What's New in Cardiac MRI? — August 10, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 63 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
August 10, 2026 · 63 articles · 15 research themes · covering August 03, 2026 – August 10, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of studies, cardiac imaging—especially cardiac MRI—continues to expand from diagnosis into quantitative phenotyping, risk prediction, and longitudinal monitoring. Multiple papers focus on improving how we measure and interpret myocardial tissue and function: new or optimized MRI acquisition frameworks (e.g., FAST-CMR without ECG gating, improved T2 mapping pulse designs, automated VENC selection), better segmentation generalization across sequences (physics-/tissue-property–driven “Reverse Imaging” and AI-based workflows), and refined reference standards (including species-specific mapping in animals and population-specific standardization concerns). Together, these efforts aim to make advanced CMR more scalable, reproducible, and clinically actionable.
A second dominant theme is risk stratification for arrhythmias and adverse outcomes using imaging biomarkers. Studies in mitral valve prolapse, ventricular tachycardia after ablation, ventricular injury patterns after AMI, and exercise-induced vulnerability in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy all highlight how CMR-derived structural substrates (e.g., LGE fibrosis, tissue property differences, LVHT/LV phenotypes) can refine prognosis beyond traditional clinical variables. Case reports further emphasize diagnostic nuance—such as Takotsubo variants, myocarditis mimics (including immune checkpoint inhibitor and drug-related cardiotoxicity), and rare inflammatory or infiltrative conditions—where multimodality imaging plus tissue diagnosis can prevent misclassification.
Finally, several articles connect cardiac phenotypes to systemic or upstream drivers: amyloidosis diagnostic pathways (ATTR/AL), systemic autoimmune disease (systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, EGPA), vascular–cardiac interactions in AL amyloidosis, and pediatric/congenital contexts (mitral annular disjunction, pediatric ischemia etiologies, RV loading metrics). Environmental exposure and diabetes-related remodeling also appear as modifiable or surveillance-relevant influences on heart failure risk and myocardial fibrosis. Overall, the digest reflects a field moving toward integrated, multimodal, and mechanism-informed cardiovascular care—linking imaging biomarkers to biology, treatment timing, and patient-specific risk.
Cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR/AL) & related diagnostic pathways
Learning curve of Versius-assisted radical prostatectomy: role of prior experience and proctoring.
This prospective cohort study assessed the learning curve for Versius-assisted radical prostatectomy in patients with localized prostate cancer, focusing on how prior robotic/laparoscopic experience and structured proctoring affected performance. The key finding was that surgeons’ prior experience and the presence of proctoring influenced objective proficiency metrics such as console time and novel hand motion volumetry, indicating that training background accelerates adoption of the system. This supports designing surgical education pathways for new robotic platforms to improve efficiency and safety during early implementation.
Fernández-Conejo G, González Álvarez C, Del Olmo Durán P et al. · BJU international · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Amyloidosis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
This review studied the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis, focusing on systemic amyloid types with cardiac involvement—especially light-chain (AL) and transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. The key finding was that amyloid disease arises from misfolded proteins forming beta-pleated sheet fibrils that deposit in the interstitium, impairing organ function, and that recent treatment advances have expanded therapeutic options for these cardiac phenotypes. The clinical significance is improved diagnostic evaluation and updated treatment strategies for a condition with substantial administrative prevalence and major morbidity and mortality.
Beckmann S, Akin I, Haghikia A et al. · Deutsches Arzteblatt international · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac Tamponade From Lymphocytic Constrictive Pericarditis in Primary AL Amyloidosis Without Myocardial Involvement.
This JACC Case Reports study examined a 69-year-old man with primary AL amyloidosis who presented with cardiac tamponade due to lymphocytic constrictive pericarditis without myocardial involvement. The key finding was that pericardiocentesis and pericardial biopsy showed lymphocytic effusion without cardiac amyloid, while later biopsy of a prevertebral mass demonstrated amyloid deposition, confirming systemic AL amyloidosis. Clinically, it is significant because it documents an exceptionally rare presentation where pericardial disease and tamponade are the sole cardiac manifestations, guiding diagnostic evaluation beyond myocardial assessment.
Leong YH, Teo Z, Sng ECY et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Temporal shifts in diagnostic testing for cardiac amyloidosis across U.S. health systems.
This retrospective TriNetX U.S. Collaborative Network study evaluated temporal trends in diagnostic testing for cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) in patients diagnosed with wild-type or hereditary ATTR-CM across U.S. health systems from January 2017 to November 2025. The key finding was that use of ATTR-CM diagnostic modalities (including technetium-99m bone scintigraphy, cardiac MRI, and biopsy) changed over time in contemporary practice, reflecting shifting diagnostic pathways for wild-type versus hereditary disease. These findings are clinically significant because they quantify how diagnostic testing patterns evolve, informing optimization of ATTR-CM diagnostic strategies and resource planning in real-world U.S. care.
Motairek I, Abadie B, Higgins A et al. · EJNMMI reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI quantitative mapping & reference standards
Normal Reference Values for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance: An Analytical-Comparative Review with Emphasis on the Brazilian Population.
This analytical-comparative review studied how cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) normal reference values for morphofunctional cardiac parameters compare between an international multicenter review and a Brazilian publication, focusing on the Brazilian population. The key finding was that differences in population admixture and methodological/technical heterogeneity can reduce concordance and affect diagnostic accuracy when international reference values are applied in Brazil. Clinically, the work supports the need for Brazil-specific CMR standardization to improve interpretation of cardiac imaging measurements.
Torreão JA, Costa IBSDS, Assunção-Jr AN et al. · Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Correlation of seismocardiography variables with echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance measurements.
