What's New in Cardiac MRI? — August 05, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 88 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
August 05, 2026 · 88 articles · 15 research themes · covering July 29, 2026 – August 05, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of studies, a clear dominant theme is the expanding role of cardiac MRI (and multimodality imaging) as both a diagnostic tool and a quantitative biomarker platform. Multiple articles focus on refining how CMR-derived metrics—such as strain/feature tracking, T1/T2/ECV mapping, LGE patterns, and cine-derived indices—can improve prognostication and phenotype discrimination across diverse conditions (e.g., mitral valve prolapse arrhythmia risk, dilated cardiomyopathy outcomes, diabetes-associated fibrosis in coronary disease, and hypertrophy pattern interpretation). Several works also emphasize practical implementation: new acquisition/reconstruction strategies (real-time imaging, non-contrast protocols, free-breathing whole-heart approaches), workflow feasibility, and uncertainty-aware segmentation to make quantitative biomarkers more reliable at the individual-patient level.
A second major theme is inflammation/injury and substrate characterization—especially myocarditis and other systemic inflammatory or infiltrative diseases. Studies use CMR to detect acute cardiac injury (including radiation-induced injury and myocarditis mimics) and to better stratify risk using multimodal approaches (e.g., PET/CT plus perfusion imaging for non-granulomatous myocarditis). Distinctive CMR patterns are repeatedly highlighted as clinically actionable: desmoplakin cardiomyopathy ring-like LGE, papillary muscle fibrosis pitfalls, and atrial functional impairment metrics that add prognostic value beyond traditional LV markers.
Finally, several articles underscore real-world diagnostic pathways and risk modification in cardiology. TriNetX-based analyses track changing utilization of cardiac testing before revascularization and evolving diagnostic sequencing for transthyretin amyloidosis, while other studies examine how patient factors (obesity modifying coronary microvascular dysfunction prognosis, stress-agent choice affecting perfusion CMR interpretation, and atrial–ventricular coupling indices refining heart failure risk). Together, these findings point toward a future where imaging biomarkers are increasingly standardized, integrated with clinical context, and supported by AI/automation to improve timeliness, accuracy, and individualized risk stratification.
Cardiac MRI/CT Diagnostic Accuracy & Imaging Protocols
The MagMa Study: Quantum Magnetocardiography in Cardiomyopathy.
The MagMa Study prospectively evaluated quantum magnetocardiography (MCG) as a screening tool for suspected cardiomyopathy (CM) using a superconducting quantum interference device. The study aimed to test whether an MCG score threshold (T-beg–Tmax, with prior work suggesting ≥0.051) can accurately identify CM subtypes (dilated, hypertrophic, nondilated left ventricular, and restrictive) after excluding coronary artery disease. If validated, MCG could provide a rapid, noninvasive screening approach to triage patients with suspected cardiomyopathy.
Suwalski P, Wilke F, Latinova E et al. · JACC. Heart failure · (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 23Na-MRI to estimate sodium content in 10 patients with localized renal tumors, including benign renal oncocytomas and malignant renal cell carcinoma subtypes. Tumor sodium content measured by 23Na-MRI differed between benign and malignant lesions, enabling non-invasive tumor subtyping based on sodium concentration. The technique is significant as a potential early, non-invasive biomarker to improve uro-oncology decision-making for indeterminate renal masses.
Horvat-Menih I, Birchall JR, Zamora-Morales MJ et al. · NMR in biomedicine · (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 compared outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI who had microvascular obstruction (MVO) on follow-up CMR, stratifying by persistent MVO versus transient MVO or no MVO. The key finding was that persistent MVO carried a different (reported as more adverse) prognostic impact than transient or absent MVO, based on pooled cohort data. The scientific significance is that CMR-based persistence of MVO can refine risk stratification after STEMI and potentially inform intensity of post-PCI management.
Gadelmawla AF, Taha AM, Alkuwaiti FA et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Automation Software for Transesophageal Echocardiography in Cardiac Patients: A Scoping Review.
This scoping review mapped evidence on automation software for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in cardiac patients, comparing automated measurements with manual techniques and summarizing validation outcomes and evidence gaps. Across heterogeneous tools and study designs, the review found that while automation is established in transthoracic echocardiography, the TEE evidence base is less mature and more variable, limiting definitive conclusions about performance and generalizability. Clinically, the work highlights where automated TEE measurement systems need stronger validation to improve efficiency and reproducibility in routine cardiac care.
Ghijselings I, Elst J, Rex S et al. · Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 protocol without contrast at 1.5 T in 24 healthy volunteers, aiming to combine cardiac function and aortic anatomy in a single acquisition. The technique produced cine and aortic imaging comparable to the clinical standard while avoiding breath-holds and eliminating the need for contrast agent administration. If validated in patients, this approach could reduce scan time and improve feasibility for individuals with limited breath-hold capacity.
Chen R, Lu H, Cernicanu A et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Poor R-wave progression fails to detect anterior myocardial fibrosis in MESA.
Using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Examination 5, this study tested whether poor R-wave progression (PRWP) on 12-lead ECG can detect anterior myocardial fibrosis on modern cardiac MRI. In MESA participants with digital ECG and CMR, PRWP criteria (including a strict RV3-based definition and a sensitivity analysis using the Zema MI criterion) failed to reliably identify anterior-wall fibrosis by the prespecified CMR reference standard. Clinically, the findings argue against using PRWP alone as a surrogate for anterior myocardial fibrosis in contemporary practice.
de Alencar JN, Morales PAS · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac remodeling and myocardial late gadolinium enhancement in competitive amateur cyclists: insights from cardiac MRI.
In a prospective cardiac MRI study, 66 competitive amateur cyclists and 35 controls underwent 3.0T contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI and cardiopulmonary exercise testing to evaluate cardiac remodeling and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) patterns at the right ventricular insertion point (RVIP) versus non-RVIP regions. Compared with controls, cyclists demonstrated “athlete’s heart” remodeling (including biventricular enlargement and increased left ventricular mass) and distinct LGE patterns associated with cycling characteristics/performance. This is scientifically important because it helps distinguish physiologic endurance-related cardiac changes from potentially pathologic MRI findings in athletes.
Albrecht F, Thottakara T, Schaerk J et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Feasibility of quantitative pulmonary function imaging in real-world cardiovascular magnetic resonance.
This retrospective real-world CMR feasibility study assessed Phase-REsolved FUnctional Lung imaging (PREFUL) in consecutive patients undergoing PREFUL plus routine 1.5T cardiovascular magnetic resonance between September 2023 and January 2024. The investigators used a prototype tool to quantify ventilation and perfusion defect percentages (VDP and QDP) from three coronal slices and evaluated cardiac function from short-axis cine images, including subgroup analyses in patients with primary pulmonary disease and reduced LVEF. The results are significant because they support whether quantitative lung perfusion/ventilation imaging can be implemented practically alongside standard CMR in routine clinical workflows.
