clinically important because it may refine how clinicians infer infarct location/extent from ECG when planning prognosis and management.

Aslanger EK, Aggül B, İnan D et al. · Journal of electrocardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Applicability of Stress Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Cardiac Implantable Devices: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review assessed the applicability of stress perfusion cardiac MRI in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) by screening 1695 records and including eight eligible studies. The key finding was a consolidated assessment of evidence regarding image quality, CIED compatibility/safety, scanner and protocol considerations, and device-specific exclusion criteria for stress CMR. Clinically, it supports safer and more informed use of stress perfusion CMR in CIED patients by clarifying practical constraints and gaps in the current literature.

Zakavi S, Khorgami MR, Babaee P et al. · Cardiology research and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Advanced Cardiac MRI/CT Physics, Quantitative Methods, and Reconstruction/Acceleration

A Comparison of Tissue Property Values Estimated Using Conventional Cardiac MRF and MT-Cardiac MRF.

This work evaluated cardiac magnetic resonance fingerprinting (cMRF) in 14 healthy subjects by comparing conventional cMRF reconstruction (ignoring magnetization transfer, MT) versus an MT-cMRF dictionary that explicitly models the free water pool (T1f, T2f) and bound pool fraction (BPF). The key finding was that incorporating MT modeling changed the estimated T1/T1f and T2/T2 values and enabled more accurate, pool-specific tissue property quantification compared with conventional cMRF when MT effects were present. Scientifically, this supports using MT-aware cMRF reconstruction to reduce bias in quantitative T1/T2 mapping and improve reliability of cardiac tissue characterization.

Kaplan S, Liu Z, Hamilton J et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The importance of spatial resolution in detecting chronic myocardial iron remnants following hemorrhagic myocardial infarction with T2* MRI.

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 and ex-vivo imaging of resected swine hearts (n=10) with 8-week hMI. The key finding was that smaller voxel sizes and thinner slices improved the ability to detect iron deposits, with performance degrading as spatial resolution worsened. This is significant because it provides practical imaging guidance for optimizing T2* protocols to reliably identify chronic iron from hMI, which is linked to adverse outcomes.

Zhang X, Yang HJ, Dharmakumar R · Biomedical physics & engineering express · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Computational modeling of left ventricular flow using PC-CMR-derived four-dimensional wall motion.

The study developed individualized left-ventricular (LV) computational fluid dynamics models by integrating two MRI modalities of four-dimensional wall motion with blood-flow simulation in order to characterize intracardiac hemodynamics. The key finding is that imaging-driven, moving-wall CFD modeling using PC-CMR-derived 4D wall motion is proposed as a feasible route to personalize LV flow without fully coupled fluid–solid modeling. This approach could improve scientific understanding and clinical characterization of LV hemodynamics in patients with cardiac/valvular disease by enabling patient-specific flow metrics from MRI.

Peighambari SB, Mukherjee T, Mendiola EA et al. · International journal of engineering science · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

In vivo evidence of blood flow slippage: failure of the no-slip boundary condition assumption.

The study investigated whether the no-slip boundary condition holds in vivo by imaging seven healthy adults with four-dimensional flow CMR of the descending thoracic aorta and modeling blood as a Navier–Stokes fluid. The key finding was evidence of “blood flow slippage,” with near-wall tangential velocities estimated at approximately 30–80% of the measured values under a Navier–Stokes data assimilation framework. This is significant because it challenges a foundational assumption in cardiovascular fluid dynamics and may affect how CFD-derived wall shear stress and related hemodynamic biomarkers are interpreted.

Jarolímová A, Hron J, Tůma K et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Sustainable Low-Field Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Changing Healthcare Systems-An Update.

This narrative update reviewed advances enabling sustainable low-field cardiovascular magnetic resonance (LF-CMR), particularly around 0.55 Tesla, for assessing cardiac structure, function, and tissue characteristics in settings with limited resources. The key finding is that optimized low-field hardware (e.g., gradient coils and RF systems) and AI-driven reconstruction can maintain strong diagnostic performance despite lower signal-to-noise ratios. Scientifically and clinically, LF-CMR could broaden access to CMR diagnostics in low- and middle-income countries and improve feasibility in changing healthcare systems.