This study measured correlations between seismocardiography (SCG) variables and systolic/diastolic function markers obtained by 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 metrics from TTE/CMR. This is significant because it supports SCG as a potentially low-cost, wearable adjunct for assessing cardiac function relative to reference imaging modalities.
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 clinical study used cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 mapping to compare myocardial fibrosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) with versus without diabetes mellitus (DM), including subgrouping by heart failure status. The key finding was that CHD patients with DM (CHD(DM+)) had greater myocardial fibrosis burden on T1 mapping than CHD(DM−), with differences also reflected in related functional measures. Scientifically, it supports native CMR T1 mapping as a tool to quantify diabetes-associated fibrotic remodeling in CHD.
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 CMR T2* for myocardial iron quantification. The key finding was that native T1 mapping may detect early iron-related myocardial changes and can complement T2* where T2* sensitivity is limited. This is significant for improving noninvasive monitoring of cardiac iron toxicity in thalassemia, potentially enabling earlier detection of myocardial injury.
Pegoraro N, Carnevale A, Bisi R et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 client-owned dogs and cats using 3-T cardiac MRI with ECG gating under general anesthesia. The key finding was that species-specific normal ranges for native T1, native T2, and ECV could be derived using midventricular short-axis native T1/T2 mapping and ECV calculation workflows adapted from human cardiac MRI protocols. This is scientifically and clinically significant because it provides baseline myocardial quantitative MRI metrics needed to interpret future studies and diagnose myocardial disease in dogs and cats at 3-T.
Fries RC, Kadotani S, Toborowsky C et al. · American journal of veterinary research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI/CT/Imaging AI & segmentation/generalization
Toward self-contained cardiac magnetic resonance elastography: Deep learning-based segmentation of the left ventricular myocardium.
This study evaluated deep learning approaches for left ventricular (LV) myocardium segmentation using native cardiac magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) data in 16 healthy male volunteers. The key finding was that segmentation performance depends on the input representation and the degree of automation, and that native cardiac MRE alone may be sufficient for reliable automated LV delineation depending on the model strategy. This supports moving toward self-contained cardiac MRE workflows that reduce manual annotation and reliance on additional structural MRI.
Atamaniuk V, Anders M, Obrzut M et al. · Magnetic resonance imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Reverse Imaging: Any-Sequence Generalization for Cardiac MRI Segmentation.
This paper studied a physics-driven “Reverse Imaging” framework for cardiac MRI segmentation generalization across imaging sequences by inferring tissue properties (primarily M0, T1, and T2) from images and using that for annotation/augmentation. The key finding is that modeling the underlying tissue-property drivers of contrast enables pretrained segmentation models to generalize better across sequences with different protocol-dependent appearances. Scientifically, this provides a sequence-agnostic approach to cardiac MRI segmentation that reduces the need for retraining per contrast type and improves robustness in multi-protocol clinical settings.
Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Yang T et al. · IEEE transactions on medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac imaging for cardiomyopathies & genetic risk stratification
Iron overload cardiomyopathy.
This review studied the mechanisms and clinical implications of iron overload cardiomyopathy (IOC) in patients with hereditary haemochromatosis and transfusion-dependent conditions such as haemoglobinopathies. The key finding was that excess iron saturates transferrin and generates non-transferrin-bound iron that enters cardiomyocytes via calcium-related pathways (including L-type and T-type calcium channels) and transporters (DMT1, ZIP14), driving oxidative stress (Fenton reaction), mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium dysregulation, and ferroptosis. Scientifically and clinically, it links specific iron-handling and cell-death pathways to the spectrum of cardiac dysfunction, supporting targeted prevention and treatment strategies for IOC.
Papingiotis G, Mantzourani M, Gogas H et al. · Heart failure reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Late-onset radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis after lung cancer radiotherapy: correlation of cardiac MRI with radiation treatment planning CT.
This case report studied late-onset radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis after lung cancer radiotherapy in a 55-year-old man with a prior left circumflex (LCx) STEMI who underwent cardiac MRI (CMR) for aortic regurgitation. The key finding was that CMR showed nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) along with valvular thickening and pericardial effusion, and correlation with radiation treatment planning CT supported radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis despite the earlier STEMI history. Scientifically and clinically, it highlights how integrating CMR tissue characterization with radiotherapy planning CT can distinguish radiation injury from prior ischemic scar in patients with complex cardiac histories.
Masuodi B, Kataria S · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging predictors of outcomes in noncompaction cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis studied CMR predictors of outcomes in left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM), synthesizing evidence from published case-control studies comparing CMR parameters in NCCM patients versus controls and assessing associations with major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The key finding was that reported CMR structural characteristics in NCCM show inconsistent relationships with MACCE across studies, prompting a pooled evaluation of which CMR-derived features may be prognostically informative. The clinical significance is that clarifying which CMR metrics best predict MACCE could improve risk stratification and follow-up planning for NCCM patients.
Gegenava M, Nieman K, Caliskan K et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Association of Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitors Duration with Latent Remodeling Following Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation.
This retrospective study assessed 75 patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) who received angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI) before primary-prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation and examined predictors of latent left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR). The key finding was an association between the duration of pre-ICD ARNI therapy and subsequent latent LVRR after ICD implantation. Clinically, it suggests that longer ARNI exposure before device placement may improve the likelihood of reverse remodeling, informing timing strategies for ICD candidacy.
Lee J, Oh J, Kim D et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Primary Cardiac Leiomyosarcoma in a Young Patient: A Therapeutic Challenge.