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 ACR Appropriateness Criteria guideline synthesized evidence to recommend imaging strategies for suspected and known renal and splanchnic artery aneurysms across four clinical scenarios: adults initial evaluation, adults under surveillance, and analogous pathways for pregnant patients. It specifies the roles of CTA, MRA, and ultrasound (including duplex Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasound where applicable) for detection, risk stratification, treatment planning, and longitudinal follow-up. The clinical significance is that it standardizes imaging selection to reduce missed diagnoses and improve safety, particularly in pregnancy where radiation exposure is a concern.
Partovi S, Li X, Aghayev A et al. · Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI Quantitative Biomarkers (T1/T2/ECV, Strain, Feature Tracking)
Impact of Myocardial Fibrosis and Female Sex on Life-Threatening Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death in Mitral Valve Prolapse.
In a prospective cohort of 550 consecutive patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) referred for cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) between 2008 and 2021, the study assessed whether myocardial fibrosis detected by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and female sex independently predict life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The key finding was that both female sex and CMR-detected myocardial fibrosis contributed to increased arrhythmic and sudden death risk, with fibrosis providing independent prognostic information beyond sex. Clinically, this strengthens the role of CMR LGE-based fibrosis assessment for identifying MVP patients at highest risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias.
Darwish A, Nguyen DT, Songsangjinda T et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Correlation of seismocardiography variables with echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance measurements.
This 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). The key finding was that SCG mechanical vibration features meaningfully correlated with established imaging-derived cardiac function markers from TTE/CMR. This supports SCG as a potentially low-cost, noninvasive adjunct for cardiac function assessment, though validation in larger cohorts is needed.
Agam A, Korsgaard E, Kristensen CB et al. · Biomedical physics & engineering express · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial fibrosis in patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance T1 mapping.
This cross-sectional CMR study compared myocardial fibrosis severity in 146 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) with versus without diabetes mellitus (DM) using CMR T1 mapping, along with measures of LV function, global strain, and late gadolinium enhancement. The key finding was that CHD patients with DM (CHD(DM+)) had greater myocardial fibrosis burden on T1 mapping than CHD patients without DM (CHD(DM-)), and fibrosis severity related to cardiac functional impairment. Clinically, it suggests CMR T1 mapping can detect and quantify diabetes-associated fibrotic remodeling in CHD patients, potentially improving risk assessment.
Deng J, Liao B, Huang H et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (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 reference intervals for myocardial native T1, native T2, and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) in clinically normal dogs and cats using 3-T cardiac MRI (3-T CMR) with ECG gating under general anesthesia. In both species, midventricular short-axis native T1/T2 mapping and derived ECV produced species-specific normal ranges suitable for veterinary clinical and research use. These reference intervals enable more accurate detection of myocardial inflammation or fibrosis in animals using quantitative CMR.
Fries RC, Kadotani S, Toborowsky C et al. · American journal of veterinary research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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) affect left ventricular (LV) systolic function and myocardial mechanics in human studies, using speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) and cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT). Across included reports, both LBBB and RBBB were associated with ventricular dyssynchrony and measurable abnormalities in conventional systolic indices and deformation-derived myocardial mechanics, indicating subclinical LV dysfunction beyond LVEF. These findings support STE/CMR-FT as clinically useful tools for detecting early myocardial impairment in patients with bundle branch conduction disease.
Sonaglioni A, Lombardo M, Gramaglia GF et al. · Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) · (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.
In a secondary analysis of the prospective Fasting In diabetes Treatment trial, adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were randomized to a monthly 5-day fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) versus usual care and underwent 3.0-T cardiac MRI at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. The study assessed changes in LV geometry and systolic function from 2D cine MRI and diastolic function from 4D flow MRI. If the trial showed favorable remodeling or functional changes, it would provide mechanistic imaging evidence that periodic FMD can improve cardiac structure/function in T2D.
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.
This prospective CMR feature-tracking study followed 32 adults undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) to assess whether biventricular/biatrial strain recovery, fibrosis biomarkers, and adipokine biomarkers change uniformly or on different timelines. After LSG, selective regression of a fibrosis biomarker was associated with differential recovery of biventricular strain, indicating uneven reversal of obesity-related cardiac injury. These findings support using integrated CMR feature-tracking plus biomarker profiling to better time and target post-bariatric cardiovascular risk reduction.
Akarsu H, Kılıç İD, Dodurga Y et al. · Obesity surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Hypertension and myocardial fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the relationship between hypertension (HTN) and myocardial fibrosis (MF) using both imaging and histological evidence, including cardiac magnetic resonance T1 mapping metrics (extracellular volume fraction [ECV%] and native T1) and histology. The key finding was an overall association supporting HTN as a risk factor for myocardial fibrosis across included studies. Clinically, the synthesis strengthens the rationale for aggressive blood pressure management and for using CMR T1-mapping biomarkers to identify fibrosis risk in hypertensive patients.
Jiang J, Deng J, Dong L et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 evaluated prognostic associations of CMR biomarkers—late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), mitral annular disjunction (MAD), and systolic curling—in 1,994 patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) across 15 studies. The key finding was that all three biomarkers were significantly associated with increased risk of arrhythmic events (with pooled relative risks reported for each marker). The clinical significance is that CMR-derived imaging features can improve risk prediction for arrhythmias in MVP and may guide surveillance and preventive strategies.
Papanastasiou CA, Kampaktsis PN, Papalamprakopoulou Z et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Mechanical signatures of left ventricular ejection fraction and mass index in a community cohort (ACE 1950).
This community-based study used cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) to determine which myocardial mechanical signatures (beyond global longitudinal strain, GLS) are associated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in 186 adults from the ACE 1950 cohort. Key CMR-FT-derived mechanics (including global circumferential/longitudinal strain and related time-to-peak and dispersion-type measures) demonstrated significant associations with LVEF and LVMI, with multivariable machine-learning models evaluating broader predictive relationships. The findings support CMR-FT as a more informative, noninvasive way to quantify myocardial mechanics relevant to systolic function and hypertrophy in the general population.
Sulkowska J, Skranes JB, Berge T 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.