Umair M, Marey A, Murali S et al. · NMR in biomedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Simultaneous multi-slice Cardiac Diffusion Tensor Imaging with variable CAIPIRINHA shifts and artefact-aware AI.

This work developed and tested ORCAS, an accelerated cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (cDTI) framework that combines variable CAIPIRINHA shifts with artefact-aware AI reconstruction for simultaneous multi-slice acquisition. By decohering SMS leakage artefacts across repetitions and using AI to mitigate reconstruction errors, ORCAS aims to achieve adequate signal-to-noise without prohibitively long acquisition times. The significance is faster, more reliable in-vivo myocardial microstructure imaging, potentially enabling broader clinical and research use of cDTI.

Tänzer M, Lim EJ, Qiu HH et al. · Medical image analysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Improved Myocardial Sodium Quantification at 7 T Using Interleaved 23Na/1H pTx MRI With Motion and Anatomy-Based B1 Correction.

This 7T cardiac MRI methods study developed an interleaved dual-nuclear 23Na/1H pTx sequence with retrospective respiratory and cardiac motion correction plus an anatomy-based B1 bias field correction to improve myocardial sodium (23Na) quantification accuracy and repeatability. Using 1H-derived segmentation (via nnUNet) and synthetic 23Na images to estimate B1 transmit/receive bias, the approach reduced quantification errors and improved robustness of myocardial 23Na measurements. Scientifically, it advances more reliable sodium quantification at ultra-high field, which is important for assessing myocardial metabolism and injury.

Ruck L, Egger N, Zobler B et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Enhanced 2D Spiral Cine DENSE MRI Using Low-Rank Denoising for Improved Apparent Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Spatial Resolution, Efficiency, Accuracy, and Accessibility.

This study developed a low-rank denoising method for 2D spiral cine displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE) MRI to improve apparent signal-to-noise ratio, spatial resolution, efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility by implementing DENSE at 0.55 T. In 36 human subjects (16 healthy, 20 with heart disease) scanned with breath-hold standard-resolution 2D cine DENSE at 3 T and additional high-resolution acquisitions in a subset, the denoising technique improved image quality and displacement/strain measurement performance. The work supports broader clinical use of DENSE by enabling higher-quality myocardial motion quantification at lower field strength.

Shih SF, Wu Y, Li S et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Feasibility of Implicit Neural Representation Learned Motion Compensation for 3D Stack-of-Spirals Free-Breathing Cardiac Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping.

This feasibility study proposed free-breathing cardiac quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) using a retrospective self-gated 3D stack-of-spirals acquisition combined with implicit neural representation (INR) learned motion compensation to estimate right–left heart differential blood oxygenation (ΔSO2). The deep-learning motion compensation improved robustness and reduced acquisition burden compared with navigator-gated prospective QSM, enabling noninvasive ΔSO2 estimation without invasive right heart catheterization. Scientifically, it provides a path toward more practical MRI-based oxygenation assessment in routine cardiac imaging.

Li J, Deng A, Li C et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Bright Ferritin for Non-Invasive MRI Monitoring of the Fate of Transplanted hPSC-Cardiomyocytes in the Infarcted Rat Heart.

This preclinical 3T MRI study tested whether “bright ferritin” MRI can noninvasively track transplanted human pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) in rat hearts after myocardial infarction. Ferritin-overexpressing hPSCs produced cardiomyocytes that were longitudinally imaged in healthy and infarcted immunodeficient rats over 8 weeks, with MnCl2 supplementation enabling on-demand recall of signal. The approach provides a powerful tool to monitor cell fate and retention of engineered cardiomyocytes using a clinically translatable MRI contrast strategy.

Zhuang K, Alibhai FJ, Qiang B et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

FlowVN Trained on a Single Dataset Enables Rapid Reconstruction of Highly Accelerated 4D Flow MRI Across Multiple Sites.

