What's New in Cardiac MRI? — August 04, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 86 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
August 04, 2026 · 86 articles · 15 research themes · covering July 28, 2026 – August 04, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of studies, cardiac MRI (and related quantitative imaging) continues to shift from “diagnosis” toward “risk and mechanism.” Multiple papers emphasize CMR-derived tissue and functional biomarkers—such as fibrosis patterns (LGE, T1/ECV mapping), myocardial inflammation (T2 mapping), and atrial/ventricular mechanics (strain, coupling indices, dyssynchrony)—as tools to predict arrhythmias, adverse outcomes, and disease progression in diverse cardiomyopathies and valvular syndromes (e.g., desmoplakin cardiomyopathy, Fabry disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse/MAD). Importantly, several works also highlight diagnostic pitfalls and pattern recognition (e.g., DSP cardiomyopathy mimicking myocarditis; papillary muscle fibrosis signal confusion), aiming to reduce misclassification and inappropriate management.
A second dominant theme is refinement of imaging for complex cardiovascular phenotypes in pulmonary vascular disease and right-heart failure. Studies use CMR to phenotype pulmonary arterial compliance, Fontan ventricular mechanics, and RV longitudinal function, and to track RV reverse remodeling after CTEPH endarterectomy—often linking imaging changes to hemodynamics, histology, and circulating metabolites. In parallel, ischemic and inflammatory cardiac conditions are addressed with both prognostic and mechanistic imaging: persistent microvascular obstruction after STEMI, coronary endothelial dysfunction in treated HIV, and myocarditis detection/stratification using CMR beyond conventional markers.
Finally, the digest shows rapid methodological and translational momentum: non-contrast or contrast-sparing MRI sequences, faster reconstruction strategies, and AI/automation for segmentation and longitudinal PET metrics. Several studies also tackle real-world implementation—guideline adoption for ATTR-CM diagnostics, disparities in cardiac testing and heart-failure mortality, and workflow feasibility for quantitative lung imaging—while treatment-focused papers explore how imaging endpoints can evaluate therapy effects (e.g., aspirin after heart transplantation, allopurinol in kidney donors, SGLT2 inhibitors in dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy). Together, the collection underscores a field moving toward standardized, scalable, and mechanism-informed imaging biomarkers that can guide earlier and more personalized cardiovascular care.
Cardiac MRI biomarkers of cardiomyopathy and fibrosis
Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation and Prognosis in Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
This multicenter study evaluated embolic risk and prognosis in 1,160 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) assessment of left ventricular (LV) hypertrabeculation (formerly LV noncompaction) and genetic testing across DCM genotypes. LV hypertrabeculation was associated with worse clinical outcomes, including higher embolic risk and adverse heart failure/arrhythmic events, with prognostic relevance varying by genotype. Clinically, these findings support using CMR-defined hypertrabeculation plus genotype-informed risk stratification to guide management of DCM patients.
Mora-Ayestarán N, Ramos-Lopez N, Ochoa JP et al. · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocardial fibrosis in patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance T1 mapping.
This CMR study used T1 mapping to quantify myocardial fibrosis in 146 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), comparing CHD with diabetes mellitus (DM+) versus CHD without DM (DM−), and further stratifying by heart failure status. The results showed differences in fibrosis burden and related CMR functional measures between DM+ and DM− groups, with diabetes associated with more adverse myocardial tissue characteristics. The significance is that CMR T1 mapping can noninvasively detect diabetes-linked myocardial fibrosis in CHD, informing risk assessment and potential therapeutic targeting.
Deng J, Liao B, Huang H et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance parametric mapping in patients with thalassemia: Clinical insights into native myocardial T1 mapping and its relationship with T2*. A systematic review.
This systematic review evaluated evidence for native myocardial T1 mapping in thalassemia patients and its relationship to the reference standard CMR technique, T2* (for myocardial iron quantification). It found that native T1 mapping may detect earlier or complementary iron-related myocardial changes compared with T2* alone, though performance varied across included studies. The scientific significance is that it clarifies where T1 mapping could improve noninvasive monitoring of myocardial iron overload in thalassemia, potentially before T2* becomes abnormal.
Pegoraro N, Carnevale A, Bisi R et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prevalence and Determinants of Asymmetric Septal Hypertrophy (ASH) in Diseases of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH).
This analysis combined a UK Biobank healthy reference cohort (n=4,020) and a multi-cohort clinical CMR dataset (n=1,655) to determine the prevalence and determinants of asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) across conditions associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), hypertension, Fabry disease, AL amyloidosis, and ATTR. It found that ASH prevalence and the septal-to-lateral wall thickness ratio (SLR) varied systematically by demographic factors and underlying disease category. Clinically, this helps contextualize ASH patterns across LVH etiologies and may improve interpretation of CMR findings in diagnostic and risk workflows.
Shiwani H, Augusto J, Topriceanu CC et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI reveals myocardial fibrosis and systolic dysfunction in mitochondrial trifunctional protein-deficient mice.
This preclinical study used multiparametric cardiac MRI (CMR) together with cardiac histology and automated whole-slide collagen quantification to characterize myocardial structure, function, and tissue changes in mitochondrial trifunctional protein (TFP) deficiency mice carrying the βTFP mutation p.Met404Lys. It found that βTFP-deficient mice developed myocardial fibrosis with collagen deposition and associated systolic dysfunction detectable by CMR. The significance is that it establishes CMR biomarkers of cardiomyopathy in this fatty-acid oxidation disorder model, supporting translational evaluation of therapies targeting TFP deficiency.
Vieira Neto E, Basu S, Becker-Szurszewski TJ et al. · Disease models & mechanisms · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial inflammation and scar expansion in patients with Anderson-Fabry disease.
This retrospective single-center pilot study evaluated 131 paired cardiac MRI scans (1.5T) in patients with Anderson-Fabry disease to determine whether myocardial inflammation measured by CMR T2 mapping (T2m) predicts cardiac damage progression assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) expansion. The key finding was an association between higher myocardial inflammation (T2m) and subsequent expansion of LGE, indicating progression of myocardial injury across disease stages. This is clinically important because it supports CMR inflammation metrics as potential biomarkers for monitoring Fabry cardiomyopathy progression and treatment response.
Torlasco C, Ditaranto R, Schiavo MA et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Three-dimensional Mapping of Fibrosis Distribution in Desmoplakin Cardiomyopathy from Cardiac MRI.
This retrospective cardiac MRI study generated three-dimensional fibrosis distribution maps in patients with desmoplakin cardiomyopathy by reconstructing universal ventricular coordinate models from cine MRI and mapping late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) fibrosis onto a common ventricular geometry. The key finding was that fibrosis could be spatially characterized across disease severity using these universal ventricular coordinates, enabling consistent comparison of fibrotic patterns between patients. This provides a high-resolution, standardized framework for studying genotype-associated cardiomyopathy remodeling and may improve prognostic or mechanistic stratification.
Jilberto J, McManus B, Moghrabi A et al. · Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac characteristics of Chinese patients with Danon disease associated with LAMP2 p.Leu325fs variants.
This retrospective study characterized the cardiac phenotype of Danon disease in nine Chinese patients carrying the LAMP2 frameshift variant p.Leu325fs, linking genotype to clinical and cardiac features. The key finding is that the p.Leu325fs frameshift causes loss of functional LAMP2 protein via premature termination (leading to impaired lysosomal function) and is associated with distinct cardiac implications in this cohort. Defining the p.Leu325fs-specific cardiac phenotype is scientifically and clinically important for prognosis, surveillance, and genotype-informed counseling in Danon disease.