In a single-center retrospective comparison, patients with ischemic heart disease and non-ischemic heart disease underwent full cardiac-cycle cardiac CT (CCT) and cardiac MRI (CMR) within 3 months to compare left ventricular strain metrics. Global longitudinal strain (GLS), radial strain (GRS), and circumferential strain (GCS) were measured on both modalities and assessed for agreement using mean differences/limits of agreement and Pearson correlations against a prespecified ±1.5% clinical margin. This is significant because it informs whether CCT-derived strain can reliably substitute for CMR-derived strain in evaluating myocardial mechanics across different cardiac disease etiologies.
Takagi H, Chibana S, Xing J et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocarditis & Cardiac Inflammation (Multimodal Imaging & Prognosis)
Lymphatic endothelial cells actively shape immune responses in the lungs.
This narrative review summarized experimental evidence on how pulmonary lymphatic endothelial cells actively regulate immune responses in the lungs, including mechanisms such as PAR1-mediated permeabilization of lymphatic junctions. The key finding was that lung lymphatic endothelial cells are not passive conduits but actively shape acute inflammation, adaptive immunity, and tissue remodeling in an organ-specific manner. Scientifically, it highlights PAR1 and lymphatic junction biology as mechanistic nodes that could be targeted to modulate inflammatory lung diseases.
Rivers AK, Migues Ramirez C, Cleary SJ · Current opinion in immunology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Quantitative 99mTc-PYP SPECT/CT at 90 minutes improves diagnostic stratification in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.
This retrospective single-center diagnostic study evaluated whether quantitative 99mTc-PYP SPECT/CT at 90 minutes post-injection improves diagnostic stratification for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis when added to standard planar imaging at 60 and 180 minutes. The key finding was that quantitative SPECT/CT at 90 minutes provided incremental diagnostic value, particularly addressing diagnostic uncertainty in patients with low planar uptake (e.g., Perugini score 1). This could improve noninvasive diagnostic accuracy and patient classification for ATTR cardiac amyloidosis using optimized imaging timepoints and quantification.
Nazerani-Zemann T, Stanzel S, Weitzer F et al. · European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · (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 a 37-year-old man with hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia and initially normal cardiac structure to determine the arrhythmia’s cause using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). CMR demonstrated subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement and myocardial edema, confirming acute myocarditis as the arrhythmogenic substrate that had mimicked idiopathic fascicular ventricular tachycardia. The finding highlights the clinical value of CMR in young patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias and preserved echocardiographic function to uncover myocarditis despite a “normal” initial workup.
Alkhanafsa M, Aloqaily M, Ababneh R et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and rest myocardial perfusion imaging in non-granulomatous myocarditis.
This multicenter prospective feasibility study evaluated the diagnostic performance of combined 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT and rest myocardial perfusion imaging (rMPI) in non-granulomatous myocarditis, compared with cardiac MRI (and endomyocardial biopsy when available). The key finding was that the integrated PET approach was assessed for diagnostic accuracy against consensus criteria (via endomyocardial biopsy) or adjudicated clinical diagnosis when biopsy was not available. Scientifically, it addresses a gap in evidence for non-granulomatous myocarditis imaging and supports refining multimodality diagnostic pathways.
Lucinian YA, Martineau P, Harel F et al. · European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Outcomes by cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with clinically suspected myocardial inflammation.
This study evaluated outcomes in patients with clinically suspected myocardial inflammation referred for CMR diagnostic assessment at tertiary centers by systematically comparing prognostic value of biomarkers and non-invasive imaging variables. It found that individual non-invasive markers derived from CMR (including late gadolinium enhancement and troponin-related context) and other biomarkers had differential prognostic contributions for adverse outcomes. The work supports more standardized, marker-informed prognostic frameworks for patients with suspected myocarditis/inflammation.
Nagel E, Carr-White G, Rolf A et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Amyloidosis & Transthyretin Diagnostics
Temporal shifts in diagnostic testing for cardiac amyloidosis across U.S. health systems.
This retrospective TriNetX U.S. Collaborative Network analysis studied temporal trends in diagnostic testing for cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) among patients diagnosed with wild-type or hereditary ATTR-CM from January 2017 to November 2025. Across the study period, the use and sequencing of ATTR-specific diagnostics—particularly technetium-99m (Tc-99m) bone scintigraphy, cardiac MRI (CMR), and biopsy—shifted over time while excluding light-chain amyloidosis and plasma cell dyscrasias. Understanding these real-world diagnostic-testing patterns is clinically important for optimizing timely, guideline-concordant ATTR-CM diagnosis and reducing misclassification.
Motairek I, Abadie B, Higgins A et al. · EJNMMI reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Ischemic Heart Disease, MI, and Microvascular Dysfunction (CMR/CT)
Cardiac MR Characterization of Infarct-Related and Remote Myocardial Injury in Multivessel Disease After Acute Myocardial Infarction.
This retrospective study evaluated infarct-related and remote myocardial tissue characteristics by cardiac MRI in 224 acute myocardial infarction patients with multivessel disease (MVD) versus 90 with single-vessel disease (SVD), with subgroup analyses by revascularization completeness after percutaneous coronary intervention. The key finding was that MVD was associated with more diffuse myocardial injury beyond the infarct zone, and these remote tissue properties differed according to whether revascularization was complete versus incomplete. These results support using cardiac MRI parametric tissue characterization to refine risk stratification after AMI in MVD patients and to quantify the benefit of complete revascularization on non-infarct myocardium.
Luo C, Jiang W, Mo C et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Hyperaemic effects of adenosine and dobutamine in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a quantitative perfusion CMR study.
This prospective quantitative perfusion CMR study compared the hyperaemic effects of adenosine versus dobutamine in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF; LVEF ≤40%). The key finding was that the choice of pharmacologic stress agent produced different hyperaemic responses, which can affect the reliability of CMR-based ischemia assessment. Clinically, selecting the appropriate stress agent is important to standardize perfusion CMR interpretation in HFrEF patients when evaluating ischemic contributions to dysfunction.
Shergill S, Abdelaty AMSEK, Sedani SR et al. · European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Reduced regadenoson dose using heart rate-targeted titration in paediatric stress perfusion CMR.
This retrospective study assessed heart rate-targeted titration of regadenoson dosing in 31 pediatric patients undergoing stress perfusion cardiac MRI (CMR) for known or suspected coronary artery disease. Incremental regadenoson administration targeting ≥20% heart-rate increase was feasible and safe, with diagnostic performance comparable to standard approaches while reducing excessive drug exposure. The approach supports individualized pediatric vasodilator dosing to improve tolerability without sacrificing CMR stress-perfusion effectiveness.
Quail MA, Tann O, Linton R et al. · European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Molecular mechanisms of coronary microembolization-induced MINOCA.
This basic research article investigated the molecular mechanisms by which coronary microembolization (CME) can cause myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). It highlights that CME-related pathways can produce MINOCA-like injury despite absent large-vessel obstruction, addressing why diagnosis is often delayed when cardiac MRI is performed days later. Understanding CME molecular drivers could enable faster diagnostic tools and more specific therapies for MINOCA.