This study evaluated FlowVN, a deep variational network, for reconstructing heavily undersampled 4D flow MRI in healthy volunteers and patients across multiple sites. FlowVN trained on fully sampled single-site data enabled rapid reconstruction of accelerated 4D flow MRI (retrospective R=6–22 and prospective R≈12.4–13.8) with preserved quantitative performance across sites, including aortic stenosis patients. The work supports single-dataset training for multi-site, high-acceleration 4D flow MRI, potentially improving clinical throughput and standardization of flow and turbulence-related measurements.

Qazi SA, Bianchessi T, Viola F et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Clinical Evaluation of A-LIKNet: Deep Learning-accelerated Single-breath-hold CINE Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Cardiac Function Assessment.

This single-center study evaluated A-LIKNet, a deep learning model (attention-incorporated network for sharing low-rank, image, and k-space information), for single-breath-hold accelerated 2D cardiac cine MRI in 42 subjects. A-LIKNet reconstructed cine images at acceleration factors of 8×, 16×, and 24× from single breath-holds and showed diagnostic accuracy and quantitative agreement for biventricular volumes and function versus standard multi-breath-hold CINE. The findings are clinically significant because they support faster, patient-friendly CMR acquisition while maintaining reliable functional measurements.

Kübler J, Chekan S, Xu S et al. · Investigative radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Apical hypercontractility mitigates impaired diastolic filling and lower intraventricular haemodynamic forces in human bed rest.

This experimental physiology study used cardiac magnetic resonance to investigate how apical hypercontractility affects diastolic filling and intraventricular haemodynamic forces during prolonged physical inactivity in 24 healthy participants undergoing 60 days of strict head-down tilt bed rest (AGBRESA). The key finding was that apical hypercontractility mitigated impaired diastolic filling and reduced lower intraventricular haemodynamic forces that typically accompany bed-rest-induced cardiac deconditioning. Scientifically, it suggests a compensatory regional contractility mechanism that could inform early detection and countermeasure development for inactivity-related cardiac dysfunction.

Rabineau J, Al-Darwish F, Mulder E et al. · Experimental physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Photon-counting detector CT in cardiovascular imaging: technical advances, clinical applications, and future perspectives.

This article is a structured review of photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) for cardiovascular imaging, synthesizing technical advances, clinical applications, limitations, and future directions from literature published between January 2015 and March 2025. The key finding is that PCD-CT enables improved spectral imaging and detector performance that can benefit multiple cardiovascular use cases, while current limitations remain around availability, workflow integration, and evidence gaps. Scientifically, it provides an evidence-based roadmap for researchers and clinicians considering PCD-CT adoption in cardiovascular diagnostics.

Hong Z, Yao B, Wu H · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

AI/ML and Automated Image Interpretation in Cardiac Imaging

Prediction of hypertension and restenosis under guideline-directed management in aortic coarctation: development and validation of machine-learning models.

This study developed and validated machine-learning models to predict hypertension and restenosis in individuals with aortic coarctation under guideline-directed management, using routinely collected electronic health records plus cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and mid-/long-term follow-up data from 160 patients (218 visits) in Berlin. The key finding was that multiple ML approaches (including CatBoost, XGBoost, random forest, support vector classifiers, neural networks, and logistic models) were trained and validated to forecast these outcomes using the available clinical and imaging features. This is scientifically significant because it suggests a data-driven way to identify coarctation patients at higher risk of recurrent hypertension and restenosis despite standard care.

Fierley L, Versnjak J, Gabel G et al. · EClinicalMedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Leveraging natural language processing artificial intelligence for automated data extraction of ejection fraction and strain from cardiovascular imaging reports.

