What's New in Cardiac MRI? — August 21, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 58 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
August 21, 2026 · 58 articles · 15 research themes · covering August 14, 2026 – August 21, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of papers, a clear theme is the expanding role of cardiac MRI as both a diagnostic “truth maker” and a quantitative risk tool—especially for inflammatory myocardial disease. Multiple studies focus on myocarditis across age groups and triggers (including mpox and MIS-C), showing how CMR tissue characterization (edema, LGE, and mapping) can refine prognosis, predict recurrence, and support bedside severity assessment. Complementing this, case reports and reviews highlight immune- and eosinophil-driven cardiac syndromes (e.g., immune checkpoint inhibitor pericarditis, dupilumab-associated eosinophilic disease, giant cell myocarditis), emphasizing rapid recognition and early treatment decisions when clinical presentations are atypical.
A second dominant thread is “making CMR easier to run and easier to interpret.” Work spans acquisition and workflow innovations (5.0T mapping feasibility, ECG replacement via camera-based seismocardiography, motion-robust 4D cine, standardized 4D flow postprocessing) and advances in automation (deep learning strain, contrast-free scar via virtual native enhancement, and LLM-based structured reporting). Together, these studies point toward more reproducible, scalable CMR—less operator dependence, fewer artifacts, and reduced reliance on gadolinium—while still preserving clinically meaningful accuracy.
Finally, the digest reflects a broader multimodality and systems-level view of cardiovascular risk. Several papers connect CMR-derived markers to coronary plaque biology and outcomes (including stress perfusion CMR for triage, and plaque signal intensity relationships to CT morphology), while others link cardiac remodeling to systemic disease (cardiorenal fibrosis, diabetes-related diffuse fibrosis). In parallel, non-CMR translational studies (microbiome-linked cardiometabolic biomarkers, oncology imaging response criteria, and preclinical therapeutic strategies) underscore that cardiovascular prognosis increasingly depends on integrating imaging phenotypes with biological and treatment-response signals.
Cardiac MRI in Myocarditis (Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Risk Stratification)
High frequency edge network for accurate cardiac structure segmentation.
This iScience study developed and evaluated the High Frequency Edge Network (HF-EdgeNet) for cardiac structure segmentation using cardiac MRI, targeting boundary delineation where discriminative cues reside in high-frequency components. The key finding is that HF-EdgeNet—via a High Frequency Edge Transformer, a High Frequency Adaptive module to address down-sampling degradation, and a Semantic Edge Bridge—improves segmentation accuracy by injecting high-frequency structural guidance throughout the network. Scientifically, it supports the idea that preserving and leveraging high-frequency edge information can yield more accurate cardiac MRI segmentation.
He S, Xiong H, Wang W et al. · iScience · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Comprehensive cardiovascular magnetic resonance in acute myocarditis: Association between mapping parameters and in-hospital severity.
This retrospective single-center exploratory study evaluated adults with clinically suspected acute (peri-)myocarditis who underwent comprehensive cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) between 2018 and 2024, linking CMR mapping parameters to in-hospital severity markers. The key finding is that quantitative CMR tissue markers were associated with laboratory and clinical measures of acute severity during hospitalization. Clinically, this supports using CMR mapping not only for diagnosis but also for bedside risk assessment in acute myocarditis.
Kaya K, Janssen JP, Pennig L et al. · European journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Intramyocardial Dissecting Hematoma After Myocardial Infarction Diagnosed by Multimodality Imaging.
This case report studied a 47-year-old man who developed a rare intramyocardial dissecting hematoma after myocardial infarction, initially misdiagnosed as a left ventricular (LV) thrombus. Multimodality imaging—especially cardiac magnetic resonance—identified extensive anterior transmural infarction with a dissecting intramyocardial cavity consistent with intramyocardial dissection despite anticoagulation. Recognizing this imaging mimic is clinically important because it can change management in post-MI patients who deteriorate to cardiogenic shock and ventricular tachycardia.
Borg BC, Josephs C, Ghincea C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Late gadolinium-enhanced cardiac MRI and C-reactive protein for predicting clinical prognosis of acute myocarditis in adults.
This retrospective prognostic study assessed whether late gadolinium-enhanced CMR findings and C-reactive protein (CRP) predict outcomes in adults with acute myocarditis. It found that myocardial injury characteristics measured by CMR tissue parameters (including LGE and mapping such as native T1/T2 and post-T1) together with CRP were associated with adverse clinical outcomes across fulminant and non-fulminant myocarditis groups. The results are significant because they support multimodal risk prediction to identify adults at higher risk for deterioration.
Shi X, Wang Y, Zhang Z et al. · Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Acute Myocarditis as an Immune-Mediated Complication of Mpox Infection.
This JACC Case Reports study described a 32-year-old man with well-controlled HIV who developed acute myocarditis after mpox infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Cardiac MRI using the updated Lake Louise Criteria demonstrated T2 edema and nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement with preserved ejection fraction, and he recovered fully with supportive care after excluding coronary and embolic causes. The case supports mpox as a trigger for immune-mediated myocarditis and underscores the role of CMR for diagnosis and risk stratification.
Khoury F, Kim JHJ, Baghdasaryan E et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR Myocardial Changes in MIS-C: Admission Clinical Features and Longitudinal Findings.