Iske J, Thau H, Mesfin JM et al. · Basic research in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic Implications of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction by Obesity Status.
This multicenter prospective cohort study assessed coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) using the angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (angio-IMR) in 497 STEMI patients stratified by obesity status. The key finding was the association between CMD (defined as angio-IMR > 40 U) and long-term cardiovascular outcomes differed by obesity category. The significance is that obesity status may modify the prognostic impact of CMD in STEMI, informing risk stratification after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).
Guo Q, Guo Y, Shi S et al. · Diabetes, obesity & metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Time-resolved aortic 3D shape reconstruction from a limited number of cine 2D MRI slices.
This Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine study assessed feasibility and accuracy of reconstructing time-resolved, subject-specific 3D aortic geometry from a limited number of cine 2D MRI slices by combining a statistical shape model with differentiable volumetric mesh optimization. The key finding was that the method could produce time-resolved 3D reconstructions in vivo using only a small set of slices, with slice positioning optimized using synthetic data and then tested in 30 subjects. This is significant for reducing MRI acquisition burden while enabling patient-specific aortic shape analysis for research and potential clinical planning.
Wolkerstorfer G, Buoso S, Schlenker R et al. · Computer methods and programs in biomedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries: A multimodal imaging approach to diagnosis and etiology-targeted therapy.
This article reviewed myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), a heterogeneous diagnosis accounting for roughly 5–15% of acute myocardial infarction presentations, and emphasized multimodal imaging to identify etiology-targeted therapy. It highlights that intracoronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can identify culprit coronary mechanisms and help distinguish ischemic causes from non-ischemic mimics that otherwise lead to therapeutic inertia. Scientifically and clinically, the review supports a systematic imaging-driven diagnostic pathway to enable more precise, mechanism-based management in MINOCA.
Abdu FA · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Population-level trends in non-invasive cardiac imaging before coronary revascularization.
This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX Research Network to examine population-level trends in non-invasive cardiac testing among 554,855 adults (18–90 years) undergoing coronary revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting across 75 healthcare organizations from 2016–2024. The study characterized how utilization of non-invasive cardiac testing changed over time and differed across demographic subgroups. These findings are clinically significant because they identify potential disparities in pre-revascularization diagnostic pathways that could affect access to guideline-based care.
Odai RL, Tsagli D, Touffaha I et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiomyopathy Phenotyping & Genetic/Inherited Disorders (CMR Patterns)
Ten Years of Scientific Discovery With the UK Biobank Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.
This article reviewed the UK Biobank cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging study, which generated CMR data in 100,000 participants linked to genetic, demographic, lifestyle, and clinical information. The key finding was that large-scale CMR phenotyping in UK Biobank has enabled major discoveries across genomics, epidemiology, and biomedical engineering and has become a global model for population imaging cohorts. Scientifically, it highlights how standardized CMR acquisition and equitable data access accelerate translation from imaging biomarkers to population-level risk prediction and mechanistic research.
Raisi-Estabragh Z, Petersen SE, Neubauer S · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation and Prognosis in Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
This multicenter study analyzed 1,160 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) evaluated with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and genetic testing to determine whether left ventricular hypertrabeculation (formerly LV noncompaction) predicts embolic events and other adverse outcomes across DCM genotypes. The key finding was that the presence of LV hypertrabeculation identified a subgroup with higher embolic risk and prognostic differences depending on DCM genotype. These findings support incorporating CMR-based hypertrabeculation assessment into risk stratification and potentially genotype-informed management in DCM.
Mora-Ayestarán N, Ramos-Lopez N, Ochoa JP et al. · Circulation · (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, focusing on how it relates to the established CMR reference standard of myocardial T2* for iron quantification. The key finding was that native T1 mapping may detect early iron-related myocardial changes that can be missed or limited by T2* alone, and the review synthesized reported correlations between T1 and T2* across studies. Scientifically, it supports considering native T1 mapping as a complementary CMR biomarker to improve noninvasive monitoring of cardiac iron burden in thalassemia.
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 study assessed the prevalence and determinants of asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) across healthy individuals and in diseases causing left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), using UK Biobank (n=4,020) and a multi-cohort clinical cardiac MRI (CMR) dataset (n=1,655) including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, aortic stenosis, Fabry disease, AL amyloidosis, and ATTR. ASH prevalence and the septal-to-lateral wall thickness ratio (SLR) varied systematically by demographic factors and disease context, enabling age-, sex-, and body-surface-area–adjusted comparisons against a modeled healthy reference. These findings improve CMR-based interpretation of ASH patterns and may help distinguish physiologic or disease-specific septal remodeling from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy–like phenotypes.
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 work characterized cardiac involvement in mitochondrial trifunctional protein (TFP) deficiency using a mouse model carrying the βTFP mutation p.Met404Lys, combining cardiac histology with multiparametric CMR. The study found myocardial fibrosis with collagen deposition in βTFP-deficient mice and corresponding CMR evidence of structural and functional impairment, including systolic dysfunction. These results strengthen the translational relevance of the βTFP-deficient model for fatty-acid oxidation cardiomyopathy and support CMR biomarkers for preclinical evaluation of therapies.
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 pilot study investigated Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) by analyzing 131 paired CMR scans (1.5T) to determine how myocardial inflammation relates to cardiac damage progression. Using CMR T2 mapping (T2m) as an inflammation marker and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) expansion as a measure of scar progression, the study found that inflammation tracked with subsequent myocardial scar expansion across disease stages. These results suggest that CMR T2m may serve as a noninvasive indicator of ongoing injury and risk of fibrosis progression in AFD.
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 ↗
Use of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Dystrophin Deficient Cardiomyopathy: A Multi-center Study Using the ACTION Registry.
This multi-center ACTION Registry study examined real-world use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy in 80 pediatric/adolescent patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The study described indications for SGLT2i initiation, reported cardiac functional effects, and documented adverse effects during follow-up. These findings provide early clinical evidence to guide SGLT2i adoption and monitoring for cardiomyopathy in dystrophin-deficient patients.
Harris RE, Wittlieb-Weber CA, Villa C et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Three-dimensional Mapping of Fibrosis Distribution in Desmoplakin Cardiomyopathy from Cardiac MRI.
This retrospective cardiac MRI study in patients with desmoplakin cardiomyopathy generated high-resolution 3D fibrosis distribution maps by mapping late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) fibrosis onto universal ventricular coordinates. Using reconstructed 3D ventricular models from cine MRI and a common reference framework, the authors quantified spatial fibrotic patterns across mild, moderate, and severe disease categories. Producing standardized fibrosis maps could improve phenotype characterization and enable more precise prognostic or mechanistic studies in desmoplakin cardiomyopathy.