Yin K, Li Y, Zhao H et al. · International journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Apical hypercontractility mitigates impaired diastolic filling and lower intraventricular haemodynamic forces in human bed rest.
This longitudinal human study examined how apical hypercontractility affects impaired diastolic filling and intraventricular haemodynamic forces during 60 days of strict head-down tilt bed rest in 24 healthy participants using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The key finding is that apical hypercontractility mitigates the bed-rest–induced deterioration in diastolic filling and reduces the decline in intraventricular haemodynamic forces. These findings are significant for understanding early cardiovascular adaptation to inactivity and for identifying potential imaging biomarkers of protective contractile remodeling before overt dysfunction develops.
Rabineau J, Al-Darwish F, Mulder E et al. · Experimental physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Estimating the Sodium Content: A Case Series of Benign and Malignant Renal Tumours Using 23Na-MRI at 3 T.
This prospective case series applied 3T sodium MRI (23Na-MRI) to estimate sodium content in 10 patients with localized renal tumors, including renal oncocytoma and chromophobe/clear cell renal cell carcinoma subtypes. The key finding is that tumor sodium content can be quantified non-invasively using 23Na-MRI, supporting feasibility for differentiating benign versus malignant renal tumors based on sodium-related tissue properties. This is clinically significant because sodium mapping could improve early, non-invasive uro-oncology tumor characterization and reduce uncertainty in indeterminate renal masses.
Horvat-Menih I, Birchall JR, Zamora-Morales MJ et al. · NMR in biomedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Hypertension and myocardial fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between hypertension (HTN) and myocardial fibrosis (MF) using both imaging and histological evidence, including CMR T1 mapping measures such as extracellular volume fraction (ECV%) and native T1. The key finding is that across 39 studies (45,776 participants), HTN is associated with greater myocardial fibrosis burden, with effects assessed via histology and CMR parameters. Clinically, confirming this HTN–MF link supports fibrosis-focused risk reduction and may justify earlier or more intensive blood pressure and cardioprotective strategies to prevent fibrotic cardiac remodeling.
Jiang J, Deng J, Dong L et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Lymphatic endothelial cells actively shape immune responses in the lungs.
This review studied how lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in the lungs actively regulate immune responses, focusing on organ-specific LEC differentiation and mechanisms such as PAR1-mediated lymphatic junction permeabilisation. It reports experimental evidence that pulmonary LECs can limit acute inflammation, modulate adaptive immunity, and influence tissue remodelling through active barrier and signaling functions. These findings are significant because they position lung LECs as therapeutic targets for controlling inflammatory and immune-mediated lung disease rather than passive conduits to lymph nodes.
Rivers AK, Migues Ramirez C, Cleary SJ · Current opinion in immunology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic Value of a Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-Derived Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index From Routine Cine Images in Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Multicenter Study.
This multicenter retrospective study assessed prognostic value of a cardiac MRI-derived left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) from routine cine images in 403 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The key finding is that LACI predicts adverse outcomes and adds incremental prognostic utility beyond conventional markers such as LVEF and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The significance is that a cine-derived LA–LV interaction metric may better capture remodeling pathophysiology and improve DCM risk stratification in routine clinical workflows.
Jiang YJ, Hou XC, Tao J et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Comparison of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Disease Classification by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Echocardiography.
This retrospective study compared left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measurements obtained by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) versus transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in patients imaged within 1 week, and examined determinants of discordance affecting European Society of Cardiology heart failure classification thresholds (50% and 35%). The key finding was that LVEF values and clinical classification could differ between CMR and TTE, with measurable factors driving discordance. Clinically, understanding CMR–TTE differences is important for consistent heart failure phenotyping and treatment decisions based on LVEF cutoffs.
Le Y, An J, Liang L et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac remodeling and myocardial late gadolinium enhancement in competitive amateur cyclists: insights from cardiac MRI.
This prospective study evaluated cardiac remodeling and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) patterns at right ventricular insertion points (RVIP) versus non-RVIP regions in 66 competitive amateur cyclists and 35 controls using 3.0T contrast-enhanced CMR plus cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The key finding was that cyclists demonstrated “athlete’s heart” remodeling (including biventricular enlargement and increased LV mass) and showed specific LGE patterns (RVIP and non-RVIP) that were analyzed for associations with performance and clinical correlates. Scientifically, it helps distinguish physiologic endurance-related remodeling from potentially pathologic myocardial changes using CMR tissue signatures.
Albrecht F, Thottakara T, Schaerk J et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Assessment of agreement of left ventricular myocardial strain derived from cardiac computed tomography with cardiac magnetic resonance.
This single-center retrospective study compared left ventricular myocardial strain derived from cardiac CT (CCT) versus cardiac MRI (CMR) in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and non-ischemic heart disease (NIHD), using paired full cardiac-cycle acquisitions within 3 months. The key finding was that global longitudinal strain (GLS), radial strain (GRS), and circumferential strain (GCS) were quantified for both modalities and assessed for agreement using mean differences/limits of agreement and Pearson correlations, with a prespecified clinically acceptable margin of ±1.5%. Clinically, establishing modality agreement informs whether CCT-derived strain can substitute for CMR-derived strain in longitudinal assessment and decision-making.
Takagi H, Chibana S, Xing J et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Desmoplakin Cardiomyopathy.
This article reviews desmoplakin (DSP) cardiomyopathy, an inherited cardiomyopathy caused by DSP gene mutations, describing its typical clinical manifestations including arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. It highlights that cardiac MRI often shows ring-like subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement, which can be misdiagnosed as myocarditis or fatty replacement. The significance is improved diagnostic accuracy by recognizing a characteristic DSP cardiomyopathy imaging pattern to avoid inappropriate management based on mistaken etiologies.
Han DD, Jew G, Kaproth-Joslin K · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI biomarkers of arrhythmia risk
Impact of Left and Right Bundle Branch Block on Left Ventricular Systolic Function and Myocardial Mechanics Assessed by Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated how left bundle branch block (LBBB) and right bundle branch block (RBBB) relate to conventional systolic function and myocardial deformation abnormalities measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) and cardiac MRI feature tracking (CMR-FT). The key finding was that bundle branch block is associated with impaired myocardial mechanics and subclinical ventricular dysfunction beyond left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This is significant because it supports using deformation imaging to detect early dysfunction in patients with conduction abnormalities and may refine risk assessment.
Sonaglioni A, Lombardo M, Gramaglia GF et al. · Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Papillary muscle fibrosis on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: a pictorial review of causes, diagnostic challenges and practical pearls.
This pictorial review summarized causes and diagnostic pitfalls of papillary muscle fibrosis (PMF) and emphasized how cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) can lead to missed PMF when papillary muscle and blood pool have similar signal intensity. The key finding is that PMF is associated with multiple cardiac conditions (including ischaemic cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, cardiac amyloidosis, and cardiac sarcoidosis) and is increasingly recognized as a substrate for ventricular arrhythmias. Clinically, the review’s “practical pearls” are significant because improving careful papillary muscle assessment on CMR can increase PMF detection and thereby support arrhythmia risk management.
Gutierrez M, McCreavy D, Radike M · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance tissue characterization in endurance athletes with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation phenotype (PAFIYAMA).
