What's New in Cardiac MRI? — August 22, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 55 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
August 22, 2026 · 55 articles · 15 research themes · covering August 15, 2026 – August 22, 2026
Overview
This week’s set of papers is dominated by advances in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for diagnosis and risk stratification—especially for inflammatory and non-ischemic myocardial disease. Multiple studies focus on myocarditis across adult, pediatric, and special populations (e.g., MIS-C), using CMR tissue characterization (T1/T2 mapping, edema/injury metrics, LGE) and deep learning-derived strain to improve detection and to predict outcomes such as recurrence or adverse clinical trajectories. Complementing this, reviews and case-based reports highlight immune-mediated cardiac injury (immune checkpoint inhibitor pericarditis, dupilumab-associated eosinophilic myocarditis, Löffler endocarditis) and rare inflammatory cardiomyopathies (giant cell myocarditis), reinforcing the clinical value of timely CMR pattern recognition and, where appropriate, rapid immunosuppression.
A second major theme is “imaging for mechanisms” in acute coronary syndromes and high-risk coronary phenotypes. Takotsubo syndrome is reframed as a reversible cardiomyopathy with distinct diagnostic criteria to prevent STEMI misclassification. In STEMI, studies evaluate how interventions such as thrombus aspiration may influence microvascular obstruction and longer-term remodeling, while other work uses non-contrast cine CMR and deep learning to forecast left ventricular adverse remodeling. Coronary inflammation and high-risk plaque are explored through multimodality imaging biomarkers (CMR plaque signal characteristics, perivascular fat attenuation on CCTA, and stress perfusion CMR as a gatekeeper for left main/high-risk multivessel disease), pointing toward more precise, noninvasive risk stratification.
Finally, the digest shows rapid methodological progress in cardiac imaging workflows and analytics: standardized 4D flow postprocessing for congenital heart disease, statistical shape modeling to link anatomy with outcomes after Glenn, and acquisition innovations (camera-based seismocardiography triggering, motion-robust 4D cine, and 5T mapping reference establishment). Parallel AI efforts aim to reduce operator dependence and improve reproducibility—ranging from scar assessment without gadolinium (virtual native enhancement) to LLM-structured reporting and edge-guided segmentation networks. Together, these studies suggest a field moving toward more scalable, standardized, and mechanism-informed CMR and AI pipelines.
Takotsubo and Stress-Triggered Cardiomyopathy
Takotsubo Syndrome: From Pathophysiology and Diagnosis to Management.
This review studied the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of takotsubo syndrome (TTS) in predominantly postmenopausal women presenting with acute heart failure that mimics acute myocardial infarction. It found that TTS is characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction with regional wall-motion abnormalities extending beyond a single coronary territory in the absence of culprit coronary lesions, with multifactorial mechanisms including transient catecholamine-mediated cardiotoxicity and coronary microvascular dysfunction. Clinically, recognizing stress-triggered TTS and using appropriate diagnostic criteria can prevent misdiagnosis as STEMI and guide management of this reversible cardiomyopathy.
Marschall A, Salamanca J, Cecconi A et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Coronary Atherosclerosis Imaging & Plaque Inflammation (CMR/CCTA)
Coronary CT angiography-derived perivascular fat attenuation index as a potential marker for heart failure in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
This retrospective study evaluated whether the perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) derived from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) reflects coronary inflammation and predicts heart failure in 75 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) compared with 75 matched controls without structural heart disease. Perivascular FAI was measured around the proximal right coronary artery, left anterior descending artery, and left circumflex artery and was assessed for association with heart failure using cardiac magnetic resonance for comprehensive left ventricular characterization. If validated, CCTA-derived perivascular FAI could provide a noninvasive imaging biomarker of inflammatory burden linked to HF risk in HCM.
Peng L, Feng Y, Yuan J et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
BMIPP Imaging in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Exercise-Induced Vasospastic Angina With Ventricular Fibrillation.
This case report studied BMIPP (iodine-123 β-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid) single-photon emission computed tomography in a 51-year-old man with exercise-induced vasospastic angina presenting as out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation. Despite coronary angiography showing no significant stenosis after return of spontaneous circulation, BMIPP SPECT provided evidence consistent with postischemic “ischemic memory” supporting vasospastic ischemia. The study suggests BMIPP imaging can help noninvasively identify ischemia when standard angiography is unrevealing, potentially guiding decisions about spasm evaluation.
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 outcomes from 4,144 patients in the SPINS (Stress CMR Perfusion Imaging in the United States) program to test 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. The key finding was that stress perfusion CMR provided reliable prognostication and helped identify patients with LM/MVD risk who might be missed by conventional imaging. This is clinically significant because it supports stress perfusion CMR as a gatekeeper test for high-risk coronary disease and for long-term risk stratification.