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 clinical-genetic study characterized nine Chinese patients with Danon disease carrying the LAMP2 frameshift variant p.Leu325fs and described associated cardiac phenotypes. The p.Leu325fs variant leads to premature termination and loss of functional LAMP2 protein, and the study reports its specific cardiac implications in this cohort. These genotype-phenotype data improve risk recognition and clinical management for Danon disease patients with LAMP2 p.Leu325fs.
Yin K, Li Y, Zhao H et al. · International journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature · (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 registry study examined chelation management in 167 transfused infants and toddlers with Diamond–Blackfan anemia syndrome (DBAS), focusing on whether chelation was initiated before age 3. The key finding was that 64 children (38%) started chelation early (median 18 months), with initiation commonly driven by serum ferritin ≥500 ng/mL and >10 transfusions, and deferasirox being the most used chelator. This is clinically significant because it provides real-world evidence on early iron chelation practices in very young DBAS patients, a group with limited prior data.
Torchio F, Lecalvez B, Garelli E et al. · American journal of hematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance tissue characterization in endurance athletes with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation phenotype (PAFIYAMA).
In the PAFIYAMA observational cross-sectional study, endurance athletes with a paroxysmal atrial fibrillation phenotype (63 competitive male athletes; PAFIYAMA n=22 vs controls n=41) underwent cardiac MRI to determine whether myocardial fibrosis or diffuse abnormalities explain AF-related functional phenotypes. The study used CMR tissue characterization (including late gadolinium enhancement/fibrosis assessment) to evaluate the myocardial substrate underlying reduced forward flow despite preserved global systolic function. These results aim to clarify the pathophysiology of AF risk in endurance athletes and could refine risk stratification using CMR tissue markers.
Garatachea N, Echevarría-Polo M, Hernández-Vicente A et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 atrial flutter with 1:1 accessory pathway conduction causing wide QRS tachycardia. After radiofrequency ablation of the accessory pathway, the patient’s cardiac function improved, and 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT imaging provided additional insight into the underlying disease substrate. The report suggests that targeted electrophysiologic intervention can improve function in PRKAG2 syndrome and that FAPI PET/CT may help characterize myocardial involvement beyond conventional imaging.
Fan J, Zhang Y, Zhu J et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Desmoplakin Cardiomyopathy.
This article describes desmoplakin (DSP) cardiomyopathy, an inherited desmosome gene disorder caused by DSP mutations that leads to arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. It highlights that cardiac MRI often shows ring-like subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement that can be misinterpreted as myocarditis or fatty replacement. The clinical significance is that recognizing this characteristic MRI pattern can improve diagnostic accuracy and appropriate genetic/clinical management for DSP cardiomyopathy.
Han DD, Jew G, Kaproth-Joslin K · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Heart Failure Risk Stratification & Prognostic CMR Metrics
A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate Allopurinol vs Placebo on Left Ventricular Mass in Living Kidney Donors.
In a single-center, phase 2b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 71 living kidney donors, the study tested whether allopurinol (uric acid lowering) given for 9 months reduces left ventricular mass compared with placebo. The key finding was that lowering uric acid with allopurinol was evaluated as a strategy to mitigate post-donation cardiovascular remodeling, with left ventricular mass as the primary efficacy outcome. If effective, this would provide a mechanistic, pharmacologic approach to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk after kidney donation.
Langberg NE, Jenssen TG, Hopp E et al. · Kidney360 · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Association between Cardiac MRI-derived Global Longitudinal Strain and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Aortic Regurgitation.
This multicenter retrospective study examined whether cardiac MRI–derived LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) measured by cine feature tracking predicts outcomes in patients with isolated chronic moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation (AR). Patients’ LV GLS and ejection fraction (LVEF) were related to all-cause death or heart failure–related hospitalization using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Demonstrating prognostic value for LV GLS would support GLS as a risk-stratification biomarker in chronic AR beyond LVEF.
Hashimoto G, Enriquez-Sarano M, Koike H et al. · Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Aspirin therapy after heart transplantation is associated with higher myocardial perfusion reserve assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.
This multicenter observational study in heart-transplant recipients from two Swedish centers tested 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) and coronary angiography. The key finding was that patients receiving aspirin had higher myocardial perfusion reserve compared with those not on aspirin. Clinically, this suggests aspirin may be linked to a more favorable CAV-related perfusion profile after transplantation.
Jablonowski R, Löfman IH, Andersson HB et al. · JHLT open · (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 a cardiac MRI-derived left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) from routine cine images in 403 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) to predict adverse outcomes. The key finding was that the LACI had prognostic value for DCM outcomes and improved risk prediction beyond conventional markers including LVEF and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Scientifically and clinically, this supports using an easily obtainable cine-derived CMR metric to better capture LA–LV remodeling interplay and refine DCM risk stratification.
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) measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) versus transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in patients who underwent both within 1 week, and assessed how these differences affected European Society of Cardiology heart failure classification thresholds (50% and 35%). Discordance in clinical classification was analyzed using logistic regression to identify determinants of mismatched LVEF categories between modalities. The findings are clinically significant because they quantify how CMR–TTE LVEF differences may shift heart failure phenotype assignment and downstream management decisions.
Le Y, An J, Liang L et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Atrial Remodeling & Atrial Function (CMR-derived indices)
Characteristics and Clinical Features of Mitral Annular Disjunction in the Pediatric Population.
This retrospective pediatric study of 27 children (ages 5–17 years) with mitral annular disjunction (MAD) diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) between 2019 and 2024 assessed clinical and laboratory features and evaluated the Pickelhaube sign using tissue Doppler imaging. The key finding was that MAD in children shows characteristic echocardiographic patterns (including Pickelhaube sign) and associated clinical features that can be systematically described in the pediatric population. Scientifically and clinically, it provides baseline pediatric phenotyping to improve recognition of MAD and to guide further longitudinal studies of progression and arrhythmic risk.
Şahin ŞT, Elçioğlu BC, Gümüş T et al. · Journal of clinical ultrasound : JCU · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Atrial Function by Long Axis Shortening Enhances Risk Stratification Beyond Traditional CMR Markers in Possible Myocarditis.
This study evaluated whether left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) long axis shortening (LAS) measured by CMR in patients meeting 2025 ESC criteria for “possible myocarditis” predicts major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE). The key finding was that atrial functional impairment assessed by CMR-derived LAS provided incremental risk stratification beyond traditional myocarditis CMR markers such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Clinically, adding atrial LAS to routine CMR may improve prognostic identification of higher-risk patients with possible myocarditis.