This JACC Case Reports article studied a 29-year-old man with primary cardiac leiomyosarcoma presenting with respiratory symptoms and a newly identified cardiac mass. The key finding was that multimodality characterization using echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, positron emission tomography, and confirmatory histopathology with immunohistochemistry established the diagnosis, with the patient remaining alive at 20 months on systemic therapy. Scientifically and clinically, it underscores the diagnostic challenge and therapeutic uncertainty of this rare malignancy and supports the role of comprehensive imaging plus tissue diagnosis to guide treatment.
Calzadilla-Gutierrez HR, Blanco-Adrian N, Vaca-Villarroel JM et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Recurrent Nonischemic Left Ventricular Aneurysms: A Cardiac MRI-Driven Diagnosis in a DES Variant Carrier.
This JACC Case Reports article studied a 24-year-old DES variant carrier with recurrent nonischemic left ventricular aneurysms using cardiac MRI to characterize aneurysm morphology and myocardial injury over time. The key finding was that CMR detected a new inferolateral basal aneurysm region five years after prior postoperative imaging that had been normal, prompting renewed evaluation in the setting of recurrent ventricular tachycardia. This is significant because it highlights CMR’s role in longitudinal detection and localization of myocardial structural disease in genetic cardiomyopathy variants, informing diagnosis and management of recurrent arrhythmias.
Garcia NP, Forti D, Tassine Penatti LA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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, describing how CMR data were generated in 100,000 participants and linked to genetic, demographic, lifestyle, and clinical information. The key finding is that large-scale, standardized CMR phenotyping in UK Biobank has enabled transformative discoveries across genomics, epidemiology, and biomedical engineering. Scientifically, it provides a blueprint for future population imaging cohorts and demonstrates the value of equitable data access for accelerating cardiovascular research.
Raisi-Estabragh Z, Petersen SE, Neubauer S · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation and Prognosis in Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
This multicenter study evaluated 1,160 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) using cardiac magnetic resonance and genetic testing to determine whether left ventricular hypertrabeculation (LVHT) predicts embolic risk and how prognostic relevance varies across DCM genotypes. The key finding was that LV hypertrabeculation identified a subgroup with worse outcomes, including higher embolic risk, with prognostic impact differing by DCM genetic background. This supports using CMR-based LVHT assessment alongside genotype-informed stratification to better estimate embolic and clinical risk in DCM.
Mora-Ayestarán N, Ramos-Lopez N, Ochoa JP et al. · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-Derived Parametric Mapping Radiomics for Prediction of Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
This retrospective study investigated whether cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parametric mapping radiomics could predict left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in 74 patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy treated with optimized medical therapy. The key finding was that radiomic scores (RadScores) derived from high-dimensional quantitative features of CMR parametric mapping images were associated with subsequent LVRR, defined as ejection fraction ≥40% with ≥10% increase at least 180 days after CMR. Clinically, it suggests a noninvasive, imaging-based tool to forecast which nonischemic DCM patients are likely to respond with reverse remodeling.
Ide S, Ohtani T, Takao T et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Committed Cardiac Progenitors Generate Cardiac Tissue Grafts in a Swine Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Model Without Triggering Ventricular Arrhythmias.
The study tested whether transendocardial injection of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived committed cardiac progenitor cells (CCPs) combined with cardiac fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix (cECM) could generate cardiac tissue grafts in a swine ischemic cardiomyopathy model. The CCP+cECM approach improved grafted cardiac contractility while not triggering ventricular arrhythmias. This supports a potentially safer, progenitor-based cell therapy strategy for post–myocardial infarction repair in large animals by addressing the arrhythmia risk seen with cardiomyocyte injections.
Raval AN, Schmuck EG, Leonov V et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prevalence and Determinants of Asymmetric Septal Hypertrophy (ASH) in Diseases of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH).
This study analyzed the prevalence and determinants of asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) across health and diseases associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) using two complementary datasets: UK Biobank (n=4,020) and a multi-cohort clinical CMR dataset (n=1,655) including conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, Fabry disease, AL amyloidosis, and ATTR. The key finding was that ASH prevalence and the septal-to-lateral wall thickness ratio (SLR) vary systematically with demographic factors and underlying disease states associated with LVH. This is important for interpreting CMR patterns of ASH and distinguishing physiologic or disease-driven 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 mouse study characterized myocardial structure, function, and tissue properties in mitochondrial trifunctional protein (TFP) deficiency using a βTFP-deficient model carrying the p.Met404Lys mutation, combining cardiac histology with multiparametric cardiac MRI (CMR). The key finding was that βTFP-deficient mice developed myocardial fibrosis with collagen deposition and showed systolic dysfunction on CMR. This is significant because it establishes a mechanistically relevant imaging-histology phenotype for TFP deficiency cardiomyopathy, supporting CMR endpoints for future preclinical therapeutic testing.
Vieira Neto E, Basu S, Becker-Szurszewski TJ et al. · Disease models & mechanisms · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Arrhythmia risk, sudden death, and VT/VF prediction
Compound MYH7 Mutations: Risk Stratification Challenges in an Affected Family.
This JACC Case Reports study examined sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk stratification challenges in an affected family with compound MYH7 mutations in a 54-year-old man with mild septal hypertrophy and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. The key finding was that the patient carried only one of two pathogenic MYH7 variants identified in his daughter (Ala655Thr and Gly571Arg), illustrating how borderline phenotypes and partial genotype carriage complicate individualized risk assessment. The report underscores the clinical uncertainty in translating complex MYH7 genotypes into SCD risk decisions for genotype-positive relatives.
Hammad A, Yeung A, Goldschmidt H et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias: a marker of risk in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.