This retrospective observational study applied natural language processing (NLP) to extract ejection fraction (EF) and related cardiac imaging parameters from free-text cardiovascular imaging reports in cancer survivors across multiple modalities (echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and CMR) over 2000–2020. The key finding is that NLP was feasible for automated extraction of EF and related strain/functional measurements from large-scale, multi-modality imaging report data. Scientifically and clinically, this enables scalable, longitudinal phenotyping of cardiac function in cancer survivorship cohorts using routinely collected clinical text.

Brown SA, BagheriMohamadiPour M, Sparapani R et al. · American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

FedSemiDG: Domain generalized federated semi-supervised medical image segmentation.

This paper studied FedSemiDG, a domain generalized federated semi-supervised learning framework for medical image segmentation using labeled data from multiple centers plus unlabeled data without sharing raw images. The key finding is that explicitly modeling domain shift in federated semi-supervised learning improves aggregation and the effective use of unlabeled data for better performance on unseen domains. The scientific significance is more robust cross-site segmentation in real-world settings where imaging protocols and distributions vary.

Deng Z, Xu Z, Isshiki T et al. · Medical image analysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Large Language Models for Cardiac MRI Diagnosis Based on Standardized Text Descriptions.

This retrospective study evaluated large language models (LLMs) for cardiac MRI diagnosis using standardized text descriptions in a multi-disease population. The key finding was that LLM-based interpretation of standardized descriptions can support diagnostic classification across hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, constrictive pericarditis, cardiac amyloidosis, myocarditis, and normal controls. The clinical significance is potential decision support for less experienced centers by translating structured cardiac MRI findings into diagnostic outputs.

Zhang H, Zhou J, Zhang C et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The study developed a scalable, annotation-efficient deep learning framework to localize left-ventricular (LV) centered regions of interest (ROIs) in low–signal-to-noise stress perfusion cardiac MRI, using a U-Net pretrained on the Multi-Centre, Multi-Vendor, Multi-Disease (M&Ms) cine CMR dataset. The key finding was that the pretrained U-Net plus visual refinement enabled efficient LV ROI localization and preprocessing despite motion artifacts and limited annotated stress-perfusion data. This is clinically significant because robust LV ROI extraction can improve the reliability and scalability of downstream AI-based stress perfusion CMR analysis.

Kalashami MP, Elshibly M, Shergill S et al. · Journal of imaging informatics in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

This study used a 3D diffusion autoencoder to derive latent cardiac MRI traits from temporally resolved cardiac MRI in 71,017 UK Biobank participants and then performed genome-wide association analyses on those traits. The key finding was that the learned cardiac MRI latent phenotypes were reproducible and heritable (heritability 4–18%) and that GWAS identified 89 significant common variants across 42 loci associated with cardiometabolic traits. Scientifically, this links high-dimensional cardiac imaging phenotypes to shared genetic architecture, enabling more scalable genetic discovery from biobank-scale imaging.

Ometto S, Chatterjee S, Vergani AM et al. · Nature communications · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Multimodality Imaging Integration and Clinical Decision Support

Use of advanced cardiovascular imaging in rheumatic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

This retrospective multi-centre quality improvement project studied real-world use of advanced cardiovascular imaging (cardiac MRI, CT coronary angiography, and PET) in adults with less common or rare rheumatic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) across four UK hospitals. The key finding was that imaging utilization varied by IMID and practice patterns, revealing differences in how and when advanced imaging was applied. This is significant for clinical guideline development because it identifies gaps and heterogeneity in cardiovascular assessment strategies for these rheumatic populations.

Gumber L, Meghji MA, Kakkar V et al. · Rheumatology (Oxford, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging assessment of Del Nido versus cold blood cardioplegia in patients with low ejection fraction undergoing combined coronary artery bypass graft and mitral valve replacement: Early outcomes.

This single-center prospective study compared Del Nido cardioplegia (DNC) versus conventional cold blood cardioplegia (CBC) in patients with low ejection fraction undergoing concomitant CABG and mitral valve replacement, using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to assess early myocardial functional recovery. The key finding was the early functional recovery comparison between the two cardioplegia strategies in 42 patients with LVEF <45% (randomized into two groups, per the truncated methods). The clinical significance is that it evaluates whether DNC offers myocardial protection benefits measurable by CMR in higher-risk cardiac surgery patients with reduced LVEF.