This study assessed cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial changes in children with MIS-C by linking admission clinical features and MIS-C biomarkers to longitudinal CMR outcomes. Using modified Lake Louise criteria for myocarditis and myocardial delayed enhancement (MDE) on CMR, the authors evaluated which inpatient echocardiographic and biomarker features predicted myocarditis and tracked how CMR findings evolved over time. The findings are significant for defining prognosis and follow-up strategies in pediatric MIS-C using objective CMR endpoints.
Sunthankar SD, Hudson SE, Joy N et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Pediatric Patients with Recurrent Viral Myocarditis.
This retrospective cohort study examined pediatric patients (<21 years) with clinically diagnosed acute myocarditis who underwent CMR within 14 days of initial presentation to identify predictors of recurrent myocarditis. The key finding was the relationship between specific CMR imaging features (and associated clinical variables) and subsequent recurrence versus full recovery. The results are clinically significant because they aim to stratify recurrence risk in children using early CMR findings.
Vaiyani D, Jones AL, Whitehead KK et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Acute Myocarditis Presenting as Neck Pain With Severe Systemic Inflammation.
This JACC Case Reports article described a 35-year-old previously healthy woman with acute myocarditis presenting atypically as unilateral neck pain and dysphagia with severe systemic inflammation and reversible cardiogenic shock. Despite lacking classic chest pain or dyspnea initially, she developed marked inflammatory and cardiac biomarker abnormalities and severe left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction ~30%), with cardiac imaging supporting myocarditis. The case is significant because it broadens the clinical presentation of myocarditis and emphasizes early recognition when systemic inflammation and shock occur.
Fayyaz A, Khan SW, Azam M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI in Non-Myocarditis Inflammatory Cardiac Disease (Pericarditis/Immune/Eosinophilic)
Lyme Myopericarditis With Effusive-Constrictive Physiology: Serial CMR Identifies a Reversible Inflammatory Phenotype.
This case studied a 45-year-old man with Lyme myopericarditis presenting with pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea after a tick bite, focusing on effusive-constrictive physiology. Serial CMR and echocardiography demonstrated pericardial effusion with evolving myocardial/pericardial involvement consistent with a reversible inflammatory phenotype rather than fixed constriction. Scientifically and clinically, it supports using serial CMR to distinguish inflammatory from fixed constrictive physiology in Lyme-related pericardial disease, which can affect treatment decisions.
Alhirtani N, Bigham G, Fabrizio C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial Calcification as a Rare Cardiac Sequela: When Sepsis Leaves Its Mark.
This case studied a 33-year-old woman with septic shock from disseminated Streptococcus pneumoniae who developed marked troponin elevation despite normal coronary angiography. Follow-up chest CT showed new extensive left ventricular and papillary muscle calcifications consistent with sepsis-related myocardial calcification. The finding is clinically significant because it documents a rare, late structural sequela of severe sepsis that can lead to persistent cardiac impairment.
El-Hamad A, Sene PM, El Mehdi El Yamani M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Chest Pain With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: Harnessing the Power of Multimodality Imaging.
This case studied a 53-year-old woman with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer receiving pembrolizumab who developed chest pain consistent with a cardiovascular immune-related adverse event. Serial CT showed progressive pericardial thickening despite initially negative troponin and prior misattribution to pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, or malignancy, and multimodality imaging was used to characterize the pericardial involvement. The significance is that immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy can cause pericarditis that is often underrecognized, and multimodality imaging can accelerate correct diagnosis and management.
Roy R, Liu L, Li H et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Eosinophilic Cardiomyopathy in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis After Dupilumab Therapy.
This case studied a 64-year-old man who developed eosinophilic cardiomyopathy in the setting of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis after dupilumab therapy, with acute chest pain, dyspnea, marked hypereosinophilia, and elevated cardiac biomarkers. Echocardiography and cardiac MRI showed left ventricular dysfunction, and endomyocardial biopsy confirmed eosinophilic myocarditis, with rapid improvement after high-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. Clinically, it highlights a rare but severe progression of dupilumab-associated eosinophilia to EGPA with myocarditis, supporting early cardiac evaluation and biopsy when biomarkers and imaging suggest involvement.
Agredano I, Michiels V, Argacha JF et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI for Cardiomyopathies and Infiltrative/Restrictive Disorders
Rare Cause of Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report of Löffler Endocarditis.
This case report studied a 46-year-old woman with suspected restrictive cardiomyopathy due to Löffler endocarditis, an idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. Cardiac MRI showed hypertrophic and right ventricular hypertrophy with a restrictive filling pattern, and the patient had hypereosinophilia and elevated cardiac biomarkers despite initial corticosteroid and diuretic therapy. The report highlights the diagnostic imaging challenges and potential limitations of corticosteroid-based treatment in Löffler endocarditis presenting as restrictive cardiomyopathy.
Diz Ferre JL, Soltesz EG, Fava A · Case reports in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
COVID-19 outcomes and persistent symptoms in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: association with pre-existing cardiovascular magnetic resonance phenotype.