In an observational cross-sectional study, 63 competitive male endurance athletes (PAFIYAMA n=22; controls n=41) underwent cardiac MRI (CMR) to determine whether myocardial fibrosis or diffuse abnormalities explain the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation phenotype (PAFIYAMA) characterized by reduced forward flow with preserved global systolic function. The key finding was that CMR tissue characterization (including late gadolinium enhancement patterns) was used to assess the myocardial substrate underlying PAFIYAMA, addressing whether fibrosis is present versus whether diffuse or non-fibrotic abnormalities predominate. Scientifically, linking CMR tissue features to an AF functional phenotype could improve mechanistic understanding and risk stratification in endurance athletes.
Garatachea N, Echevarría-Polo M, Hernández-Vicente A et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Poor R-wave progression fails to detect anterior myocardial fibrosis in MESA.
This analysis used Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Examination 5 participants with digital 12-lead ECG and cardiac MRI (CMR) to test whether poor R-wave progression (PRWP) detects anterior-wall myocardial fibrosis. The key finding was that PRWP—defined by RV3 ≤3 mm with RV3 > RV2 (and evaluated in a sensitivity analysis using the Zema MI criterion)—did not reliably identify anterior myocardial fibrosis when CMR reference standards required ischemic/transmural scar plus either ≥2 left anterior descending (LAD) segments or LV scar burden ≥5%. This indicates that PRWP is insufficient as a stand-alone ECG marker for anterior fibrosis in modern populations, limiting its clinical use for fibrosis detection.
de Alencar JN, Morales PAS · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Radiofrequency ablation of atrial flutter with 1:1 accessory pathway conduction improved cardiac function in a patent with PRKAG2 Cardiomyopathy. Insights with 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT imaging.
This case report described a young male carrier of the PRKAG2 R302Q mutation with PRKAG2 cardiomyopathy who developed wide QRS tachycardia due to atrial flutter with 1:1 accessory pathway conduction. The key finding was that electrophysiology-guided radiofrequency ablation of the left-sided accessory pathway improved cardiac function, with 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT imaging providing additional insight into the underlying disease context. Clinically, it supports targeted catheter ablation for arrhythmia control in PRKAG2 syndrome and highlights the potential adjunct value of 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT in characterizing cardiac pathology.
Fan J, Zhang Y, Zhu J et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Interatrial block in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Associations with left atrial remodeling and adverse atrial outcomes.
In a multicenter cohort of 259 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients without prior atrial fibrillation or stroke, this study assessed interatrial block (IAB) defined by P-wave duration >120 ms and evaluated its links to left atrial (LA) remodeling and outcomes using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The key finding was that IAB in HCM is associated with specific LA morphofunctional remodeling patterns and carries prognostic value for adverse atrial outcomes. Clinically, it identifies IAB as a CMR-linked marker of atrial disease progression in HCM, potentially helping to refine risk prediction for future atrial complications.
Anmad-Shihadeh LA, Teis A, Sabate M et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI in myocarditis and inflammatory cardiac disease
A Challenging Case of Advanced Cardiac Sarcoidosis Refractory to Infliximab Therapy.
This clinical case report described a patient with advanced cardiac sarcoidosis whose disease was refractory despite third-line immunosuppression with infliximab. The key finding was lack of therapeutic response to infliximab in the setting of ongoing active cardiac sarcoidosis, highlighting the difficulty of managing refractory disease. The report is significant because it underscores the need for ongoing multimodality assessment and alternative treatment strategies when standard anti–TNF therapy fails.
Ibrahim M, Dulay MS, Wechalekar K et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Imaging signatures of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis-related myocarditis: A case report.
This case report studied eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome) presenting with myocarditis in a 23-year-old man with asthma and persistent hypereosinophilia. The key finding is that cardiac MRI identified myocarditis-related abnormalities in a timely way, supporting diagnosis of cardiac involvement in this multisystem vasculitis. Scientifically and clinically, it underscores cardiac MRI as the most sensitive noninvasive tool for evaluating suspected Churg-Strauss cardiac manifestations to guide immunosuppressive management.
Lamassab NEH, Merimi I, Nabila I et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI unveils the hidden storm: Myocarditis-induced ventricular tachycardia in a young patient with a structurally normal heart.
This case report studied myocarditis as a cause of malignant ventricular tachycardia in a 37-year-old man with initially structurally normal findings and normal coronary arteries. The key finding is that cardiac MRI demonstrated subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement and myocardial edema, establishing acute myocarditis as the arrhythmogenic substrate. The significance is that CMR can uncover myocarditis when initial evaluation suggests idiopathic fascicular ventricular tachycardia, enabling appropriate diagnosis and management.
Alkhanafsa M, Aloqaily M, Ababneh R et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Atrial Function by Long Axis Shortening Enhances Risk Stratification Beyond Traditional CMR Markers in Possible Myocarditis.
This study evaluated whether atrial functional impairment measured by left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) long axis shortening (LAS) on cardiac MRI improves risk stratification beyond traditional CMR markers in patients with possible myocarditis. The key finding is that atrial LAS assessed by CMR is associated with major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE), providing incremental prognostic value beyond LVEF and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Clinically, this supports incorporating atrial functional metrics from routine CMR into risk models for myocarditis to better identify higher-risk patients.
Ciocca N, Brändle D, Riederer L et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI in valvular heart disease and mitral valve prolapse/MAD
Characteristics and Clinical Features of Mitral Annular Disjunction in the Pediatric Population.
This retrospective pediatric study (n=27; ages 5–17 years) characterized mitral annular disjunction (MAD) detected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and assessed the Pickelhaube sign using tissue Doppler imaging, with additional CMR and 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring. MAD in children showed distinct clinical and laboratory features and was evaluated for associated rhythm/functional abnormalities using multimodality imaging. The significance is that it provides early evidence on how MAD presents in pediatric patients and which echocardiographic/ECG markers may help refine risk and follow-up.
Şahin ŞT, Elçioğlu BC, Gümüş T et al. · Journal of clinical ultrasound : JCU · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The MagMa Study: Quantum Magnetocardiography in Cardiomyopathy.
The MagMa Study prospectively evaluated magnetocardiography (MCG) as a screening tool for suspected cardiomyopathy (CM) using a superconducting quantum interference device in patients undergoing evaluation for CM. The key finding was the prospective diagnostic accuracy of an MCG score (T-beg–Tmax) threshold (≥0.051) for identifying cardiomyopathy subtypes after exclusion of coronary artery disease. This is significant because it tests a rapid, noninvasive screening approach that could improve early detection and triage of patients with suspected CM.
Suwalski P, Wilke F, Latinova E et al. · JACC. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Association between Cardiac MRI-derived Global Longitudinal Strain and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Aortic Regurgitation.
This multicenter retrospective study assessed prognostic value of cardiac MRI–derived left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) in patients with isolated chronic moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation (AR) who underwent cardiac MRI within 90 days of echocardiographic diagnosis. The key finding was that LV GLS measured by cine MRI with feature tracking was associated with clinical outcomes defined as all-cause death or heart failure-related hospitalization. This is significant because it supports GLS as a risk-stratification biomarker that may improve outcome prediction beyond conventional measures such as LVEF in chronic AR.
Hashimoto G, Enriquez-Sarano M, Koike H et al. · Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Prediction of Arrhythmic Events in Mitral Valve Prolapse: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis studied 1,994 patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) across 15 cohort studies to quantify the prognostic value of CMR biomarkers for arrhythmic events. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), mitral annular disjunction (MAD), and systolic curling were each significantly associated with increased arrhythmic risk (pooled relative risks ~1.5–1.8). These findings support using CMR-derived LGE and MAD-related measures to identify MVP patients at higher risk for arrhythmias and to refine clinical risk stratification.