This retrospective study evaluated exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias (EIVAs) as a risk marker in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) among patients with definitive ACM and individuals carrying pathogenic/likely pathogenic ACM gene variants with negative or borderline phenotypes. The key finding was that EIVAs during exercise testing were common enough to stratify patients into lower versus higher exercise groups and were associated with prognostic significance for risk. Clinically, it suggests that exercise testing can unmask clinically relevant arrhythmia vulnerability in genotype-positive or early-phenotype ACM.
Mengozzi L, Sriskandarajah R, Minopoli C et al. · Heart (British Cardiac Society) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Apical-to-Mid-Ventricular Phenotypic Shift in Recurrent Takotsubo Syndrome After Minor Trauma.
This JACC Case Reports study examined an 84-year-old woman with recurrent Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) triggered by minor trauma and evaluated her changing ventricular phenotype. The key finding was an apical-to-mid-ventricular phenotypic shift, confirmed by echocardiography, coronary angiography excluding obstructive disease, left ventriculography showing mid-ventricular akinesia with hyperkinetic apex, and cardiac magnetic resonance supporting the mid-ventricular variant. This is clinically significant because it shows that trauma can precipitate atypical TTS patterns in recurrent disease, which can affect diagnosis and management.
Khoury F, Chandi M, Johal M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance parameters and ventricular tachycardia recurrence after catheter ablation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The systematic review and meta-analysis studied whether cardiac MRI (CMR) parameters—including functional measures (left ventricular ejection fraction and LV mass) and structural markers such as late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and ventricular volumes—predict ventricular tachycardia (VT) recurrence after catheter ablation in patients with and without recurrent VT. The key finding (as synthesized across included studies) was the prognostic association between specific CMR-derived parameters and subsequent VT recurrence after ablation. Clinically, identifying CMR markers linked to recurrence could improve risk stratification and guide post-ablation management decisions for patients undergoing VT ablation.
Deaconu A, Abdin A, Bistriceanu MIA et al. · Journal of interventional cardiac electrophysiology : an international journal of arrhythmias and pacing · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MR Characterization of Infarct-Related and Remote Myocardial Injury in Multivessel Disease After Acute Myocardial Infarction.
This retrospective study evaluated 224 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent cardiac MRI 31–90 days after percutaneous coronary intervention, comparing infarct-related and remote myocardial injury between single-vessel disease (SVD) and multivessel disease (MVD) and stratifying by revascularization completeness. The key finding was that MVD was associated with differences in myocardial tissue properties not limited to the infarct zone, indicating more diffuse injury patterns depending on whether revascularization was complete. Clinically, this supports using cardiac MRI tissue characterization to refine risk assessment after AMI beyond the infarct territory, particularly in patients with multivessel disease.
Luo C, Jiang W, Mo C et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Impact of Myocardial Fibrosis and Female Sex on Life-Threatening Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death in Mitral Valve Prolapse.
This prospective cohort study of 550 consecutive mitral valve prolapse (MVP) patients assessed whether myocardial fibrosis on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and female sex independently predicted life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The study found that both female sex and CMR-detected myocardial fibrosis were associated with increased arrhythmic and sudden death risk, with fibrosis contributing to risk stratification beyond sex alone. The results support incorporating LGE-based fibrosis assessment into MVP risk models to identify patients at higher risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias.
Darwish A, Nguyen DT, Songsangjinda T et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocarditis/perimyocarditis and inflammatory mimics
Relapsing-Remitting Perimyocarditis and Emerging Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
This JACC Case Reports study described a 66-year-old man with relapsing-remitting perimyocarditis as an initial manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after Coxsackievirus B exposure. The key finding was that repeat CMR demonstrated biventricular dysfunction with new lateral wall late gadolinium enhancement, myocardial edema, and circumferential pericardial effusion, and endomyocardial biopsy confirmed severe lymphocytic myocarditis, with clinical improvement after treatment escalation including colchicine. Clinically, it underscores that persistent or relapsing myocarditis/perimyocarditis in adults warrants consideration of underlying hematologic malignancy such as AML, using CMR and biopsy to guide diagnosis.
Zipperer-Giblin MB, Bowman JI, Patel N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The Dyspnea Dilemma: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Myocarditis Mimicking Overlapping Cardiac Pathologies-A Case Report.
This case report studied a 62-year-old woman with gallbladder adenocarcinoma receiving gemcitabine, cisplatin, and the immune checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab who developed progressive dyspnea, edema, and chest pain. The key finding was immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated fulminant myocarditis presenting with overlapping features that mimicked other cardiac pathologies, with elevated cardiac biomarkers (BNP/troponin) supporting myocarditis despite diagnostic complexity. Scientifically and clinically, it highlights the need for early recognition of durvalumab-related myocarditis when symptoms and testing resemble coronary disease, chemotherapy cardiomyopathy, or malignancy-related complications.
Javed N, Itare V, Ashraf S et al. · Case reports in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Takotsubo-Like Syndrome Due to Microvascular Dysfunction in a Transgender Woman Under Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.
This case report studied a 45-year-old Black transgender woman on long-term estrogen therapy who developed chest pain progressing to ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. The key finding was Takotsubo-like syndrome with apical akinesia on ventriculography and cardiac magnetic resonance evidence of transmural infarction with extensive microvascular obstruction despite no epicardial coronary obstruction on angiography. Clinically, it highlights that gender-affirming hormone therapy may be temporally associated with severe Takotsubo-like presentations and that microvascular dysfunction can be central to the mechanism.
Silva PG, García Mejía HP, de Paula Morales KR et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Fulminant Eosinophilic Myocarditis After Sequential Biologic Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis.