This Heart (British Cardiac Society) study analyzed COVID-19 outcomes and persistent symptoms in 767 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients from the international HCM Registry with pre-existing CMR phenotyping. Using multivariable logistic regression, the key finding was whether baseline CMR features were associated with hospitalization and impaired recovery (≥3 months) after COVID-19 infection. The results are significant because they suggest that specific CMR phenotypes may help predict post-COVID risk in HCM patients.
Singhal A, Appleby E, Agnel O et al. · Heart (British Cardiac Society) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Takotsubo Syndrome: From Pathophysiology and Diagnosis to Management.
This review synthesized current evidence on Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management, focusing on the clinical phenotype of transient left ventricular dysfunction and regional wall motion abnormalities beyond a single coronary territory. It highlights that TTS predominantly affects postmenopausal women and is often triggered by emotional or physical stress, with multifactorial mechanisms including transient catecholamine-mediated cardiotoxicity and coronary microvascular dysfunction. The review’s integrated diagnostic and management framework is intended to improve differentiation from acute myocardial infarction and guide treatment decisions.
Marschall A, Salamanca J, Cecconi A et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Longitudinal changes in cardiac function, volumes and fibrosis in a prospective cohort of female Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy carriers.
This prospective longitudinal study assessed cardiac MRI changes in female Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy carriers (MDC) versus non-carrier females, using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) to quantify fibrosis and measuring ventricular volumes and function across three annual visits. Over follow-up, MDC participants demonstrated measurable longitudinal changes in cardiac structure/function and LGE-defined fibrosis compared with non-carriers. The results clarify the natural history of cardiomyopathy risk in female dystrophin-mutation carriers and support CMR endpoints for future monitoring and trials.
Ledingham L, Conroy S, Kanwar K et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Mimicking Cardiac Involvement on 18F-FDG PET/CT in a Patient With Lymphoma.
This case report described a 78-year-old woman with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma whose 18F-FDG PET/CT showed focal left ventricular apical uptake and hypermetabolic lymph nodes. Cardiac MRI demonstrated asymmetric hypertrophy of the interventricular septum and apical myocardium with late gadolinium enhancement, leading to a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy rather than cardiac lymphoma. The report emphasizes that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can mimic cardiac involvement on FDG PET/CT and that CMR can be decisive for correct diagnosis.
Chen X, Fu Z · Clinical nuclear medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI for Coronary Disease and Plaque Characterization (CMR/CCTA/PET/Perfusion)
BMIPP Imaging in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Exercise-Induced Vasospastic Angina With Ventricular Fibrillation.
This case studied a 51-year-old man with exercise-induced vasospastic angina leading to ventricular fibrillation and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. While emergency coronary angiography after return of spontaneous circulation showed no significant stenosis, BMIPP (iodine-123 β-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid) SPECT was used to detect postischemic “ischemic memory” suggesting myocardial ischemia. The report is significant because BMIPP SPECT may help identify ischemia noninvasively when invasive spasm provocation testing is uncertain after OHCA.
Aikawa H, Murai K, Seiki S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Stress Perfusion CMR to Prognosticate for Left Main and High Risk Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease and Major Cardiovascular Adverse Events: Outcomes From a 4,144-Patient Multicenter Cohort.
This multicenter cohort study analyzed 4,144 patients to determine whether vasodilator stress perfusion CMR can rule out left main (LM) and high-risk multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD) and predict major cardiovascular adverse events. It found that stress perfusion CMR provided prognostic information and reliably identified patients at low risk for LM/MVD-related events in a large real-world dataset from the SPINS (Stress CMR Perfusion Imaging in the United States) study. The results are significant because they support stress perfusion CMR as a noninvasive strategy for both diagnostic triage and long-term risk prediction in high-risk coronary disease.
Bernhard B, Daibes M, Marques IR et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Assessment of Coronary Plaque Burden using Non-Contrast T1-weighted Cardiovascular MR: Comparison with Coronary CT Angiography.
This 2026 cardiovascular magnetic resonance study compared non-contrast T1-weighted coronary plaque assessment using the iT2prep-BOOST sequence against coronary CT angiography (CCTA) for quantitative coronary plaque burden and plaque signal/attenuation measures. The key finding was the degree of agreement (or discrepancy) between iT2prep-BOOST plaque signal intensity and CCTA-derived plaque attenuation/burden metrics. Clinically, this informs whether iT2prep-BOOST CMR can serve as a non-contrast alternative for evaluating high-risk coronary atherosclerotic plaque components.
Pedersen AAU, Wood G, Kabel A et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Giant Thrombosed Coronary Aneurysm Causing Recurrent Ischemic Events: Insights From Multimodality Imaging and Surgical Management.
This JACC Case Reports study investigated a 56-year-old man with a giant thrombosed coronary aneurysm causing recurrent ischemic events, using multimodality imaging and surgical management after failed percutaneous revascularization. The key finding was that complex aneurysmal anatomy led to recurrent ischemia over time, with CMR showing preserved ejection fraction and regional wall motion abnormalities consistent with prior inferior involvement. The report is clinically important for guiding management decisions in rare giant coronary aneurysms where thrombosis and embolization drive recurrent myocardial ischemia.
di Mario R, Esposito A, Bernardi M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Association between coronary high-intensity plaque and pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation and plaque morphology.