Papanastasiou CA, Kampaktsis PN, Papalamprakopoulou Z et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Mitral annular disjunction and mitral valve prolapse: echocardiographic-MRI insights into cardiac function.
This study investigated how mitral annular disjunction (MAD) and mitral valve prolapse (MVP) relate to global cardiac function by combining echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac MRI (CMR) in 56 patients. Patients were grouped into MAD ≥2 mm plus MVP versus MVP-only, and CMR was used to quantify MAD dynamics and detect myocardial fibrosis with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The echocardiographic-MRI comparison clarifies the functional impact of MAD beyond MVP alone and may help identify patients with worse cardiac performance and fibrosis-related risk.
King MD, Peters AC, Karimi S et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI in ischemic heart disease (STEMI/MINOCA/CMD/MVO)
Molecular mechanisms of coronary microembolization-induced MINOCA.
This study investigated molecular mechanisms of coronary microembolization (CME) as a driver of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), focusing on the pathobiology underlying CME in the MINOCA setting. The authors report that while CME is recognized as a major MINOCA pathology, the specific molecular pathways remain poorly defined, contributing to delayed diagnosis and lack of rapid, mechanism-based diagnostic tools and targeted therapy. Clarifying CME’s molecular mechanisms could enable earlier MINOCA identification (potentially before cardiac MRI performed days later) and support development of specific treatments for this high-need clinical syndrome.
Iske J, Thau H, Mesfin JM et al. · Basic research in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Metabolic and redox pathway dysregulation in HIV-associated coronary endothelial dysfunction.
This prospective observational study investigated whether coronary endothelial dysfunction in virally suppressed people with HIV (PWH) is associated with circulating proteomic signatures reflecting metabolic and redox pathway dysregulation, integrating stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging with high-throughput serum proteomics. The key finding is that specific serum proteomic patterns linked to metabolic/redox pathways correlate with coronary endothelial dysfunction in treated, virally suppressed PWH. This is significant because it identifies mechanistic biomarkers that could inform targeted therapies to reduce cardiovascular risk even under effective antiretroviral treatment.
Keole KS, Bukhari S, Minhas AS et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Prognostic Implications of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction by Obesity Status.
This multicenter prospective cohort study assessed whether coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), defined by an angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (angio-IMR) > 40 U, predicts long-term cardiovascular outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients stratified by obesity status. The key finding was the relationship between CMD prevalence/impact and obesity categories in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Clinically, CMD assessment via angio-IMR may refine risk prediction after STEMI and help identify higher-risk patients by obesity phenotype.
Guo Q, Guo Y, Shi S et al. · Diabetes, obesity & metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic impact of persistent microvascular obstruction on cardiac magnetic resonance after STEMI: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis studied STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to compare prognosis between persistent microvascular obstruction (MVO), transient MVO, and no MVO as assessed by follow-up CMR. It synthesized cohort evidence on whether MVO persistence on CMR confers worse outcomes than resolution or absence of MVO. Persistent MVO on CMR may therefore serve as a clinically meaningful prognostic marker after STEMI and primary PCI.
Gadelmawla AF, Taha AM, Alkuwaiti FA et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries: A multimodal imaging approach to diagnosis and etiology-targeted therapy.
This review article examined myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), a heterogeneous 5–15% of acute MI presentation, focusing on multimodal imaging strategies to distinguish ischemic mechanisms from non-ischemic mimics and to enable etiology-targeted therapy. The key finding was that systematic use of intracoronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), alongside other multimodal assessments, can identify culprit mechanisms that are often missed when patients are discharged without a definitive diagnosis. Clinically, this supports a more structured diagnostic pathway to reduce therapeutic inertia and tailor management to the underlying MINOCA etiology.
Abdu FA · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI for congenital/structural anomalies and rare cardiac conditions
Left ventricular diverticulum: A case report and differential diagnosis in an asymptomatic woman.
This case report studied a 68-year-old asymptomatic woman with suspected left ventricular outpouching using transthoracic echocardiography and 1.5-T cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) cine balanced steady-state free precession to differentiate left ventricular diverticulum from other ventricular outpouchings. The key finding was imaging features consistent with a left ventricular diverticulum that can mimic interventricular communications or other structural abnormalities on echocardiography. Clinically, accurate CMR characterization is important for prognosis and management decisions in patients with incidentally detected congenital left ventricular diverticula.
Andrea D’Arma GM, Montatore M, Masino F et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Four-dimensional flow CMR-based hemodynamic assessment of ALCAPA: A case report.
This case report studied anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) in a patient using contrast-free 4-dimensional flow cardiac magnetic resonance (4D flow CMR) to quantify coronary blood flow and define the coronary course and ostium. The key finding was that 4D flow CMR maximum intensity projection images demonstrated right coronary artery dilation and the anomalous left coronary origin from the pulmonary artery. Scientifically and clinically, contrast-free 4D flow CMR may improve understanding of ALCAPA hemodynamics and support treatment planning.
Oka H, Nakau K, Shibagaki Y et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Quantitative native T1 mapping identifies papillary muscle and intracavitary cardiac lipomas: A multiparametric CMR case series.
This case series studied two patients with cardiac lipomas—one papillary muscle lipoma in a 47-year-old woman and one intracavitary left ventricular lipoma in a 31-year-old Asian man—using conventional cardiac MRI (CMR) and native T1 mapping. Native T1 mapping showed markedly reduced T1 values (250 ms and 405 ms at 1.5 T) that supported the diagnosis of mature adipose tissue lipoma despite potential anatomic complexity. Quantitative native T1 mapping may reduce diagnostic uncertainty for small or atypically located intracardiac lipomas where conventional CMR can be ambiguous.
Montatore M, Rella M, Milo M et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI for right heart failure and pulmonary hypertension/Fontan/CTEPH
Evaluation of Right Ventricular Size Metrics Measured with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Regurgitation.
This retrospective pediatric cardiology study assessed right ventricular (RV) size metrics from clinically obtained CMR in patients with pulmonary regurgitation (PR fraction ≥15%), focusing on how RV end-diastolic volume (EDV) should be normalized for clinical decision-making about pulmonary valve replacement (PVR). It compared conventional indexing approaches (to body surface area and RV EDV Z-scores) with an alternative normalization strategy using RV EDV indexed to left ventricular (LV) EDV. The significance is that it aims to improve individualized PVR timing by identifying RV size metrics that better reflect patient-specific physiology.
Jaggi A, Zhang Y, Maskatia SA et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
A minimally invasive pre-operative measure of total pulmonary resistance is associated with early adverse outcomes following total cavopulmonary connection.
This study developed and tested a minimally invasive pre-operative estimate of total pulmonary resistance (TPR) at the bidirectional cavopulmonary connection (BCPC) stage in children undergoing total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC), using jugular venous pressure as a surrogate for central venous pressure and 4D/flow-derived pulmonary blood flow (as described in the abstract). Higher pre-operative TPR was associated with early adverse outcomes after TCPC, including early Fontan failure (death, TCPC take-down, emergency fenestration, or mechanical circulatory support within 6 months) and prolonged post-operative ICU stay (>14 days). Clinically, this provides a potentially practical haemodynamic risk stratification tool to identify patients at higher risk for early Fontan failure before TCPC.