This case report studied a 35-year-old man with ulcerative colitis who developed fulminant eosinophilic myocarditis after sequential biologic therapy (most recently vedolizumab) and corticosteroid withdrawal. The key finding was that cardiac MRI suggested diffuse myocardial involvement and endomyocardial biopsy confirmed eosinophilic myocarditis in the setting of severe biventricular dysfunction (LVEF ~10%) and hypereosinophilia. This is significant because it documents a severe, rapidly progressive myocarditis mimic/complication associated with biologic therapy transitions and steroid withdrawal, emphasizing the need for prompt recognition and biopsy confirmation.
Lee J, Kim D, Hong D et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Loeffler Endocarditis: Multimodality Imaging of a Common Cardiac Phenotype in Distinct Hypereosinophilic Syndromes.
This case report studied Loeffler endocarditis as a multimodality-imaging phenotype across distinct hypereosinophilic syndromes, using echocardiography and cardiac MRI to characterize intracardiac thrombi and fibrotic-stage disease. The key finding was that cardiac MRI demonstrated ventricular thrombi and diffuse subendocardial late gadolinium enhancement consistent with endomyocardial fibrosis, enabling stage-appropriate diagnosis. Scientifically and clinically, it underscores that multimodality imaging can improve early recognition of Loeffler endocarditis despite nonspecific presentations in hypereosinophilic disorders.
Salar T, Feitell S, Parikh V et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Hydroxychloroquine Cardiotoxicity Confirmed by Electron Microscopy: The Myocarditis Mimic.
This case report studied hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) cardiotoxicity in a 79-year-old woman using cardiac MRI, cardiac positron emission tomography, and electron microscopy to distinguish myocarditis-like inflammation from drug-induced myocardial injury. The key finding was that despite MRI findings resembling inflammatory cardiomyopathy and PET showing diffuse FDG uptake sparing the subendocardium, endomyocardial biopsy with electron microscopy revealed cardiomyocyte vacuolization confirming HCQ-related cardiotoxicity. This is significant because it provides a diagnostic pathway to avoid mislabeling HCQ cardiotoxicity as primary myocarditis, which can change treatment strategy and prognosis.
Behr P, Paik KS, Park C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Valvular heart disease (TR/MVP/MAD and procedural selection)
Left Atrial Myopathy as a Phenotypic Axis in HFpEF: Implications for Pulmonary Hypertension, Exercise Intolerance, and Targeted Therapy.
This review studied left atrial (LA) myopathy as a phenotypic mechanistic axis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and its implications for pulmonary hypertension, exercise intolerance, and targeted therapy. The key finding is that LA myopathy—encompassing structural remodeling, fibrosis, impaired compliance, and electrical dysfunction—may be more central than a secondary consequence of elevated LV filling pressures. This reframes HFpEF heterogeneity around LA pathology and supports development of LA-targeted therapeutic strategies.
Jabeen M, Younas S, Majid A et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Left Atrial Myopathy Across the Spectrum of Pediatric Heart Disease: Imaging, Mechanobiology, and Clinical Consequences.
This narrative review examined left atrial (LA) myopathy across pediatric heart disease, integrating evidence from cardiac imaging (especially speckle-tracking approaches), mechanobiology, and clinical outcomes in children with congenital and acquired cardiac conditions. The key finding was that LA structural and mechanical alterations often emerge early—before overt ventricular dysfunction—supporting LA dysfunction as an early, potentially reversible marker of cardiovascular injury in pediatric populations. Clinically, this reframes the left atrium from a passive conduit to an active biomechanical chamber, motivating earlier imaging-based risk stratification and mechanistically informed monitoring in children.
Muqaddas R, Nawaz S, Ali S et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Tricuspid regurgitation: standardized stepwise work-up from referral to expert heart valve centre.
This review studied a standardized, stepwise diagnostic work-up pathway for patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR) from referral centers to expert heart valve centers, focusing on how to integrate TR etiology, disease stage, comorbidities, operative risk, and anatomic feasibility. It found that using structured clinical/biological assessment and multimodal imaging algorithms improves the selection of appropriate surgical versus transcatheter therapy by ensuring consistent evaluation of severity and suitability. Clinically, this provides a practical framework to reduce historically “conservative-only” under-treatment of TR and to improve treatment matching to patient-specific anatomy and risk.
Dreyfus J, Praz F, Hahn R et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Wide Complex Tachycardia of Uncertain Origin: Demonstration of Atrioventricular Dissociation by Doppler Echocardiography.
This case report studied a 72-year-old woman with unstable wide complex tachycardia (WCT) of uncertain origin using Doppler echocardiography to assess atrioventricular (AV) conduction. Doppler echocardiography demonstrated AV dissociation, supporting a diagnosis of WCT not driven by 1:1 AV conduction despite initial amiodarone response and subsequent recurrence. The finding highlights Doppler echocardiography as a practical bedside technique to clarify WCT mechanism when medication options are constrained by complications such as stroke and suspected left atrial appendage thrombus.
Khattab A, Timmerman C, Kee A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Heart failure epidemiology & prevention (including environment)
Data-source choice in diabetes mortality surveillance and equity monitoring in the United States, 1999-2023.
This study compared diabetes mortality surveillance results across 51 US jurisdictions from 1999–2023 using two data sources—CDC WONDER versus Global Burden of Disease 2023 (GBD 2023)—to assess effects on trends, high-burden classification, and income-related inequality. The key finding was that the choice of data source meaningfully changed conclusions about crude and age-standardised diabetes mortality patterns, including which jurisdictions were classified as high-burden and how strongly mortality inequality was detected (with discrepancies quantified using concordance, Joinpoint regression, mixed-effects models, Moran’s I, and concentration/slope index of inequality). These results indicate that surveillance and equity monitoring for diabetes mortality in the US can be sensitive to underlying data-source selection, which has direct implications for public health targeting and fairness assessments.