Gode S, Polat M, Eroğlu Polat A et al. · Turk gogus kalp damar cerrahisi dergisi · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Diagnosis of cardiac pathology on acute electrocardiographic-gated thoracic computed tomography: guidance for the general radiologist.

This study examined how electrocardiographic-gated thoracic computed tomographic angiography datasets can be used to diagnose acute cardiac pathology in patients undergoing acute aortic syndrome–focused CT. It highlights that coronary atheromatous disease and other potentially life-threatening cardiac findings are frequently overlooked or misinterpreted by general radiologists despite being present in the same gated CT dataset. The work supports improved radiologist guidance and error reduction to increase detection of clinically critical cardiac causes during acute CT evaluation.

Manghat NE, Greco F, Harries I et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Evaluation of new vectorcardiography algorithms for identifying left ventricular hypertrophy and impaired systolic function.

This prospective study evaluated new vectorcardiography (VCG) algorithms for identifying left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and impaired systolic function, using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) as the reference standard. The key finding was that VCG diagnostic performance for LVH and systolic impairment was measurable and compared against CMR-derived phenotypes, supporting VCG as a potential scalable screening tool. If validated further, VCG could offer a rapid, lower-cost alternative to CMR for early detection of structural heart disease.

Salatzki J, Schwarz AK, Wolfsteller S et al. · Journal of electrocardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A Stepwise Multimodality Imaging Approach to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Cystic Fibrosis.

This case report studied a 25-year-old man with cystic fibrosis who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation during a pulmonary exacerbation complicated by hemoptysis and hypoxemia. After resuscitation, multimodality evaluation (ECG, high-sensitivity troponin, transthoracic echocardiography) identified myocardial injury and regional wall motion abnormalities despite the absence of ST-segment elevation. The clinical significance is demonstrating a stepwise imaging approach to diagnose cardiac causes of arrest in young cystic fibrosis patients where atherosclerotic disease is unlikely.

Frittella S, Iuvara G, Angeli F et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiovascular Imaging in Congenital/Structural Heart Disease and Interventions

One Anatomy, Multiple Valve Choices: Interobserver Agreement in Selecting Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve.

This study evaluated interobserver agreement in selecting transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPVR) device type, size, and position using 3D patient-specific anatomies derived from cardiac magnetic resonance images. The key finding was that agreement among six experienced observers across three regions of the Americas could be quantified for valve choice (self-expanding, balloon-expandable, or surgical approach) and positioning decisions across 60 pediatric and adult anatomies. The scientific significance is that it highlights how anatomical variability and interpretation differences may affect TPVR planning and supports the development of more standardized selection frameworks.

Pérez-Cualtán CE, Cabrales J, Garay F et al. · Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Fetal MRI for cardiopulmonary anomalies: what the pediatric cardiologist and surgeon need to know.

This review studied how fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can be integrated with expert fetal echocardiography for prenatal evaluation of complex cardiopulmonary anomalies in fetuses. It found that fetal CMR provides high-resolution, multiplanar, wide-field imaging with superior soft-tissue contrast that can add diagnostic or prognostic information when echocardiography is limited by technical/physiologic factors. The clinical significance is improved prenatal counseling, delivery planning, and postnatal management for pediatric cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery teams.

Dadoun SE, Mokha S, Kooraki S et al. · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Sex-based differences in mitral and tricuspid valve disease in the era of transcatheter therapies: a contemporary review.

This contemporary review synthesized evidence on sex-based differences in mitral and tricuspid valve disease presentation, imaging assessment, and management in the era of transcatheter therapies. It reports that women and men differ in epidemiology and pathophysiology and that these differences can influence diagnostic evaluation and procedural outcomes for transcatheter mitral and tricuspid interventions. Clinically, the review highlights the need to incorporate sex-specific considerations into imaging interpretation and procedural planning for valvular heart disease.