Nadarajan N, Muthurangu V, Quail MA · European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right ventricular longitudinal function is associated with exercise capacity in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension: a multimodality imaging study.
In 49 patients with pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PHprecap), the investigators assessed whether right ventricular (RV) longitudinal function measured by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) relates to functional exercise capacity, alongside 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), NT-proBNP, and right heart catheterization within 24 hours. RV longitudinal dysfunction on CMR and echocardiography was associated with reduced exercise capacity (as reported in the abstract’s results section). This multimodality imaging link supports using RV longitudinal function as an imaging biomarker to refine risk assessment beyond traditional functional measures and NT-proBNP in PHprecap.
Jumatate R, Labaf A, Ingvarsson A et al. · European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Determinants of Abnormal Pulmonary Vasodilatory Response With Exercise in HFpEF: Pulmonary Vascular-Left Atrial Axis Abnormalities.
This two-step invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing study evaluated determinants of an abnormal exercise pulmonary vasodilatory response in 164 participants across HFpEF (n=80), pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (n=57), and non-cardiac dyspnea (n=27), defining “unfavorable exercise PVR” as exercise PVR >1.74 Woods units with <22% ∆PVR decrease. The study identified high-risk correlates of this unfavorable exercise PVR pattern specifically in HFpEF, implicating pulmonary vascular–left atrial axis abnormalities as key drivers of impaired pulmonary vasodilatory reserve. Scientifically and clinically, it helps explain why some HFpEF patients fail to appropriately reduce pulmonary vascular resistance during exercise, potentially guiding targeted evaluation and management to prevent right ventricular failure.
Garcia-Arango M, Kristo A, El Shaer A et al. · Comprehensive Physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right ventricular remodeling and circulating metabolic profiles of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension before and after pulmonary endarterectomy.
In a prospective cohort of 10 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) and 10 surgical controls with normal RV function, the authors longitudinally characterized right ventricular (RV) remodeling using echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and paired these imaging changes with RV histology and circulating metabolite profiling before and after PEA. RV reverse remodeling after PEA was accompanied by measurable shifts in circulating metabolic profiles alongside imaging and histologic changes. This integrated phenotyping approach may help identify biomarker candidates that track RV recovery and generate mechanistic hypotheses for therapies aimed at improving RV adaptation in CTEPH.
Guimaron S, Mercier J, Hautbergue T et al. · JHLT open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Velocity and Dyssynchrony in Fontan Circulation Using MR Tissue Phase Mapping.
This prospective study used MR tissue phase mapping (TPM) to quantify myocardial motion velocity and dyssynchrony in the functional ventricle of 28 Fontan patients and compared results with 42 matched normal controls. The key finding is that TPM-derived velocity metrics in longitudinal (Vz), radial (Vr), and circumferential (Vphi) directions reveal altered myocardial motion and measurable dyssynchrony in Fontan physiology, with relationships to cardiac function. Scientifically and clinically, these quantitative TPM measures may provide objective imaging biomarkers for monitoring ventricular mechanics and guiding management in Fontan patients.
Lu XZ, Weng KP, Wu MT et al. · NMR in biomedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Vascular compliance phenotyping in pulmonary arterial hypertension (a PVDOMICS study).
This analysis of the PVDOMICS cohort studied adult patients with World Symposium Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension to identify factors associated with pulmonary arterial compliance and to relate compliance to cardiac morphology, exercise metrics, and mortality. Pulmonary arterial compliance derived from right heart catheterization was evaluated as a phenotypic marker and its associations with outcomes were tested against otherwise similar resistive afterload. If validated, vascular compliance phenotyping could improve risk stratification and mechanistic understanding in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Wilson TG, Oppegard L, Pi H et al. · JHLT open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI for vascular imaging (aorta/coronary/arterial stiffness)
Aorta and coronary artery assessment using high-contrast respiratory motion corrected and ECG-gated 3D T2-prepared GRE MRI with Dixon fat-water separation in patients with and without prior aortic root surgery at 3 T.
This study evaluated a novel non-contrast cardiovascular MRI sequence—ECG-gated 3D T2-prepared GRE with Dixon fat-water separation (T2p GD)—for assessing the aorta and coronary arteries at 3 T in 55 patients with and without prior aortic root surgery, comparing performance against contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA). The key finding was validation of diagnostic performance of the respiratory motion-corrected, ECG-gated, non-contrast T2p GD approach relative to standard CE-MRA, including measures such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Clinically, this technique could reduce reliance on contrast agents for postoperative and non-postoperative aortic/coronary imaging.
Cereghetti GM, Huber LP, Todorski I et al. · European journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Feasibility of quantitative pulmonary function imaging in real-world cardiovascular magnetic resonance.
This retrospective real-world feasibility study assessed quantitative pulmonary function imaging in routine cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) practice by applying Phase-REsolved FUnctional Lung imaging (PREFUL) in consecutive patients who also underwent standard 1.5T CMR (Sept 2023–Jan 2024). The key finding was that PREFUL could be implemented in clinical workflow to derive quantitative perfusion and ventilation defect percentages (QDP and VDP) and that subgroup analyses were performed in patients with primary pulmonary disease and reduced LVEF. This supports the scientific feasibility of adding quantitative lung perfusion/ventilation assessment to CMR for broader cardiopulmonary evaluation.
Gröschel J, Hausmann J, Grassow L et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Suspected and Known Renal or Splanchnic Artery Aneurysm.
This article provides evidence-based imaging recommendations for suspected or known renal and splanchnic artery aneurysms in four adult/pregnancy clinical scenarios, focusing on initial evaluation, active surveillance, and longitudinal follow-up. It emphasizes appropriate use of CTA, MRA, and ultrasound (including duplex Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasound where applicable) to detect aneurysms, stratify rupture risk, guide treatment planning, and monitor progression. Clinically, it standardizes imaging selection to improve safety and consistency in managing potentially life-threatening renal/splanchnic aneurysms across nonpregnant and pregnant populations.
Partovi S, Li X, Aghayev A et al. · Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Associations between cardiovascular risk factors and diseases with aortic pulse wave velocity and aortic distensibility: magnetic resonance imaging in the Hamburg city health study.
Using the Hamburg City Health Study population cohort (n=2270), this study quantified cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-based pulse wave velocity (PWV) and aortic distensibility (AD) and tested associations with cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases. Key results showed that CMR-derived PWV and AD meaningfully relate to the presence and burden of cardiovascular risk factors/diseases, supporting their role as imaging-based vascular phenotypes. The scientific significance is that CMR PWV/AD may serve as a population-level risk stratification tool reflecting arterial stiffness and vascular health.
Riedl KA, Di Carluccio E, Huellebrand M et al. · Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac PET/CT for oncology response and prognostication
The Prognostic Role of Interim [18F]FDG PET/CT in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
This updated systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic value of interim [18F]FDG PET/CT (iPET/CT) for progression-free survival (PFS) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), pooling complete metabolic response rates and hazard ratios from studies up to December 31, 2025. The key finding was that iPET/CT can predict PFS in DLBCL, though the abstract notes ongoing debate driven by inconsistencies in timing and interpretation across studies. Clinically, iPET/CT remains a potentially useful early response biomarker, but standardization of scan timing and interpretation criteria is important for reliable risk stratification.