Li WJ, Tao SS, Wang P et al. · Diabetes research and clinical practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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, living kidney donors (n=71; eGFR >30 mL/min/1.73 m², ≥6 months post-nephrectomy) were assigned to allopurinol versus placebo to test whether uric acid lowering reduces left ventricular mass. The key finding was that allopurinol did not produce a clinically meaningful reduction in left ventricular mass compared with placebo over 9 months. This trial is important for cardiovascular risk management in kidney donors by directly testing a urate-lowering intervention rather than relying on observational associations.
Langberg NE, Jenssen TG, Hopp E et al. · Kidney360 · (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 assessed 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 free of baseline heart failure. The key finding was that specific types of residential environmental exposure were prospectively linked to differences in cardiac structural/functional remodeling phenotypes and risk of developing incident HF. This is significant because it supports the idea that modifiable environmental factors may influence HF development and could help refine prevention strategies using spatial exposure metrics.
Song Y, Lin Z, Chen X et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · 3 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Vascular function, arterial stiffness, and ventricular–arterial coupling
Arterial-myocardial coupling in primary light chain amyloidosis: A prospective observational study of vascular involvement.
This prospective observational study investigated vascular-cardiac interactions in 151 newly diagnosed patients with primary light chain (AL) amyloidosis using peripheral vascular assessment (flow-mediated dilation [FMD], pulse wave velocity [PWV]) and cardiac phenotyping with transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance in a subgroup (n=59). The key finding was that measures of arterial stiffness and vascular function (via PWV and related ventricular–arterial coupling metrics) were used to characterize how vascular involvement relates to cardiac involvement in AL amyloidosis. Scientifically, it supports the concept that vascular involvement may independently influence outcomes and provides mechanistic data to refine risk stratification.
Briasoulis A, Patras R, Delialis D et al. · Journal of human hypertension · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Coronary vasospasm/INOCA and ischemia mechanisms
Characterization of intraplaque haemorrhage in statin-treated patients with stable coronary artery disease: multi-modality imaging with non-contrast T1-weighted cardiac magnetic resonance, optical coherence tomography, and near-infrared spectroscopy.
This study characterized intraplaque hemorrhage in statin-treated patients with stable coronary artery disease using multi-modality imaging, including non-contrast T1-weighted cardiac MRI, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). The key finding was that among 121 statin-treated patients, plaques with cardiac MRI plaque-to-myocardium ratio (PMR) ≥1.0 still showed residual intraplaque hemorrhage–related features on invasive imaging, despite ongoing statin therapy. Scientifically, it refines understanding of why CMR-validated hemorrhage markers can remain elevated and may inform improved characterization of high-risk plaques under treatment.
Nakata J, Hosoda H, Kataoka Y et al. · European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
When chest pain and troponin elevation aren’t acute coronary syndrome: a cardiovascular case report of atypical pheochromocytoma.
This cardiovascular case report studied a 44-year-old woman with pheochromocytoma presenting with chest pain and troponin elevation that initially mimicked acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The key finding was that despite ECG changes and markedly elevated high-sensitivity troponin leading to an NSTEMI diagnosis, urgent coronary angiography showed angiographically normal coronary arteries, prompting reconsideration of the underlying cause. Clinically, it highlights pheochromocytoma as an important ACS mimic to reduce diagnostic delay in patients with troponin elevation but non-obstructive coronary findings.
Achour F, Cherkaoui S, Zarzour J et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Focal Myocardial Fibrosis Mimicking Hypertrophy in INOCA and the Energetic Cost of Supranormal Ejection Fraction.
This case report studied a 72-year-old postmenopausal woman with ischemia with nonobstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) using acetylcholine provocation testing and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to evaluate coronary spasm and myocardial consequences. Epicardial and microvascular coronary spasm were confirmed, and CMR showed focal late gadolinium enhancement in the interventricular septum consistent with replacement fibrosis that mimicked hypertrophy, alongside a supranormal ejection fraction (79%). The report suggests that coronary vasospasm can produce focal fibrotic remodeling with measurable energetic/functional consequences, improving mechanistic interpretation of “hypertrophy-like” CMR findings in INOCA.
Nguyen TH, Nakamura T, Sato A · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Thromboembolism and intracardiac thrombi on imaging
Beyond Echocardiography: Multimodality Imaging of a Mitral Valve Blood Cyst in Cryptogenic Stroke.
This case report studied multimodality imaging findings of a rare adult mitral valve blood cyst in a 52-year-old woman presenting with acute ischemic stroke and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Noncontrast cardiac MRI showed the cyst’s internal signal was isointense with the left ventricular blood pool throughout the cardiac cycle, which helped definitively distinguish it from solid tumors and caseous mitral annular calcification. The report highlights how dynamic CMR signal behavior can prevent misdiagnosis of mitral valve cystic lesions that can mimic other pathologies on echocardiography.
Güleşir ME, Topal B, Uğraş UA et al. · Journal of clinical ultrasound : JCU · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Intracardiac Thrombi Mimicking Cardiac Metastases in a Patient With Lung Adenocarcinoma.
This case report studied a 50-year-old man with lung adenocarcinoma and persistent right-sided intracardiac masses that initially raised concern for cardiac metastases on cardiac MRI. Histopathology of the excised atrial mass showed organizing thrombus, and the remaining ventricular lesion resolved after 1 month of therapeutic enoxaparin, demonstrating that cancer-associated intracardiac thrombi can mimic metastatic lesions on CMR. Clinically, it emphasizes the need to consider thromboembolism in the differential diagnosis of intracardiac masses to avoid misclassification and guide appropriate anticoagulation.