This retrospective study examined whether coronary high-intensity plaque (HIP) defined on T1-weighted cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) (plaque-to-myocardium signal intensity ratio ≥1.4) is associated with pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCATA) and plaque morphology on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Among 86 CCS patients (104 lesions) undergoing CMR and CCTA before elective percutaneous coronary intervention, HIP showed an association with higher PCATA attenuation and specific plaque morphological characteristics. These findings link CMR-derived plaque signal intensity to CT-based adipose tissue and morphology markers, supporting multimodality risk characterization of coronary disease.
Ishii Y, Watabe H, Usami K et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI for Myocardial Infarction Sequelae (Scar, Remodeling, MVO, Thrombus Mimics)
Shortness of Breath Due to a Large Spontaneous Left Atrial Intramural Hematoma.
This case studied a 58-year-old man with acute severe shortness of breath after marathon running, ultimately diagnosed with a spontaneous left atrial intramural hematoma (LAIH). Cardiac MRI showed intermediate T1 signal and slightly elevated T2 signal with no enhancement on first-pass or late gadolinium enhancement images, and surgical exploration confirmed the diagnosis. Clinically, it highlights that LAIH—typically iatrogenic—can present spontaneously and that CMR nonenhancement patterns can support diagnosis and guide urgent management.
Mulder AAW, Vergeer D, Olsthoorn JR et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Nonsurgical Management of a Post-Traumatic Left Ventricular Septal Aneurysm in a 13-Year-Old Male.
This case studied a 13-year-old boy who developed a post-traumatic left ventricular septal aneurysm after blunt chest trauma, with ECG changes and elevated troponin. Cardiac MRI demonstrated near-transmural late gadolinium enhancement, and the patient was managed conservatively with enalapril, propranolol, and aspirin while remaining clinically stable with preserved systolic function. The report suggests that selected pediatric traumatic septal aneurysms without ventricular septal defect and with preserved function may be treated nonsurgically.
Jocson C, Argrave M, Nasworthy M · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial Scar Assessment Using Artificial Intelligence-Powered Contrast-Free MRI: A Prospective Multicenter Study of Virtual Native Enhancement.
This prospective multicenter study evaluated artificial intelligence-powered contrast-free myocardial scar assessment using virtual native enhancement (VNE) in real-world clinical CMR workflows. It found that VNE could detect myocardial scar presence with diagnostic performance validated against late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) ground truth determined independently at two sites (Leeds and Fuwai). The study is significant because it supports routine scar imaging without gadolinium contrast, potentially improving safety and workflow efficiency.
Zhang Q, Zhou D, Thompson P et al. · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance in acute myocardial infarction undergoing thrombus aspiration.
This single-center observational cohort study evaluated whether clinically indicated thrombus aspiration (TA) during primary PCI affects myocardial microvascular obstruction (MVO) and long-term scar/remodeling in STEMI patients using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at baseline and 12 months. Patients treated with primary PCI with or without TA underwent CMR assessment of MVO and myocardial scar parameters at both time points. The study addresses whether TA’s acute goal of reducing distal embolization translates into improved longer-term myocardial tissue outcomes.
Del Torto A, Ventura E, Cannata F et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Deep learning-based non-contrast cine CMR for optimized prediction of left ventricular adverse remodeling after ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
This retrospective multicenter study developed a non-contrast cine CMR deep learning (DL) model to predict left ventricular adverse remodeling (LVAR) after acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 252 patients. Using a two-stage framework with a 3D U-shaped network for coarse-to-fine localization/segmentation and a classification model integrating imaging, morphological, and motion features, the DL approach demonstrated feasibility for LVAR prediction. If validated, this could enable automated, non-contrast risk stratification for post-MI remodeling using routine cine CMR.
Bo K, Qu T, Wang H et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI for Congenital Heart Disease Hemodynamics and Anatomy
Left Ventricular Summit Ventricular Tachycardia Identified by Electrocardiographic Pattern Recognition and Managed With Radiofrequency Ablation.
This case report studied left ventricular summit ventricular tachycardia (LVSVT) in a 66-year-old man presenting with dizziness and palpitations, using 12-lead ECG pattern recognition to guide treatment. The patient’s LVSVT was successfully managed with radiofrequency ablation based on characteristic ECG features (e.g., left bundle branch block-like morphology, inferior axis, and early precordial transition). This highlights how ECG pattern recognition can localize epicardial LV summit arrhythmia substrates and improve the precision of catheter ablation planning.
Moreira MG, Hardy CA, Costa LMAD et al. · The American journal of case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Apical Right Ventricular Sequestration with Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation: Multimodal Imaging Evaluation in an Adolescent.
This case studied a 14-year-old female with palpitations, failure to thrive, and recurrent respiratory infections, evaluated for complex congenital ventricular anatomy. Multimodal imaging identified apical right ventricular sequestration as a nonobstructive variant of double-chamber right ventricle, associated with a large ventricular septal defect, reduced functional right ventricular volume, severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation, and biventricular dysfunction. The report is significant because it emphasizes multimodality imaging to correctly phenotype rare double-chamber variants that may be underrecognized and have major hemodynamic consequences.