Ciocca N, Brändle D, Riederer L et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Mitral annular disjunction and mitral valve prolapse: echocardiographic-MRI insights into cardiac function.
This study evaluated how mitral annular disjunction (MAD) measured by cardiac MRI (CMR) and mitral valve prolapse (MVP) assessed by echocardiography (TTE) relate to global cardiac performance (cardiac index and cardiac output) in 56 patients stratified into MAD ≥2 mm with MVP versus MVP-only. Patients with MAD+MVP showed worse global cardiac performance metrics than those with MVP-only, and CMR also enabled fibrosis assessment using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) alongside MAD quantification. These echocardiographic–MRI insights suggest that MAD severity in MVP patients may identify individuals at higher risk for impaired cardiac function and potentially ventricular arrhythmia vulnerability.
King MD, Peters AC, Karimi S et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pulmonary Hypertension & Right Ventricular Function (CMR/Exercise)
Evaluation of Right Ventricular Size Metrics Measured with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Regurgitation.
This retrospective review assessed right ventricular (RV) size metrics measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in pediatric patients with repaired congenital heart disease and pulmonary regurgitation (PR) with PR fraction ≥15%, focusing on how RV end-diastolic volume (EDV) indexing strategies perform. The key finding was that standard normalization approaches (body surface area indexing and RV EDV Z-scores) may be imperfect, and indexing RV EDV to left ventricular EDV was proposed as an alternative normalization method to better reflect individual patient anatomy. Clinically, this could refine CMR-based decision-making for timing of pulmonary valve replacement in children with PR.
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.
In patients undergoing total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) for single-ventricle physiology, investigators developed a minimally invasive pre-operative estimate of total pulmonary resistance (TPR) at the bidirectional cavopulmonary connection (BCPC) stage using jugular venous pressure as a surrogate for central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary blood flow. Higher TPR was tested as a predictor of early adverse outcomes after TCPC, including early Fontan failure (death, TCPC take-down, emergency fenestration, or mechanical circulatory support ≤6 months) and prolonged ICU stay (>14 days). If TPR reliably predicts early failure, it could enable earlier identification of high-risk patients and refinement of perioperative management.
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.
This multimodality imaging study enrolled 49 patients with pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PHprecap) and evaluated whether right ventricular (RV) longitudinal function relates to exercise capacity. Using 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), NT-proBNP, right heart catheterization, and RV assessment by echocardiography and cardiac MRI (CMR), the authors found that impaired RV longitudinal function measured by CMR and echocardiographic indices was associated with reduced exercise capacity. These results reinforce RV longitudinal performance as a key determinant of functional limitation in PHprecap and may improve risk assessment beyond standard clinical strata.
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.
In a two-step invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing study of 164 participants (80 HFpEF, 57 pre-capillary PH, 27 non-cardiac dyspnea), researchers defined an unfavorable exercise pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) response in HFpEF as exercise PVR >1.74 Woods units with <22% ∆PVR decrease. They then identified high-risk correlates of this abnormal exercise PVR pattern, focusing on pulmonary vascular–left atrial axis abnormalities. Linking exercise PVR failure to specific pulmonary vascular–left atrial mechanisms could guide targeted evaluation and therapies to prevent right ventricular decompensation in HFpEF.
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.
This prospective study followed 10 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) and compared them with 10 control patients with normal RV function undergoing aortic surgery. Using longitudinal RV imaging (including echocardiography and cardiac MRI), histology, and 18F-labeled PET (as described in the abstract), the study assessed how RV remodeling and circulating metabolic profiles change after PEA. Identifying imaging–metabolite patterns of RV reverse remodeling could help generate biomarker-driven hypotheses for future CTEPH therapies.
Guimaron S, Mercier J, Hautbergue T et al. · JHLT open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical Applications of Cardiac Diffusion MRI: A Scoping Review.
This scoping review synthesized in vivo human evidence on clinical applications of cardiac diffusion MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), cardiac diffusion tensor imaging, and intravoxel incoherent motion. Across studies published through March 2025, the review characterized how diffusion-based techniques have been used to assess cardiac microstructure and disease processes and summarized emerging trends and study quality. By mapping current clinical uses and gaps, the review supports translation planning for diffusion MRI as a developing cardiac imaging biomarker platform.
Vora N, Cook M, Harper L et al. · Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Velocity and Dyssynchrony in Fontan Circulation Using MR Tissue Phase Mapping.
This prospective study quantified myocardial motion velocity and dyssynchrony in the functional ventricle of 28 Fontan patients using MR tissue phase mapping (TPM) and compared results with 42 matched controls. TPM-derived velocity metrics in longitudinal, radial, and circumferential directions (including peak velocities, time-to-peak, and dyssynchrony indices) were altered in Fontan physiology and related to cardiac function. These quantitative TPM measures may provide a sensitive imaging biomarker for monitoring mechanical dysfunction and guiding management in Fontan circulation.
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 JHLT Open analysis used the PVDOMICS cohort to phenotype vascular compliance in adults with World Symposium Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension using right heart catheterization measurements. The key finding was identification of factors associated with pulmonary arterial compliance and characterization of how compliance relates to cardiac morphology, exercise metrics, and mortality. The scientific significance is that vascular compliance may serve as a prognostic biomarker and help refine risk stratification in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Wilson TG, Oppegard L, Pi H et al. · JHLT open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Sarcoidosis, Eosinophilic/Inflammatory Systemic 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 remained refractory despite third-line immunosuppression with infliximab. The report emphasizes that persistent active disease can occur even after escalation to anti-TNF therapy and that ongoing multimodality assessment is required to guide management. The case highlights the need for alternative therapeutic strategies and careful monitoring in infliximab-refractory cardiac sarcoidosis.
Ibrahim M, Dulay MS, Wechalekar K et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Imaging signatures of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis-related myocarditis: A case report.
This case report described a 23-year-old man with asthma, persistent hypereosinophilia, and multisystem involvement who was diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome) and had suspected myocarditis. The key finding was that cardiac MRI identified imaging abnormalities consistent with myocarditis in this setting, emphasizing MRI’s sensitivity for cardiac involvement. Scientifically and clinically, it supports early cardiac MRI evaluation in suspected Churg-Strauss cardiac manifestations to enable timely immunosuppressive management adjustments.
Lamassab NEH, Merimi I, Nabila I et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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, focusing on a rare presentation of tuberculous chronic constrictive pericarditis and myocarditis. The key finding was that multimodal advanced imaging was necessary to characterize the heterogeneous cardiac TB manifestations when microbiological confirmation was challenging. The clinical significance is that comprehensive imaging can improve diagnostic accuracy in complex cardiac TB presentations where myocarditis is uncommon and symptoms may be nonspecific.