Oletu H, Irivbogbe OA, Akhtar Y · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings in congenital cardiovascular anomalies.

This narrative review summarized CT and MRI findings in congenital cardiovascular anomalies across pediatric and adult populations with congenital heart disease (CHD). It emphasizes roles for CMR and cardiac CT/CT angiography as complementary modalities to echocardiography, particularly when postoperative echocardiography is limited. The review is significant for clinicians to select appropriate cross-sectional imaging to characterize anatomy, function, and complications in CHD.

Koplay M, Seher N · Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Apical Right Ventricular Sequestration with Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation: Multimodal Imaging Evaluation in an Adolescent.

This JACC Case Reports report described an adolescent (14-year-old female) with palpitations, failure to thrive, and recurrent respiratory infections who underwent multimodal cardiac imaging for complex congenital heart disease. The key finding was apical right ventricular sequestration as a rare nonobstructive variant of double-chamber right ventricle, associated with severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation, a large ventricular septal defect, and biventricular dysfunction. The case illustrates how multimodality imaging can identify underrecognized anatomic variants that may influence clinical management and surgical planning.

De la Cruz-Pelayo J, Mélendez-Ramírez G, de la Mora-Cervantes R et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A rare capillary type cardiac hemangioma in the right atrium.

This case report describes a rare capillary type cardiac hemangioma located in the right atrium, emphasizing diagnostic challenges and the role of multimodality imaging. The key finding was that advanced imaging (including echocardiography, CT, and cardiac MRI) helped characterize the lesion and support preoperative diagnosis of the hemangioma subtype. Clinically, accurate imaging-based identification can guide management of a tumor that may cause arrhythmia, effusion, heart failure, and other location-dependent complications.

Ku L, Qiu R, Ma X · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Zanubrutinib combined with R-CHOP in previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with specific gene alteration: a phase II study.

This phase II trial studied zanubrutinib (a BTK inhibitor) combined with R-CHOP as first-line therapy in adults (18–75 years) with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) carrying high-risk gene alterations such as MYD88, CD79B, NOTCH1, TP53 mutations, or MYC rearrangements. The key finding was the rationale-driven evaluation of zanubrutinib in genomically defined high-risk DLBCL based on prior evidence of BTK-pathway sensitivity in relapsed disease. The clinical significance is that it tests whether adding BTK inhibition can improve outcomes for patients whose specific BCR-signaling–linked genomic features predict suboptimal responses to R-CHOP alone.

Zhang Q, Jiang S, Wei R et al. · Blood cancer journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

This analysis studied updated patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and the effect of disease progression in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer randomized to niraparib first-line maintenance versus placebo in the PRIMA/ENGOT-OV26/GOG-3012 trial. The key finding was that HRQOL was longitudinally assessed using EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OV28, FOSI, and EQ-5D-5L (including EQ-VAS), and the study evaluated how progression influenced these patient-reported outcomes. This is clinically significant because it informs the patient-centered benefit–risk profile of niraparib maintenance by linking treatment and progression status to HRQOL trajectories.

Shahin MS, Lorusso D, Backes FJ et al. · Gynecologic oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

CAR-T Cell Therapy Versus Salvage Chemotherapy in Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Integrating Radiologic, Laboratory, and Histopathologic Correlates.

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized randomized trials and high-quality comparative cohort studies in adults with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) comparing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy versus salvage chemotherapy. The key finding was that CAR-T therapy showed comparative effectiveness relative to salvage chemotherapy when integrating radiologic, laboratory, and histopathologic correlates across included studies. Clinically, the analysis supports CAR-T as a leading strategy for R/R DLBCL and helps contextualize outcomes by patient and disease characteristics.

Elsayed FM, Baban J, Elkholy HY et al. · La Clinica terapeutica · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Of HIV-Positive Plasmablastic Lymphoma - Case Series.