De la Cruz-Pelayo J, Mélendez-Ramírez G, de la Mora-Cervantes R et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Linking shape and clinical outcomes: Statistical shape model of Bidirectional Glenn connection in congenital single ventricle patients.
This study examined 3D morphological variability of the superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC) after the Bidirectional Glenn procedure in 29 congenital single-ventricle patients using statistical shape modeling (SSM). It found that SSM-derived shape features of the SCPC were associated with clinical outcomes, including the impact of anatomical variations such as left pulmonary artery (LPA) stenosis. The results are significant because they suggest that automated, image-based shape metrics from CMR could improve risk stratification in patients progressing toward Fontan circulation.
Arrese-Zubizarreta M, Rodriguez-Florez N, Sivera R et al. · PLOS digital health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Whole heart non-contrast 4D Flow MRI at 3.0T for clinical follow-up of congenital heart disease in children and adolescents.
This prospective study compared accelerated whole-heart 4D flow MRI (WH-4DF) at 3.0T with conventional 2D phase-contrast (2D-PC) and volumetric measurements for clinical follow-up of surgically corrected pediatric congenital heart disease (CHD). In 71 children/adolescents (median age 14 years) undergoing both 2D-PC and WH-4DF, the work assessed feasibility and applicability of whole-heart 4D flow to overcome limitations of fixed-plane, operator-dependent, and breath-hold–based 2D-PC imaging. The findings support WH-4DF as a practical, comprehensive hemodynamic imaging option for routine pediatric CHD surveillance.
van Schuppen J, van der Hulst AE, Takx RAP et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI Acquisition/Workflow Innovations (Mapping, Triggering, Motion Robustness, Postprocessing)
Motion-Robust Approach for 4D Cardiac Cine Using 2D Real-Time Acquisitions and Slice-to-Volume Reconstruction.
This Magnetic Resonance in Medicine study developed a motion-robust 4D cardiac cine method using 2D real-time acquisitions and slice-to-volume reconstruction (SVR) in patients, designed to be robust to irregular breathing, bulk motion, and arrhythmia. The key finding is that the approach uses 2D real-time spiral bSSFP with synchronized ECG across multiple orientations and retrospective gated SVR to reconstruct 4D cine with 1 mm³ voxels and 25 cardiac phases without requiring patient cooperation. Scientifically and clinically, it enables more reliable 4D functional assessment under real-world motion and rhythm variability.
Tian Y, Joshi AA, Detterich JA et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
4D flow cardiac magnetic resonance postprocessing in congenital heart disease: SCMR FLIICR workgroup recommendations.
This consensus/recommendations document studied postprocessing workflows for 4D flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), focusing on the SCMR FLIICR workgroup approach. It found that comprehensive 4D flow hemodynamic postprocessing in CHD can be standardized to reduce technical burden and improve exam quality while leveraging 4D flow’s reduced scan time. These recommendations are significant for enabling consistent, noninvasive, radiation-free flow quantification across CHD centers.
Garcia J, Geiger J, Christopher A et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Camera-Seismocardiography Based Cardiac Triggering for Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Prospective Study.
This prospective study evaluated camera-based seismocardiography (Camera-Seismocardiography) for cardiac triggering during magnetic resonance imaging in order to replace ECG triggering. It found that Camera-Seismocardiography can provide MR-compatible timing for image acquisition despite ECG waveform distortion from magneto-hydro-dynamic effects and gradient switching. The approach is significant because it may reduce motion artifacts and improve CMR image quality when ECG triggering is unreliable.
Zhu Y, Lai H, Mo H et al. · IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocardial T1 and T2 Mapping at 5.0T: Feasibility and Comparison with 3.0-T MRI.
This prospective study evaluated feasibility and established reference values for myocardial T1 and T2 mapping at 5.0T in 50 healthy volunteers, comparing results with 3.0T MRI. Using MOLLI for T1 and T2-prepared gradient-echo (T2-prep-GRE) for T2 (including a simultaneous multi-parametric mapping approach), the key finding was that 5.0T mapping is feasible and yields reference values that can be compared with established 3.0T benchmarks. Scientifically, it enables standardized quantitative CMR tissue characterization at 5.0T for future clinical and research use.
Miao Q, Huang H, Lyu Z et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Native myocardial T1 reference values in a tunisian cohort using MOLLI and SMART1Map.
This study established native myocardial T1 reference ranges in a Tunisian healthy volunteer cohort using two CMR sequences, MOLLI 5(3)3 and SMART1Map, and evaluated effects of age and sex as well as inter-site variability for MOLLI across two centers with identical scanners/protocols. The key finding was that native T1 reference values differed by sequence and showed measurable sex- and age-related variation, while inter-site variability for MOLLI was assessed under standardized conditions. The resulting population-specific reference ranges improve interpretability of native T1 mapping for diagnosing diffuse myocardial disease in Tunisian patients.
Dali M, Benameur N, Deriche M et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI Quantification and AI/Deep Learning for Imaging Interpretation
[A semi-supervised MRI image segmentation dual-network model for regions with ambiguous boundaries and heterogeneous regions].