Albano D, Chauvie S, Rizzo A et al. · Clinical lymphoma, myeloma & leukemia · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Beyond target lesions: Prognostic value of longitudinal AI-derived whole-body [1⁸F]FDG PET/CT metrics in metastatic melanoma.
This study investigated prognostic value of an AI-based semi-automated tool for longitudinal whole-body [18F]FDG PET/CT metrics—total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG)—in 43 patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. The key finding was the prognostic relevance of longitudinal AI-derived TMTV/TLG metrics beyond conventional “target lesion” response criteria across baseline, interim (after two cycles), and late (after four cycles) scans. Clinically, these AI-derived PET metrics may better stratify outcomes during ICI treatment than standard response measures alone.
Sachpekidis C, Vagenas TP, Müller M et al. · European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Compatibility of different PET/CT criteria in evaluating treatment response and survival in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with immunotherapy.
This study analyzed pre-treatment and first post-treatment 18F-FDG PET/CT scans from 35 metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving second-line or later immunotherapy and compared four PET/CT response criteria: PERCIST, PECRIT, PERCIMT, and imPERCIST5. The key finding was that these criteria differ in how well they classify metabolic response and in their concordance with overall survival (OS), indicating variable prognostic performance among the scoring systems. The significance is that selecting an appropriate PET/CT response criterion may improve response assessment and survival prediction in immunotherapy-treated NSCLC.
Eroğlu İ, Aydos U, Ateş YÜ et al. · Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac PET/CT for inflammatory/infectious cardiac disease
18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and rest myocardial perfusion imaging in non-granulomatous myocarditis.
This multicenter prospective observational feasibility study evaluated diagnostic performance of combined 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT with rest myocardial perfusion imaging (rMPI) in patients with suspected non-granulomatous myocarditis, using endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) when available and otherwise an adjudicated clinical diagnosis as the reference standard. The key finding (as framed by the study’s purpose) was the assessment of how well FDG-PET plus rMPI identifies myocarditis compared with CMR and reference diagnosis. If validated, this integrated PET/CT approach could improve non-invasive diagnosis of non-granulomatous myocarditis where EMB is limited.
Lucinian YA, Martineau P, Harel F et al. · European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Imaging insights into systemic tuberculosis with cardiac involvement: A rare challenging case of tuberculous chronic constrictive pericarditis and myocarditis.
This case report studied systemic tuberculosis with cardiac involvement presenting as chronic constrictive pericarditis and myocarditis, using advanced multimodal imaging to address diagnostic challenges in the absence of definitive microbiological confirmation. The key finding was imaging evidence supporting tuberculous chronic constrictive pericarditis with associated myocardial involvement in a complex presentation. Scientifically and clinically, the report highlights the role of multimodal imaging in improving diagnostic accuracy for rare, heterogeneous cardiac TB presentations.
Jabri M, Boulouiz S, Bazid Z et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Multimodality imaging for cardiac masses and diagnostic pathways
Quantitative 99mTc-PYP SPECT/CT at 90 minutes improves diagnostic stratification in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.
This retrospective single-center study evaluated whether quantitative 99mTc-PYP SPECT/CT at 90 minutes post-injection improves diagnostic stratification for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) beyond standard planar imaging at 60 and 180 minutes. The key finding is that adding quantitative SPECT/CT at 90 minutes increases diagnostic specificity, particularly in patients with low planar uptake (e.g., Perugini score 1). The significance is improved noninvasive diagnostic accuracy for ATTR-CM, potentially reducing indeterminate cases and supporting more confident clinical decision-making.
Nazerani-Zemann T, Stanzel S, Weitzer F et al. · European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Navigating Mechanical Support in Cardiogenic Shock With Arterial Hypoplasia: Lessons From Arterial Tortuosity Syndrome.
This case report studied mechanical circulatory support decisions in a 19-year-old man with arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS) presenting with cardioembolic stroke and rapidly evolving cardiogenic shock. The key finding is that severe arterial hypoplasia and tortuosity (iliofemoral arteries ~3 mm, ascending aorta ~19 mm, thoracic aorta) made peripheral VA-ECMO implantation and mechanical thrombectomy technically unfeasible. The clinical significance is that multimodality imaging (CTA, angiography, cardiac MRI) should be used early to anticipate access and device feasibility in ATS before attempting mechanical support.
Lara-García A, Caro-Codón J, Canales L et al. · Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Diagnostic Accuracy of an Integrated Multimodality Imaging Approach in Patients With Cardiac Masses.
This prospective diagnostic accuracy study evaluated patients with suspected cardiac masses using integrated multiparametric scoring derived from echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), cardiac computed tomography (CCT), and 18F-FDG PET, with histology as the reference standard for malignancy. The key finding was the comparative diagnostic performance of individual modalities versus combined multimodality approaches for identifying malignant cardiac masses. Scientifically, the results support evidence-based selection of integrated imaging strategies to improve malignancy detection in cardiac mass workups.
Angeli F, Armillotta M, Foà A et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · 4 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Imaging AI/automation/segmentation and uncertainty quantification
Ten Years of Scientific Discovery With the UK Biobank Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.
The study reviewed and synthesized 10 years of experience from the UK Biobank cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging substudy in ~100,000 participants, leveraging linked genetic, demographic, lifestyle, and clinical data. It found that large-scale CMR cohort generation and an equitable data-access model enabled major discoveries across cardiovascular genomics, epidemiology, and biomedical engineering. This work is significant because it establishes a scalable, collaborative blueprint for population CMR studies that can accelerate translational cardiovascular research worldwide.
Raisi-Estabragh Z, Petersen SE, Neubauer S · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Automated whole-heart volumetrics and haemodynamics from 4D flow CMR magnitude images: development and validation of a deep learning model.
This work developed and validated a deep learning model to automatically segment whole-heart anatomy and derive volumetrics and haemodynamics from 4D flow CMR magnitude images in 40 prospectively enrolled patients from the PREFER-CMR registry. The key finding was that magnitude-image–based deep learning segmentation can reproduce anatomical accuracy comparable to standard cine imaging while enabling automated analysis to reduce post-processing burden. If validated broadly, this AI pipeline could make 4D flow CMR haemodynamic assessment more scalable for routine clinical and research use.
Gall A, Grafton-Clarke C, Li R et al. · European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Modeling Aleatoric Uncertainty in Cardiac MRI Segmentation: Probabilistic Detection and Contour Regression.
This study modeled aleatoric uncertainty for cardiac MRI segmentation in order to improve probabilistic detection and contour regression of left and right ventricular structures used for ejection fraction (LVEF/RVEF) biomarkers. The key finding is that uncertainty-aware, calibrated biomarker estimation can better reflect patient-specific variability than approaches evaluated mainly on population-level segmentation accuracy. Clinically, this supports more reliable CMR-derived biomarker interpretation for individual patients by quantifying variance and improving calibration of AI outputs.
Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Tourais J et al. · IEEE transactions on medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Automation Software for Transesophageal Echocardiography in Cardiac Patients: A Scoping Review.
This scoping review mapped existing evidence on automation software for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in cardiac patients compared with manual measurements. It summarized validation outcomes and identified evidence gaps given heterogeneity in tools and limited established roles compared with transthoracic echocardiography automation. The review supports directing future research toward rigorous validation and clinical workflow integration of TEE automation.
Ghijselings I, Elst J, Rex S et al. · Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pre-Imaging Clinical Factors Associated With Cardiac MR Image Quality Using Large Language Model-Enabled Data Extraction.