Lembo M, De Vivo R, La Mura L et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Probable Antiphospholipid Syndrome Causing Biventricular Thrombi and Cardiogenic Shock.
This case report studied a 70-year-old woman with recent Takotsubo cardiomyopathy who developed cardiogenic shock and was evaluated for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) after imaging showed biventricular intracardiac thrombi. Laboratory testing was consistent with probable APS and the patient was treated with inotropic support and anticoagulation, but she could not be weaned from inotropes and chose hospice care. The case underscores the need to consider APS in patients with cardiogenic shock and large biventricular thrombi, despite limited evidence guiding management of extensive intracardiac thrombosis.
Contractor P, Deng J, O’Neill LP et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pulmonary valve disease and right-ventricular remodeling
Evaluation of Right Ventricular Size Metrics Measured with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Regurgitation.
This study evaluated right ventricular (RV) size metrics derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with pulmonary regurgitation (PR), focusing on how different normalization strategies (e.g., indexing RV end-diastolic volume to body surface area or using Z-scores versus indexing to left ventricular end-diastolic volume) relate to clinical decision-making for pulmonary valve replacement (PVR). The key finding was that indexing RV EDV to left ventricular EDV provides an alternative normalization that may better account for individual patient circumstances than body-surface-area indexing or RV EDV Z-scores alone. Clinically, this could refine PVR timing thresholds and reduce misclassification risk in repaired congenital heart disease with PR.
Jaggi A, Zhang Y, Maskatia SA et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Congenital heart disease and pediatric cardiac phenotyping
Systolic Septal Curvature Ratio as a Cardiac MRI Marker of Right Ventricular Loading in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease.
This retrospective study evaluated whether the cardiac MRI-derived systolic septal-to-free wall curvature ratio can serve as a marker of right ventricular (RV) loading in pediatric congenital heart disease, analyzing 149 participants (2020–2025) across control and disease subgroups. The key finding was that systolic septal curvature ratio differed by loading conditions and correlated with volumetric, functional, and hemodynamic measures, indicating it reflects RV loading-related interventricular septal geometry changes. This provides a practical MRI metric for assessing RV loading and ventricular interdependence in children with congenital heart disease, potentially improving phenotyping and risk assessment.
Yucel IK, Kose KB, Ozyılmaz I et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Advanced Cardiac Imaging Techniques for Detection of Myocardial Ischemia in Children with Coronary Artery Abnormalities.
This review studied advanced cardiac imaging strategies for detecting myocardial ischemia in children with coronary artery abnormalities, focusing on non-atherosclerotic pediatric etiologies such as post–Kawasaki disease vasculopathy, transplant-related cardiac allograft vasculopathy, congenital coronary anomalies (e.g., anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery), and post-surgical coronary reimplantation complications. The key finding was that ischemia detection in children requires specialized imaging approaches beyond routine screening (e.g., resting ECG), because symptoms are often absent or atypical and the underlying coronary pathology is diverse. The clinical significance is that selecting appropriate advanced imaging modalities can enable earlier diagnosis of pediatric myocardial ischemia and guide management to reduce risks such as ventricular dysfunction and sudden cardiac death.
Jin JB, Williams JL, Wang SM et al. · Cardiology and therapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Chagas in Children Unmasked With Multimodality Imaging.
This case series studied pediatric patients with newly recognized nonischemic cardiomyopathy in whom multimodality imaging unmasked Chagas disease as the underlying etiology. The key finding across three pediatric cases was that early identification and treatment (including benznidazole in an acute myocarditis case) could be linked to markedly different outcomes, including complete recovery after early therapy and progression to chronic cardiomyopathy risk after childhood infection. The clinical significance is that multimodality imaging can reveal Chagas-related myocardial injury in children, enabling earlier etiologic diagnosis and targeted treatment to alter long-term disease trajectory.
Hede SV, Prasad D · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Characteristics and Clinical Features of Mitral Annular Disjunction in the Pediatric Population.
This retrospective study evaluated pediatric patients (ages 5–17 years) with mitral annular disjunction (MAD) diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), including assessment of the Pickelhaube sign using tissue Doppler imaging, with additional CMR and 24-hour Holter ECG. The key finding was that MAD in children shows distinct clinical and laboratory features and can be characterized with echocardiographic markers beyond standard TTE parameters. Scientifically and clinically, it highlights that MAD is not only an adult finding and that pediatric-specific phenotyping may improve risk recognition and follow-up strategies.
Şahin ŞT, Elçioğlu BC, Gümüş T et al. · Journal of clinical ultrasound : JCU · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Computational/physics-based modeling and MRI acquisition physics
From Case Studies to Cohort of Patients: Automating FSI Simulations to Uncover Downstream Effects of Ascending Aortic Grafts.
This work studied an automated patient-specific fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulation pipeline to assess downstream hemodynamic effects after ascending aortic grafting with a synthetic Dacron graft in patients undergoing open surgical repair. The key finding was that fully automated FSI modeling can capture how mechanical compliance mismatch between the rigid graft and native ascending aorta alters downstream flow patterns, potentially contributing to downstream descending aortic dissection and vascular remodeling. Scientifically, it provides a scalable computational tool to predict post-operative sequelae beyond what is feasible with case-by-case simulation.
Ianniruberto I, Astori D, Saitta S et al. · Annals of biomedical engineering · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Autonomous Velocity Encoding (VENC) Selection Improves Precision of Quantitative Flow Measurement.