This study developed a semi-supervised MRI segmentation dual-network model (HVASS) for heart and glioma tumor subregions under extremely low labeling rates, focusing on ambiguous boundaries and heterogeneous regions. The key finding is that HVASS uses dual-network collaborative learning with prediction inconsistency to automatically identify high-confidence ambiguity zones and low-confidence stable regions for region-guided training. Scientifically, it provides a technique to improve reliability of complex boundary segmentation when labeled data are scarce.
Huang L, Xu H, Huang L et al. · Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
PULSE: A Unified Multi-Task Architecture for Cardiac Segmentation, Diagnosis, and Few-Shot Cross-Modality Clinical Adaptation.
This IEEE study introduced PULSE, a unified multi-task architecture for cardiac image analysis that performs ventricular segmentation, cardiomyopathy diagnosis, and structured clinical reporting in a single framework. The key finding is that PULSE combines a DINOv2 Vision Transformer (ViT-B/14) with a Dense Prediction Transformer decoder for segmentation, a Random Forest classifier using a 23-dimensional clinical biomarker vector for cardiomyopathy diagnosis, and a template-based reporting module populated with measured indices. The significance is streamlined clinical deployment by reducing the need for separate models for segmentation, diagnosis, and report generation.
Ghouse H, Alsharqi M, Nezami F et al. · IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Deep learning-derived left ventricular circumferential strain for cardiac MRI diagnosis of acute myocarditis with preserved ejection fraction.
This retrospective diagnostic study evaluated deep learning-derived left ventricular circumferential strain (DL-LVCS) in 142 adults with acute myocarditis, focusing on those with preserved ejection fraction (AMY-pEF, LVEF ≥55%) and comparing performance with conventional feature tracking (FT-LVCS). It found that DL-LVCS reduced operator dependency and analysis time while maintaining diagnostic performance for acute myocarditis in the preserved-EF population versus healthy controls. The findings are significant because automated strain quantification could streamline CMR-based myocarditis diagnosis in patients with preserved LVEF.
Zhang X, Wang C, Cheng C et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CineScribe: LLM-based detection and mitigation of ambiguity in cine cardiac magnetic resonance reports.
This study developed and evaluated CineScribe, an LLM trained on expert-annotated cine cardiac magnetic resonance (cineCMR) reports to convert free-text into structured regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) representations. CineScribe achieved a macro-F1 of 0.92 (95% CI 0.89–0.94) for report structuring, enabling standardized RWMA extraction and report generation from validated diagnostic findings. The approach could reduce ambiguity and improve communication consistency in cineCMR interpretation workflows.
Villanueva Benito G, Descalzo ML, Pujadas S et al. · Computers in biology and medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Tumors and Rare Cardiac Masses (Imaging Diagnosis/Management)
Blunt Trauma-Induced Atrial Fibrillation as First Sign of an Unspecified Cardiac Hemangioendothelioma.
This case studied a 40-year-old man who developed atrial fibrillation as the first sign of an unspecified cardiac hemangioendothelioma after blunt chest trauma. Echocardiography showed a large right atrial mass, while cardiac MRI and PET-CT demonstrated a nonmetastatic 76×76 mm tumor obstructing right atrial inflow and encasing the right coronary artery, and radical resection confirmed the diagnosis. Clinically, it underscores that post-traumatic atrial fibrillation can reveal rare vascular tumors and that combined CMR/PET-CT can define extent for surgical planning.
van Dinter SR, Maathuis H, Verkroost MWA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Spindle Cell Cardiac Lipoma in an Adolescent: A Case Report and Systematic Review of Cases.
This case and systematic review studied a 13-year-old male with a cardiac murmur found to have spindle cell cardiac lipoma. Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac MRI showed multiple intracardiac masses involving the aortic valve, interventricular septum, and posterior left ventricular wall, with a large lobulated mass arising from the left coronary cusp and extending into the left ventricular outflow tract, causing severe aortic regurgitation and moderate aortic stenosis. The clinical significance is that this exceptionally rare benign adipocytic tumor can mimic more common valvular or septal pathologies, and multimodality imaging plus surgery may be needed for definitive diagnosis.
Soh SL, Wee IJY, Murray Binti Jeffery Murray RL et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Thromboembolism and Embolic Mechanisms
PFO-Mediated Paradoxical Coronary Embolism Causing Myocardial Infarction: Concordant Imaging Findings.
This JACC Case Reports article studied a 36-year-old man with myocardial infarction caused by paradoxical coronary embolism mediated by a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Concordant imaging showed distal thrombotic coronary occlusion on angiography and CMR evidence of subendocardial-to-transmural infarction with edema limited to the affected vascular territory, while echocardiography confirmed right-to-left shunting through the PFO. The case is significant because it illustrates how integrated coronary imaging, CMR, and echocardiography can establish causality in embolic MI when the coronary tree lacks atherosclerotic disease.
Shrestha A, Wong C, Theuerle J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Exercise and Functional Cardiac MRI (HFpEF and Exercise Physiology)
Exercise Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Work-Volume Loop Model in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.