This case series reported on autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in HIV-positive patients with plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL), focusing on safety and efficacy as consolidation at first complete response (CR1) in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The key finding was that ASCT was feasible in this population, addressing prior concerns about life-threatening opportunistic infections in HIV-associated aggressive lymphoma. The clinical significance is that it supports consideration of ASCT for selected HIV-positive PBL patients achieving CR1 under effective antiretroviral therapy.

Giri Raja Pandiyan VM, Perumal Kalaiyarasi J, Govindarajan DD et al. · Indian journal of hematology & blood transfusion : an official journal of Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

CTLA4-Ig + Anti-IL-6/IL-6R Treatment Results in Long-term Allograft Survival and Function in Highly HLA-sensitized Patients.

This study evaluated a combined immunosuppressive regimen of CTLA4-Ig plus anti–IL-6/IL-6 receptor therapy in highly HLA-sensitized transplant recipients, particularly addressing patients at risk for rejection and those with calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) neuro/nephrotoxicity. The key finding is that the combination was associated with long-term allograft survival and preserved allograft function in these highly HLA-sensitized patients. Clinically, this supports a potential CNI-free conversion strategy that may reduce rejection risk (including CMR/AMR and donor-specific antibody rebound) in a difficult-to-treat population.

Jordan SC, Chandran S, Ammerman N et al. · Transplantation direct · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Polygenic Risk Identifies Older Adults Who May Benefit From Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke.

This post hoc analysis of the ASPREE randomized trial assessed whether an integrative polygenic score (iPGS) derived from >1.2 million variants can identify older adults who may benefit from daily 100-mg aspirin for primary prevention of ischemic stroke. The study found that polygenic risk stratification could distinguish a subgroup of participants more likely to derive net benefit from aspirin despite overall bleeding-risk concerns in older adults. The clinical significance is that iPGS may enable more personalized aspirin decisions for ischemic stroke prevention in older populations.

Yu C, Hussain SM, Fransquet PD et al. · Stroke · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Atorvastatin and left ventricular strain during anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

This study in the STOP-CA randomized trial evaluated whether atorvastatin given for 12 months protects lymphoma patients receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy from reductions in left ventricular (LV) deformation measured by cardiac MRI feature tracking (FT) global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS). Atorvastatin attenuated anthracycline-associated declines in GLS and GCS compared with placebo using baseline and 12-month 7T? (not specified) cardiac MRI FT endpoints. These findings support a potential cardioprotective role for atorvastatin to preserve myocardial mechanics during anthracycline exposure in patients with lymphoma.

Juhasz V, Quinaglia T, Drobni ZD et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Evaluating the metabolic effects of neoadjuvant treatment in clear cell renal cell carcinoma using hyperpolarized [1-13 C]pyruvate MRI.

This exploratory prospective clinical trial assessed metabolic response to neoadjuvant treatment in four patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma using hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate MRI. The study used hyperpolarized 13C-MRI to quantify tumor lactate-to-pyruvate ratios as an early biomarker of treatment response rather than relying on late tumor size changes. The work is significant as it supports hyperpolarized carbon-13 imaging as a potential companion biomarker for early neoadjuvant efficacy in RCC.

Horvat-Menih I, McLean MA, Birchall J et al. · Abdominal radiology (New York) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Multimodality imaging in the detection and management of coronary and peripheral arterial disease in patients with cancer receiving cardiotoxic antineoplastic treatments: A clinical consensus statement of the ESC Council of Cardio-Oncology and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) of the ESC.

This ESC Council of Cardio-Oncology and EACVI clinical consensus statement reviewed how multimodality cardiovascular imaging should be used to detect and manage coronary and peripheral arterial disease in patients receiving cardiotoxic antineoplastic treatments. It concluded that imaging indications are broadly similar to the general population but should be adapted to cancer-specific pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and baseline risk assessment needs. The guidance supports earlier detection and more tailored management of CAD/PAD in cancer patients to improve prognosis and treatment planning.

Novo G, Lopez-Fernandez T, Delgado V et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Generated automatically on July 02, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published June 25, 2026 – July 02, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.

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