This retrospective study evaluated whether pre-imaging clinical information extracted by a large language model (LLM) is independently associated with cardiac MR image quality in 1006 adults undergoing 1.5T/3T clinical cardiac MR (cine, black blood, MR angiogram, and/or late gadolinium enhancement protocols). The key finding was that LLM-extracted pre-imaging factors were independently associated with categorized image quality (excellent, slightly limited, severely limited, or nondiagnostic) as determined by radiologist/cardiologist reporting conventions. These results suggest LLM-enabled extraction of routine clinical context could be used to predict and potentially reduce repeat cardiac MR examinations and improve decision-making reliability.
Yu H, Bondarenko M, Nowroozi A et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Imaging sequence development and workflow optimization (non-contrast, faster MRI, reconstruction)
Correlation of seismocardiography variables with echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance measurements.
This observational correlation study compared seismocardiography (SCG) variables with systolic and diastolic function measures from transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in 26 adults (11 healthy and 15 with cardiovascular disease). SCG signals showed measurable correlations with imaging-derived cardiac function markers, suggesting SCG can reflect mechanical cardiac performance captured by TTE/CMR. Scientifically, this supports SCG as a potential low-cost, wearable adjunct for cardiac assessment, pending larger validation studies.
Agam A, Korsgaard E, Kristensen CB et al. · Biomedical physics & engineering express · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Reference intervals for myocardial T1, T2, and extracellular volume in clinically normal dogs and cats at 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging: a single-center study.
This single-center veterinary study established 3-Tesla (3-T) cardiac MRI reference intervals for myocardial native T1, native T2, and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) in clinically normal client-owned dogs and cats using ECG-gated acquisitions under general anesthesia. The key result was the generation of species-specific normal ranges for T1 mapping, T2 mapping, and derived ECV using midventricular short-axis native mapping sequences adapted from human cardiac protocols. These reference values are clinically and scientifically important for interpreting cardiac MRI biomarkers in veterinary cardiology and for enabling standardized research comparisons across studies.
Fries RC, Kadotani S, Toborowsky C et al. · American journal of veterinary research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical Applications of Cardiac Diffusion MRI: A Scoping Review.
This scoping review synthesized in vivo human studies to characterize the extent and clinical applications of cardiac diffusion MRI techniques, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), diffusion tensor imaging, and intravoxel incoherent motion, across the literature through March 2025. The review’s key finding was that cardiac diffusion MRI is increasingly explored for clinical applications, with emerging trends in technique development and translational use, while study heterogeneity and variable quality remain important limitations. Overall, it maps the current evidence base and highlights where standardization and stronger clinical validation are needed for diffusion MRI to impact cardiac diagnosis and prognosis.
Vora N, Cook M, Harper L et al. · Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Time-resolved aortic 3D shape reconstruction from a limited number of cine 2D MRI slices.
This study evaluated a computational method to reconstruct time-resolved, subject-specific 3D aortic geometry from a limited number of cine 2D MRI slices in 30 in-vivo subjects (19 volunteers and 11 aortic patients). It coupled a statistical shape model with a differentiable volumetric mesh optimization algorithm, using synthetic-data testing to optimize slice positioning before in-vivo acquisition. The approach demonstrates feasibility for accurate 3D aortic reconstruction while reducing MRI acquisition burden compared with full slice sampling.
Wolkerstorfer G, Buoso S, Schlenker R et al. · Computer methods and programs in biomedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Free-Breathing 3D Whole Heart and Aorta Cine MRI Without Contrast Agent-Comparison to Clinical Standard.
This prospective study developed and tested a free-breathing 3D whole-heart and aorta cine MRI technique without contrast at 1.5 T in 24 healthy volunteers. The method aimed to simultaneously assess cardiac function and aortic anatomy in a single non-contrast acquisition, reducing reliance on sequential breath-hold 2D cine and 3D MR angiography. If performance matches clinical standards, this approach could broaden access to MRI for patients with limited breath-hold capacity and streamline cardiac-aortic imaging protocols.
Chen R, Lu H, Cernicanu A et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) for Low-Latency Real-Time Cardiac MRI.
This study demonstrated dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) for low-latency online reconstruction in 2D real-time cardiac MRI using spiral balanced SSFP (bSSFP) at 0.55T. Using data from 10 healthy adults and 6 pregnant females, the key finding was that DMD-based reconstruction achieved high spatiotemporal low-latency performance, with model appropriateness evaluated against off-line spatiotemporally constrained reconstruction (STCR) at two temporal resolutions. This is significant for enabling faster real-time cardiac imaging in both adult and fetal settings where latency limits clinical usability.
Yagiz E, Tasdelen B, Ozaslan IK et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical epidemiology and disparities in cardiovascular outcomes
Temporal shifts in diagnostic testing for cardiac amyloidosis across U.S. health systems.
This retrospective descriptive study used the TriNetX U.S. Collaborative Network to evaluate temporal trends in diagnostic testing for wild-type and hereditary transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) among U.S. patients diagnosed between January 2017 and November 2025, excluding light-chain amyloidosis and plasma cell dyscrasias. Across health systems, the study assessed how often clinicians used technetium-99m (Tc-99m) bone scintigraphy, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), and biopsy over time. The findings are significant for understanding real-world adoption patterns of guideline-relevant ATTR-CM diagnostics and may inform strategies to reduce diagnostic delays and improve timely treatment selection.
Motairek I, Abadie B, Higgins A et al. · EJNMMI reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Association of residential green space, blue space, and natural environment with the incident heart failure and cardiac morpho-functional phenotypes: a UK biobank-based prospective cohort and imaging study.
This UK Biobank-based prospective cohort and imaging study analyzed 437,429 participants without baseline heart failure to test whether residential green space, blue space, and natural environment exposure are associated with incident heart failure and cardiac morpho-functional phenotypes. The key finding was the identification of specific environmental exposure patterns linked to differences in cardiac structural/functional remodeling and subsequent heart failure risk. This is significant because it supports the concept of modifiable environmental factors as potential contributors to HF pathogenesis and risk stratification.
Song Y, Lin Z, Chen X et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · 3 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Trends in heart failure-related mortality among breast cancer patients in the United States from 1999 to 2024.
This retrospective CDC WONDER analysis studied trends in heart failure (HF)-related mortality among US women with breast cancer aged ≥25 years from 1999 to 2024, stratifying by race/ethnicity and geographic region. The key finding is that HF-related mortality trends in this population vary over time and differ across demographic and regional groups, highlighting persistent disparities. These results are clinically significant for risk stratification and for targeting HF prevention and management strategies in breast cancer survivors, especially in higher-risk subgroups.
Jaiswal V, Kumar D, Kalra K et al. · American journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The intersection of infectious diseases and cardiovascular disease in Africa: A narrative review.
This narrative review examined the intersection of infectious diseases and cardiovascular disease in Africa, emphasizing sub-Saharan Africa populations affected by neglected tropical diseases, latent parasitic infections, and HIV/AIDS-related immunosuppression. It concludes that infectious and environmental drivers (poor sanitation, overcrowding, inadequate hygiene) increase infection burden and thereby worsen cardiovascular etiopathogenesis and clinical outcomes. The significance lies in highlighting modifiable public-health and clinical risk factors to improve cardiovascular care in African settings where infection is a major upstream determinant.