Jabri M, Boulouiz S, Bazid Z et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Masses, Congenital Anomalies, and Rare Structural Lesions
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) on cardiac MRI, focusing on how PMF can be missed in late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) assessment. It emphasizes that PMF occurs across multiple conditions (e.g., ischemic cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis) and can be overlooked when papillary muscle and blood pool have similar LGE signal intensity. Clinically, the review provides practical imaging “pearls” to improve PMF detection and thereby support earlier identification of patients at risk for ventricular arrhythmias.
Gutierrez M, McCreavy D, Radike M · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Navigating Mechanical Support in Cardiogenic Shock With Arterial Hypoplasia: Lessons From Arterial Tortuosity Syndrome.
This case report described a 19-year-old man with arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS) presenting with cardioembolic stroke and rapidly evolving cardiogenic shock, where severe arterial hypoplasia and tortuosity prevented standard mechanical support options. The key finding was that iliofemoral and aortic hypoplasia/tortuosity (e.g., very small iliofemoral arteries and markedly narrowed ascending/thoracic aorta) rendered peripheral VA-ECMO implantation and mechanical thrombectomy technically unfeasible. The report highlights the importance of multimodality imaging (CTA, angiography, and cardiac MRI) to anticipate feasibility constraints and guide alternative management in ATS-related cardiogenic shock.
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 ↗
Left ventricular diverticulum: A case report and differential diagnosis in an asymptomatic woman.
This case report studied an asymptomatic 68-year-old woman with suspected interventricular communication after transthoracic echocardiography suggested a septal discontinuity and a hypertrophic moderator band. Cardiac MRI on a 1.5-T system using cine balanced steady-state free precession clarified the diagnosis of a left ventricular diverticulum and addressed key differential diagnoses of ventricular outpouchings. The report is significant because it demonstrates how CMR can distinguish rare congenital ventricular anomalies with different clinical implications from more common structural mimics.
Andrea D’Arma GM, Montatore M, Masino F et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Diagnostic Accuracy of an Integrated Multimodality Imaging Approach in Patients With Cardiac Masses.
This prospective study evaluated diagnostic accuracy for malignant cardiac masses by comparing multiparametric scores derived from echocardiography, cardiac MRI (CMR), cardiac CT (CCT), and 18F-FDG PET, both individually and in integrated combinations, using histology as the reference standard. The key finding was that integrated multimodality imaging strategies improved identification of malignant cardiac masses compared with single-modality approaches. Clinically, the results support using combined CMR/CCT/PET (with echocardiographic inputs) to more reliably classify cardiac masses when malignancy is suspected.
Angeli F, Armillotta M, Foà A et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · 4 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 Radiology Case Reports series evaluated whether quantitative native T1 mapping on 1.5 T CMR can identify cardiac lipomas in two patients—one with a papillary muscle lipoma (47-year-old woman) and one with an intracavitary left ventricular lipoma (31-year-old Asian man). In both cases, native T1 mapping showed markedly reduced T1 values (250 ms and 405 ms at 1.5 T) that supported lipoma diagnosis despite potential diagnostic uncertainty from lesion location/appearance. The clinical significance is that native T1 mapping can improve differentiation of lipomas from other intracardiac masses when conventional fat-signal features are ambiguous.
Cereghetti GM, Huber LP, Todorski I et al. · European journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Aorta & Coronary Imaging (Non-contrast, 4D Flow, Geometry Modeling)
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 four-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 clearly showed dilation of the right coronary artery and the anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. The clinical significance is that 4D flow CMR can support understanding of ALCAPA anatomy and help guide treatment planning without contrast.
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 study assessed a novel ECG-gated, non-contrast cardiovascular MRI sequence (T2-Prepared GRE with Dixon water–fat separation; T2p GD) for aorta and coronary assessment in 55 patients with and without prior aortic root surgery. The key finding was that the technique’s diagnostic performance was validated and compared against standard contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA), with SNR and diagnostic metrics used to benchmark accuracy. This is significant because a non-contrast, motion-corrected, ECG-gated approach could reduce contrast exposure while maintaining diagnostic capability in patients with aortic disease, including those post-surgery.
Montatore M, Rella M, Milo M et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
AI/Automation/Segmentation & Reconstruction for Cardiac Imaging
Automated whole-heart volumetrics and haemodynamics from 4D flow CMR magnitude images: development and validation of a deep learning model.
This development-and-validation study used 4D flow CMR magnitude images to train and validate a deep learning model for automated whole-heart segmentation and hemodynamic/anatomical quantification. In 40 prospectively enrolled patients from the PREFER-CMR registry, the model’s anatomical accuracy was validated against standard cine imaging, aiming to reduce the long acquisition and complex post-processing burden of 4D flow CMR. If successful, this AI approach would streamline comprehensive CMR hemodynamic workflows for broader 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 methodological study developed and evaluated probabilistic cardiac MRI segmentation approaches for aleatoric uncertainty, focusing on probabilistic detection and contour regression to improve calibration of biomarker uncertainty for left and right ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF/RVEF). The key finding was that uncertainty-aware segmentation can better quantify per-patient variance in derived biomarkers, addressing the gap between population-level segmentation accuracy and biomarker-level calibration. This supports more reliable, uncertainty-calibrated cardiac MRI biomarkers for individual clinical decision-making.
Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Tourais J et al. · IEEE transactions on medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pre-Imaging Clinical Factors Associated With Cardiac MR Image Quality Using Large Language Model-Enabled Data Extraction.
This retrospective study assessed whether pre-imaging clinical information extracted using a large language model (LLM) is independently associated with cardiac MR image quality in 1006 adult patients undergoing clinical cardiac MRI at 1.5 T and 3 T. The LLM-derived clinical features were associated with image quality categories (excellent to nondiagnostic), indicating that patient-level factors available before scanning can predict the likelihood of adequate image acquisition. This could enable proactive workflow adjustments (e.g., protocol tailoring or rescheduling) to reduce repeat scans and improve clinical decision-making.
Yu H, Bondarenko M, Nowroozi A et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) for Low-Latency Real-Time Cardiac MRI.
This study applied dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) to enable low-latency online reconstruction for 2D real-time cardiac MRI using spiral balanced SSFP (bSSFP) at 0.55T in 10 healthy adults and 6 pregnant females. DMD-based reconstruction was compared against an offline spatiotemporally constrained reconstruction (STCR) reference at two temporal resolutions for adult and fetal cardiac imaging. The work is clinically relevant because it advances real-time cardiac MRI reconstruction methods that could improve imaging speed and feasibility in both general and pregnancy-related cardiac assessments.