This prospective/retrospective study evaluated an automated workflow for selecting the optimal velocity encoding (VENC) in phase-contrast MRI to improve precision of quantitative flow measurement, using data from 113 patients (254 scans) and 18 healthy volunteers. The key finding was that autonomous VENC selection without technologist interaction improved measurement precision (and potentially reduced scan time) compared with manual or non-optimized VENC settings. This is significant because more accurate and efficient quantitative flow MRI can strengthen hemodynamic assessment in clinical and research settings.
Daudé P, Ramasawmy R, Mancini C et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Assessment and validation of the established free-running framework for cardiac function by magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5T (FAST-CMR): an international multi-center, multi-vendor study.
This international multi-center, multi-vendor study evaluated the free-running framework for cardiac function by CMR at 1.5T (FAST-CMR) in clinical imaging workflows. The key finding was that FAST-CMR enables respiratory and cardiac motion-resolved whole-heart imaging without ECG gating, breath-holds, or expert scan-plane planning, and that its fast interrupted steady-state (FISS) variant supports high-quality imaging with gadolinium-based or ferumoxytol contrast. Clinically, this advances scalable CMR for cardiac function assessment by reducing time and operational barriers that limit routine use.
Eyre K, Kaya K, Coudert T et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Comparison of Amplitude- and Amplitude-Frequency-Modulated Pulses for Outer Volume Suppression in Cardiac MRI: Application to Myocardial T 2 Mapping.
The study evaluated outer volume suppression (OVS) pulse designs—amplitude-modulated (AM) sinc and amplitude-frequency-modulated (AM-FM) hyperbolic secant (HS) pulses, in single-band and dual-band variants—for cardiac MRI at 3T during time-efficient myocardial T2 mapping with reduced field of view. AM and AM-FM pulses were individually optimized to minimize residual extra-cardiac signal and achieve favorable suppression-band profiles, with the work comparing amplitude-only versus amplitude-frequency modulation strategies for OVS performance. This is significant because improved OVS can enable more robust, faster myocardial T2 mapping by reducing contamination from surrounding tissues in clinical cardiac MRI workflows.
Arami A, Božić-Iven M, van de Steeg-Henzen C et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Systemic autoimmune disease & multi-organ cardiac involvement (SSc/SARDs/vasculitis/EGPA)
Advanced imaging in systemic sclerosis: distinguishing activity from damage across organ systems.
This review studied advanced imaging approaches in systemic sclerosis (SSc) with the goal of distinguishing active, potentially reversible disease from irreversible damage across organ systems. The key finding was that next-generation strategies—particularly quantitative machine-learning–derived analysis of imaging (e.g., HRCT patterns) and molecular imaging concepts—aim to shift from documenting structural damage to directly measuring disease activity. Scientifically and clinically, this could improve treatment targeting by enabling more accurate assessment of activity versus fibrosis in SSc.
Haussmann A, Volkmann ER · Current opinion in rheumatology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Extensive Cardiac Involvement in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Presenting With Severe Aortic Regurgitation and Atrioventricular Block.
This JACC Case Reports article studied a 53-year-old woman with ANCA-associated vasculitis presenting with severe aortic regurgitation and progressive high-grade atrioventricular block, evaluated with multimodality imaging. The key finding was that imaging demonstrated inflammatory valvuloaortic thickening with cusp retraction, nonischemic septal late gadolinium enhancement, and associated pericardial effusion alongside conduction system deterioration. Clinically, it highlights that ANCA-associated vasculitis can cause severe inflammatory cardiac involvement and that multimodality imaging can detect myocardial and valvular inflammation driving life-threatening conduction and valvular complications.
David-Pardo DG, Reyes-T RE, Luna G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Phenotypic Spectrum of Cardiac Involvement in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis.
This case report studied three patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) to define a phenotypic spectrum of cardiac involvement. The key finding was that EGPA cardiac disease ranged from inflammatory cardiomyopathy responsive to escalated immunosuppression and guideline-directed medical therapy, to advanced fibrotic/irreversible phenotypes requiring mechanical circulatory support, with additional eosinophilic peri-/myocardial manifestations. This is significant because recognizing EGPA cardiac phenotypes can inform prognosis and tailor intensity/timing of immunosuppression and supportive cardiac care.
Majeed Z, Manaila AS, Xu B et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Imaging Modalities Related to Cardiac Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis.
This 2026 review summarized imaging modalities used to characterize cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc), focusing on microvasculopathy, inflammation, and fibrosis across diffuse and limited disease phenotypes. The key finding is that multimodality cardiac imaging (including echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance) can detect and monitor diverse SSc cardiac manifestations that vary in prevalence and severity between patients. Clinically, it emphasizes imaging-driven phenotyping to improve early detection and management of SSc-related cardiac morbidity and mortality.
Markousis-Mavrogenis G, Sfikakis PP, Matucci-Cerinic M et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Imaging Phenotypes in Systemic Inflammatory Disorders and Perspectives: What Have We Learned and Where Do We Need to Go Next?
This review synthesized current knowledge on cardiac imaging phenotypes across systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) and outlined future directions for improving detection of often subclinical cardiovascular involvement. The key finding is that pathophysiology-driven imaging phenotyping can clarify disease-specific patterns of cardiac involvement and guide where diagnostic and monitoring strategies need to evolve. Scientifically, it frames how advances in imaging biomarkers and multimodal approaches could reduce diagnostic uncertainty and improve outcomes in SARD patients.
Buch MH, Plein S · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on August 10, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published August 03, 2026 – August 10, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.