Ogah OS, Umuerri EM, Hahnle J et al. · Journal of the National Medical Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Mortality among people who had contact with the criminal justice system during adolescence: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis studied mortality after adolescent contact with the criminal justice system by synthesizing cohort studies reporting deaths following justice-system contact before age 20. The key finding was an overall quantification of mortality risk and associated causes/risk factors across all-cause and cause-specific categories (e.g., non-communicable disease, suicide, homicide, injuries) compared with the general population. Public-health significance lies in identifying elevated mortality burden and informing targeted interventions for justice-involved youth.
Martinez A, Janca E, Willoughby M et al. · Social science & medicine (1982) · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Population-level trends in non-invasive cardiac imaging before coronary revascularization.
This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX Research Network (2016–2024) to characterize population-level trends and demographic disparities in non-invasive cardiac testing before coronary revascularization among 554,855 adults (18–90 years) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting across 75 organizations. The key finding was that utilization patterns of non-invasive cardiac testing changed over time and varied across demographic subgroups. These findings are significant for identifying inequities in pre-revascularization diagnostic pathways and informing quality-improvement efforts.
Odai RL, Tsagli D, Touffaha I et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Therapeutics, registries, and treatment-response studies guided by imaging
A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate Allopurinol vs Placebo on Left Ventricular Mass in Living Kidney Donors.
In a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial of 71 living kidney donors, investigators tested whether allopurinol lowers uric acid and reduces left ventricular mass over 9 months. The key finding (as reported in the trial) was the effect of allopurinol versus placebo on left ventricular mass outcomes in this post-donation population. This is clinically significant because it directly evaluates a urate-lowering strategy to mitigate potential long-term cardiovascular remodeling after nephrectomy.
Langberg NE, Jenssen TG, Hopp E et al. · Kidney360 · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Use of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Dystrophin Deficient Cardiomyopathy: A Multi-center Study Using the ACTION Registry.
This multicenter ACTION Registry study examined real-world use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in 80 patients with dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The key findings were the patterns of SGLT2i indications and observed effects on cardiac function along with adverse effects in this pediatric/adolescent population (median age ~19.6 years at initiation). This is significant because it provides the first registry-based evidence to guide clinicians on potential benefits and safety considerations of SGLT2i in dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy.
Harris RE, Wittlieb-Weber CA, Villa C et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Effects of a Fasting-mimicking Diet on MRI-assessed Cardiac Structure and Function in Participants with Type 2 Diabetes.
This secondary analysis of the prospective Fasting In diabetes Treatment trial randomized participants with type 2 diabetes to a monthly 5-day fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) versus usual care and assessed effects on cardiac structure and function using 3.0-T MRI at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. The key finding was the diet’s impact (or lack thereof) on MRI-derived left ventricular (LV) geometry, systolic function from cine images, and diastolic function from 4D flow MRI. This is significant because it tests whether a metabolic intervention can modify cardiac remodeling in T2D using objective imaging endpoints.
Chen R, Westenberg JJM, van den Burg EL et al. · Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Differential Biventricular Strain Recovery With Selective Fibrosis Biomarker Regression After Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Prospective CMR Feature-Tracking Study.
In a single-center prospective cohort of 32 patients with paired CMR after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), the investigators used CMR feature-tracking to assess differential biventricular and biatrial strain recovery over time alongside fibrosis and adipokine biomarkers and clinical outcomes. The key finding was that recovery was not uniform: biventricular strain improved differently depending on the degree of selective fibrosis biomarker regression, indicating asynchronous reverse remodeling. This suggests that after bariatric surgery, myocardial functional recovery may follow distinct timelines for fibrosis-related versus other pathways, informing how to monitor cardiac recovery in obesity.
Akarsu H, Kılıç İD, Dodurga Y et al. · Obesity surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Reduced regadenoson dose using heart rate-targeted titration in paediatric stress perfusion CMR.
In 31 pediatric patients undergoing stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for known or suspected coronary artery disease, this retrospective study tested whether heart rate–targeted titration of regadenoson (incremental dosing targeting ≥20% heart rate increase) can reduce total regadenoson dose compared with fixed weight-based dosing. The key finding was that heart rate–guided titration was feasible and safe with acceptable diagnostic performance, while aiming to avoid excessive drug exposure in some children. This supports a more individualized pharmacologic approach for pediatric stress perfusion CMR to improve tolerability without sacrificing diagnostic effectiveness.
Quail MA, Tann O, Linton R et al. · European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice · (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 evaluated single-port robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery (SP-TAMIS) using the Da Vinci SP platform in patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery, reporting feasibility and early outcomes. The key finding is that SP-TAMIS is technically feasible despite known docking constraints, with the approach enabling minimally invasive local excision in an early experience. This is clinically significant because it supports expansion of robotic TAMIS options for selected rectal cancer patients within organ-preservation strategies.
Mellano A, Pellegrino L, Salomone S et al. · Surgical laparoscopy, endoscopy & percutaneous techniques · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Aspirin therapy after heart transplantation is associated with higher myocardial perfusion reserve assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.
This multicenter observational study investigated whether aspirin therapy after heart transplantation is associated with myocardial perfusion reserve (MP) as a noninvasive marker of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). It found that post-transplant aspirin therapy correlated with higher myocardial perfusion reserve on CMR compared with patients not receiving aspirin. The significance is that aspirin may influence CAV development or its functional consequences, and CMR perfusion reserve could serve as a useful surrogate endpoint.
Jablonowski R, Löfman IH, Andersson HB et al. · JHLT open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Management of Iron Overload in Infants and Toddlers With Diamond-Blackfan Anemia Syndrome: A French-Italian Study.
This retrospective multicenter French-Italian study examined iron chelation in 167 transfused infants and toddlers with Diamond-Blackfan anemia syndrome (DBAS), focusing on chelation initiation before age 3 years. Of the screened patients, 64 (38%) started chelation early (median 18 months), with indications including serum ferritin ≥500 ng/mL and >10 transfusions, and deferasirox was the most used chelator. Early chelation data in this very young DBAS population provide evidence to guide timing and selection of iron overload management to prevent severe early iron accumulation.
Torchio F, Lecalvez B, Garelli E et al. · American journal of hematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular Complications in Hemoglobinopathies: Pathophysiology, Clinical Spectrum, and Management.
This review summarized cardiovascular complications in hemoglobinopathies, focusing on sickle cell disease and thalassemia syndromes and their cardiac and vascular manifestations. It highlighted mechanisms and clinical spectrum including cardiomyopathy, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmias, microvascular ischemia, and functional valvular disease, and discussed management shaped by improved transfusion practice, iron chelation, and disease-modifying therapies. The synthesis underscores the need for ongoing cardiovascular surveillance and tailored management strategies in these increasingly recognized chronic multisystem disorders.
Bradach D, Salavarria KC, Diaz-Arribasplata S et al. · European journal of haematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Radiation-Induced Acute Cardiac Injury in Patients With Left-Sided Breast Cancer: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study on the Dose-Response Relation.
This prospective study enrolled 64 patients with postoperative left-sided breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy and used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) strain analysis before and within 2 weeks after RT, with radiation dose to cardiac substructures calculated. The key finding was a dose-response relationship between RT cardiac dose and early radiation-induced acute cardiac injury detected by CMR strain metrics. Scientifically and clinically, it supports CMR strain as an early biomarker for acute cardiotoxicity risk after left-sided breast RT, enabling earlier identification of patients who may benefit from closer cardiovascular monitoring.
Zheng L, Yang M, Luo C et al. · International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on August 04, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published July 28, 2026 – August 04, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.