Yagiz E, Tasdelen B, Ozaslan IK et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Environmental & Lifestyle Determinants of Cardiovascular Risk
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 prospective cohort and imaging study evaluated whether residential green space, blue space, and natural environment exposure are associated with incident heart failure and cardiac morpho-functional phenotypes in 437,429 participants without baseline heart failure. The analysis linked specific environmental exposures to differences in cardiac remodeling phenotypes and to risk of developing heart failure over follow-up. These findings support environmental factors as potentially modifiable determinants of cardiac structure/function and HF prevention strategies.
Song Y, Lin Z, Chen X et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · 3 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Apical hypercontractility mitigates impaired diastolic filling and lower intraventricular haemodynamic forces in human bed rest.
This longitudinal cardiac MRI study used non-invasive imaging in 24 healthy participants before, during, and after 60 days of strict head-down tilt bed rest (AGBRESA) to test how apical hypercontractility affects diastolic filling and intraventricular hemodynamic forces. Despite bed-rest–induced reductions in left ventricular volume and diastolic dysfunction, apical hypercontractility mitigated impaired diastolic filling and altered intraventricular forces toward more favorable patterns. The findings suggest a compensatory myocardial mechanism that may be detectable early during inactivity-related cardiovascular deconditioning.
Rabineau J, Al-Darwish F, Mulder E et al. · Experimental physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 synthesized cohort evidence on mortality after adolescent contact with the criminal justice system (before age 20) across all-cause and cause-specific deaths. The key finding was that criminal justice system contact in youth is associated with increased mortality risk, with pooled estimates reported across multiple death categories and risk factors. This is significant for public health and policy because it strengthens the evidence base for targeted prevention and intervention to reduce premature deaths in justice-involved adolescents.
Martinez A, Janca E, Willoughby M et al. · Social science & medicine (1982) · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardio-oncology & Systemic Disease with Cardiovascular Outcomes
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 whether interim 18F-FDG PET/CT (iPET/CT) predicts progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Pooled results showed that iPET/CT metabolic response (including complete metabolic response rates) significantly stratified PFS using hazard ratios derived from included studies. Clinically, iPET/CT can help risk-adapt therapy in DLBCL, though heterogeneity in timing/interpretation remains important.
Albano D, Chauvie S, Rizzo A et al. · Clinical lymphoma, myeloma & leukemia · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Trends in heart failure-related mortality among breast cancer patients in the United States from 1999 to 2024.
This retrospective CDC WONDER database analysis examined trends in heart failure (HF)-related mortality among U.S. women with breast cancer aged ≥25 years from 1999 to 2024, including stratification by race/ethnicity and geography. HF-related mortality showed temporal changes over the study period, with differences across demographic and regional groups. The results are significant for cardio-oncology surveillance and for targeting HF prevention and management in breast cancer populations at highest risk.
Jaiswal V, Kumar D, Kalra K et al. · American journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Single-Port Robotic Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery for Rectal Cancer: A Novel Approach With FishBowl-Early Case Series.
The study evaluated single-port robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery (SP-TAMIS) using the Da Vinci SP platform in early clinical cases of rectal cancer, aiming to extend TAMIS beyond local excision after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The key reported finding was feasibility despite known SP-TAMIS adoption barriers, particularly docking constraints in the confined pelvis, with the approach positioned as an organ-preserving option for mid- and low-rectal cancers achieving complete or major clinical response (cCR/cMR). This early-case series supports further investigation of robotic SP-TAMIS as a technically enhanced TAMIS strategy for selected rectal cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy.
Mellano A, Pellegrino L, Salomone S et al. · Surgical laparoscopy, endoscopy & percutaneous techniques · (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 linked to circulating proteomic signatures of metabolic and redox pathway dysregulation, using in vivo stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) alongside high-throughput serum proteomics. The key finding was that specific serum proteomic patterns associated with metabolic and redox dysregulation correlated with coronary endothelial dysfunction in treated, virally suppressed PWH. These results provide mechanistic leads for why cardiovascular risk persists despite antiretroviral therapy and suggest potential biomarker targets for endothelial dysfunction in HIV.
Keole KS, Bukhari S, Minhas AS et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The intersection of infectious diseases and cardiovascular disease in Africa: A narrative review.
This narrative review examined how infectious diseases and neglected tropical or latent parasitic infections in sub-Saharan Africa intersect with cardiovascular disease, with particular attention to immunosuppression in HIV/AIDS. The key finding was that the African infectious disease milieu—driven by factors such as sanitation, housing, and overcrowding—contributes to cardiovascular complications through diverse infectious etiologies and reactivation risks. The review underscores the need for integrated infectious and cardiovascular care strategies and improved recognition of infection-related cardiac presentations in SSA populations.
Ogah OS, Umuerri EM, Hahnle J et al. · Journal of the National Medical Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Beyond target lesions: Prognostic value of longitudinal AI-derived whole-body [1⁸F]FDG PET/CT metrics in metastatic melanoma.
This study investigated whether AI-based semi-automated longitudinal whole-body [18F]FDG PET/CT metrics—total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG)—predict outcomes in 43 patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The key finding was that longitudinal, AI-derived PET/CT metrics beyond conventional “target lesion” response criteria had prognostic value for patient outcomes. Clinically, this suggests that whole-body AI-quantified metabolic burden may better capture treatment response and risk than lesion-based 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 ↗
Cardiovascular Complications in Hemoglobinopathies: Pathophysiology, Clinical Spectrum, and Management.
This European Journal of Haematology review synthesized current knowledge on cardiovascular complications in hemoglobinopathies, especially sickle cell disease and thalassemia syndromes, covering pathophysiology, clinical spectrum, and management. The key finding was that improved survival has revealed a broad and expanding range of cardiovascular manifestations—including cardiomyopathy, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmias, microvascular ischemia, and valvular disease—driven by multiple mechanisms. The clinical significance is that it provides an integrated framework for recognizing and managing cardiovascular disease in hemoglobinopathy patients across the lifespan.
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 cardiac MRI study enrolled 64 patients with left-sided breast cancer undergoing postoperative radiotherapy and assessed radiation-induced acute cardiac injury using CMR strain analysis. Radiation doses to cardiac structures were calculated and CMR scans were performed within 2 weeks before and after RT, comparing whole-breast RT (40.5 Gy/15 fractions) versus other RT regimens (as reported in the abstract). The findings are important because they aim to detect early, dose-related myocardial injury after breast RT, potentially enabling earlier intervention to mitigate long-term cardiovascular risk.
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 05, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published July 29, 2026 – August 05, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.