The study developed an analytic framework for exercise cardiovascular magnetic resonance (Ex-CMR) work-volume loop modeling to quantify non-invasive compliance and contractile reserve in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), including stage C overt HFpEF and exercise-induced HFpEF, and to help distinguish exercise-induced HFpEF from non-cardiac dyspnea. The key finding was the establishment of a standardized, non-invasive reserve-metric derivation approach from Ex-CMR work-volume loops that is designed to be independent of fixed exercise parameters in dyspneic patients with limited capacity. This provides a more reproducible CMR-based method to phenotype HFpEF physiology and improve diagnostic discrimination between cardiac and non-cardiac causes of dyspnea during exercise.
Ghanbari F, Rodriguez J, Gopal DM et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiorenal and Systemic Disease Links via CMR Biomarkers
Left Ventricular Mass is Associated with Biopsy-Assessed Renal Fibrosis in Chronic Kidney Disease.
This prospective single-center cohort study examined whether left ventricular (LV) remodeling on same-week cardiac MRI is associated with biopsy-assessed renal interstitial fibrosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with native kidneys. The key finding was that greater LV mass/remodeling on cardiac MRI correlated with higher levels of renal interstitial fibrosis quantified as the percentage of affected renal cortex area. Clinically, linking cardiac MRI structural remodeling to histologic renal fibrosis supports a shared cardiorenal disease mechanism and may improve risk stratification in CKD.
Glessgen CG, Huber A, Crowe LA et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Diabetes-associated diffuse myocardial fibrosis assessed by native T1 mapping: Adverse cardiac phenotype and modest incremental prognostic value in a real-world cohort.
In a real-world prospective all-comer registry of patients undergoing cardiac MRI (CMR), the study assessed whether diabetes-associated diffuse myocardial fibrosis is captured by native T1 mapping and whether it predicts adverse outcomes beyond established clinical risk factors. The key finding was that diabetes-related diffuse fibrosis phenotype on native T1 mapping identified an adverse cardiac phenotype and provided modest incremental prognostic value for a composite endpoint including all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization. Scientifically and clinically, native T1 mapping may serve as a noninvasive CMR biomarker of diabetes-driven myocardial remodeling with limited but additive prognostic utility.
Treiber JM, Backhaus SJ, Wolter JS et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Aortic Stenosis Imaging and Severity Assessment
Placental Histopathology and Transplacental Transfer of RSV-specific Neutralizing Antibodies The Silver Study.
This prospective observational cross-sectional study examined whether placental histopathology affects transplacental transfer of RSV-specific neutralizing antibodies in pregnant women delivering extremely preterm (24–32 weeks), moderately preterm (33–36 weeks), or term infants (37–42 weeks). The key finding (as framed by the study aim) is that cord–maternal ratios of neutralizing RSV-A and RSV-B antibodies were analyzed in relation to placental histological characteristics. The clinical significance is that placental pathology may help predict infant passive immunity to RSV, informing risk stratification for early-life RSV protection.
Phijffer EWEM, Willemsen J, Wildenbeest JG et al. · The Pediatric infectious disease journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Updates on Imaging Modalities for the Diagnosis of Aortic Stenosis.
This 2026 review studied diagnostic imaging strategies for aortic stenosis (AS) in elderly patients, comparing transthoracic echocardiography with advanced echocardiographic and computed tomography approaches. It found that standard echo grading can be inconsistent in low-flow, low-gradient, or normal-flow, low-gradient AS, while advanced methods (e.g., 3D imaging, stress echocardiography, and Doppler-derived ratios such as mean gradient-to-effective orifice area ratio) and CT can improve severity assessment and risk stratification. The significance is improved diagnostic accuracy for guiding management decisions in challenging AS phenotypes.
Itani H, Moumneh MB, Zayed A et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Non-Cardiac/Translational Biomarkers and Therapeutic Research (Microbiome, Oncology, Preclinical)
Giant cell myocarditis: from immune pathogenesis to contemporary management.
This review studied the immune pathogenesis and contemporary management of giant cell myocarditis (GCM) in affected patients, focusing on mechanisms such as T cell–mediated autoimmunity and roles of macrophage-derived multinucleated giant cells and neutrophil extracellular trap formation. It found that without immunosuppressive therapy, median transplant-free survival is about three months, and that current evidence supports a predominantly T cell–driven autoimmune process with possible viral/environmental triggers. Clinically, these findings underscore the need for rapid recognition and early immunosuppression to reduce malignant arrhythmias and death or heart transplantation risk.
Vosko I, Wallner M · Heart failure reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CME right colectomy with D3 lymphadenectomy for colon cancer through a bottom-to-up approach using CMR versius robotic system: an IDEAL stage 1 report.
This IDEAL Stage 1 case series studied complete mesocolic excision (CME) right colectomy with D3 lymphadenectomy using the CMR Versius robotic system in six patients enrolled in the COMPAR trial. The key finding is that the bottom-to-up technique was feasible with iterative port and BSU positioning refinements, yielding a median operative time of 296 minutes (range 233–410) and no intraoperative complications reported in the truncated abstract. Clinically, it provides early standardization and feasibility data for adopting this robotic approach for colon cancer surgery with D3 nodal dissection.
Pedrazzani C, De Giulio E, Turri G et al. · Updates in surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Network-oriented neurorehabilitation after stroke: a paradigmatic approach.
This opinion paper studied how stroke recovery can be conceptualized as reorganization of distributed brain networks to guide neurorehabilitation strategies in patients after stroke. It found that a network-oriented neurorehabilitation paradigm addresses limitations of traditional impairment-targeted approaches by more explicitly specifying therapeutic processes and mechanisms. The proposed framework is significant because it could improve reproducibility and comparability of rehabilitation interventions across studies.
Conti FM, Gassert R, Doganci N et al. · Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
[Clinical study of brentuximab vedotin combined with the ifosfamide and gemcitabine regimen in the treatment of children with relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma].
This case series study evaluated brentuximab vedotin combined with the IGE regimen (ifosfamide and gemcitabine) in 23 children with relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma treated at Beijing Children’s Hospital between June 2022 and August 2025. The key finding was the observed efficacy and safety profile of BV+IGE across 1–4 chemotherapy cycles with follow-up through December 31, 2025. Clinically, it provides pediatric outcome data supporting (or refining) the use of BV-based combination chemotherapy for refractory cHL.
Zhang M, Li N, Huang S et al. · Zhonghua er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of pediatrics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Formoterol fumarate attenuates atherosclerosis and improves cardiometabolic dysfunction in ApoE-deficient mice.
This study tested whether formoterol fumarate (FF), a long-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist, attenuates atherosclerosis and cardiometabolic dysfunction in 8-week-old male apolipoprotein E–deficient (ApoE KO) mice. FF treatment (0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks) improved serum lipid profiles and reduced atherosclerotic burden and multi-organ injury biomarkers compared with vehicle. These preclinical findings suggest β2-adrenergic modulation may be a therapeutic strategy to limit atherosclerosis-associated cardiometabolic dysfunction.
Juvenal H, Gu W, Zhao Z et al. · Vascular pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The combination of alternating reduced-dose blinatumomab and hyper-CVAD as consolidation therapy in patients with newly-diagnosed adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
This retrospective study evaluated whether combining alternating reduced-dose blinatumomab with hyper-CVAD improves outcomes as consolidation therapy in newly diagnosed adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Patients who achieved complete remission after induction received a regimen of blinatumomab cycles 1, 3, 5, and 7 with hyper-CVAD course B (cycles 2 and 6) and course A (cycles 4 and 8), including both Philadelphia chromosome–positive and –negative disease. The study tests a consolidation strategy aimed at improving survival and/or minimal residual disease control by integrating blinatumomab with chemotherapy.
Li Z, Liu F, Zhang C et al. · Therapeutic advances in hematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic value of different metabolic response criteria in patients with advanced melanoma treated with immunotherapy: a comparative analysis of PECRIT, PERCIMT, and EORTC criteria.
This retrospective comparative analysis evaluated prognostic performance of three [18F]FDG-PET/CT metabolic response criteria—PECRIT, PERCIMT, and EORTC—in patients with advanced melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The key finding was that the different criteria stratified patients into metabolic response categories (complete, partial, stable, progressive metabolic disease) with differing prognostic performance for outcomes after baseline and interim PET/CT. This helps determine which PET/CT response definition best predicts survival in ICI-treated melanoma, supporting more consistent imaging-based response assessment.
Di Giorgio A, Comito F, Bonazzi N et al. · European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Multiple 4q25 risk variants impair calcium homeostasis and compromise left atrial function.
Using UK Biobank data (391,008 individuals), this genetic association study tested how multiple 4q25 atrial fibrillation risk variants (rs1448818, rs2200733, rs10033464) affect calcium homeostasis and left atrial function. The key finding was that the three risk alleles increased incident atrial fibrillation over 10 years in a dose-dependent manner and that genetic and clinical risk were additive, with downstream effects consistent with disrupted calcium homeostasis compromising atrial function. This supports a SNP-specific mechanistic pathway linking 4q25 variants to atrial dysfunction and may inform targeted prevention strategies for AF.
Jiménez-Sábado V, Tarifa C, Vad OB et al. · Cardiovascular research · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Targeted KRASG12V Degradation In Vivo Elicits Lung Adenocarcinoma Regression with Subsequent Relapse from Dysregulated Proteolysis.
This preclinical study developed an in vivo lung adenocarcinoma mouse model to test targeted degradation of KRASG12V using a proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) approach. The key finding was that targeted oncogenic KRASG12V degradation induced rapid tumor regression largely via cancer cell-autonomous mechanisms, but subsequent relapse occurred associated with dysregulated proteolysis. These results provide mechanistic insight into how KRAS degradation can drive early response yet still permit resistance, informing next-generation KRAS PROTAC design.
Martín A, García-Pérez IM, San José S et al. · Cancer research · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Gut microbiota-derived imidazole propionate predicts cardiometabolic risk in patients with coronary artery disease.
This study measured gut microbiota-derived circulating imidazole propionate (ImP) and evaluated its prognostic value for cardiometabolic outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease using multiple independent prospective cohorts (including acute coronary syndrome and chronic coronary syndrome cohorts). The key finding was that higher circulating ImP levels predicted increased cardiometabolic risk across these CAD populations. This suggests ImP could function as a microbiome-linked blood biomarker for risk prediction and potentially for stratifying patients based on inflammatory/metabolic pathways.
Wenzl FA, Wang P, Kahles F et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · 11 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on August 21, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published August 14, 2026 – August 21, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.