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 study evaluated non-contrast T1-weighted cardiovascular MRI using the iT2prep-BOOST sequence for quantifying coronary plaque burden and plaque signal intensity in patients undergoing coronary CMR, and compared these measures with coronary CT angiography (CCTA) plaque burden and attenuation. iT2prep-BOOST provided co-registered whole-heart coronary lumen and vessel-wall imaging and enabled plaque signal intensity assessment that could be directly compared against CCTA-derived quantitative plaque metrics. The work supports non-contrast CMR as a potential alternative to CCTA for plaque quantification, which could reduce radiation/exposure while improving standardized coronary atherosclerosis assessment.
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 case report described a 56-year-old man with a giant thrombosed coronary aneurysm causing recurrent ischemic events, using multimodality imaging to guide surgical management after failed percutaneous revascularization. The key finding was that cardiac MRI demonstrated preserved left ventricular ejection fraction with regional wall-motion abnormalities (including inferior wall akinesia) and transmural involvement, supporting the ischemic mechanism from the aneurysm/thrombosis. The report is clinically significant because it illustrates how integrated imaging can inform individualized treatment decisions for rare, complex coronary aneurysm disease.
di Mario R, Esposito A, Bernardi M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (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 767 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) registry participants with prior CMR phenotyping to determine whether baseline CMR phenotypes predicted COVID-19 outcomes and recovery, using multivariable logistic regression. The key finding was that specific pre-existing CMR features were associated with higher odds of hospitalization and/or impaired recovery lasting at least 3 months after COVID-19. Scientifically and clinically, the results suggest that CMR phenotype can serve as a risk marker for post-COVID trajectory in HCM patients.
Singhal A, Appleby E, Agnel O et al. · Heart (British Cardiac Society) · (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) on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is associated with pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCATA) and coronary plaque morphology on computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in 86 patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). HIP was defined by a plaque-to-myocardium signal intensity ratio (PMR) ≥1.4 on T1-weighted CMR, and the key finding was that HIP correlated with higher PCATA and specific plaque morphological features on CCTA, linking CMR-defined plaque signal characteristics to perivascular adipose tissue changes. Scientifically, this supports a multimodality imaging biomarker framework for identifying higher-risk coronary lesions and potentially underlying inflammatory processes.
Ishii Y, Watabe H, Usami K et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial Infarction, Microvascular Obstruction & Remodeling
Intramyocardial Dissecting Hematoma After Myocardial Infarction Diagnosed by Multimodality Imaging.
This case report studied intramyocardial dissecting hematoma after myocardial infarction in a 47-year-old man presenting with progressive dyspnea and severe left ventricular dysfunction. A large LV mass initially presumed to be thrombus persisted despite anticoagulation and progressed to cardiogenic shock with ventricular tachycardia, while cardiac magnetic resonance imaging ultimately demonstrated extensive anterior transmural infarction with a dissecting intramyocardial cavity consistent with intramyocardial dissection. The report is clinically significant because it shows how intramyocardial dissection can mimic LV thrombus and demonstrates the diagnostic value of cardiac MRI when anticoagulation fails.
Borg BC, Josephs C, Ghincea C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac magnetic resonance in acute myocardial infarction undergoing thrombus aspiration.
This single-center observational cohort study evaluated the effect of clinically indicated thrombus aspiration (TA) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on microvascular obstruction (MVO) and myocardial scar/remodeling using cardiac MRI (CMR) at baseline and 12 months in STEMI patients. The key finding was that TA influenced CMR measures of MVO and long-term myocardial scar/remodeling compared with PCI without TA, addressing whether TA provides durable microvascular and tissue-level benefits. Scientifically and clinically, CMR endpoints help clarify the long-term impact of TA on prognosis-relevant myocardial injury in acute myocardial infarction.
Del Torto A, Ventura E, Cannata F et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Deep Learning & AI for Cardiac MRI Analysis/Segmentation/Reporting
High frequency edge network for accurate cardiac structure segmentation.
This iScience study developed HF-EdgeNet, a high-frequency edge–driven encoder–decoder deep learning framework for accurate cardiac structure segmentation using cardiac MRI. HF-EdgeNet uses a High Frequency Edge Transformer to inject high-frequency guidance into self-attention, a High Frequency Adaptive module to mitigate high-frequency degradation during downsampling, and a Semantic Edge Bridge block to preserve edge semantics. If robust across datasets, this technique could improve segmentation accuracy for downstream cardiac imaging analysis and clinical decision support.
He S, Xiong H, Wang W et al. · iScience · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
[A semi-supervised MRI image segmentation dual-network model for regions with ambiguous boundaries and heterogeneous regions].
This study developed a semi-supervised MRI tumor subregion segmentation method (HVASS) for regions with ambiguous boundaries and heterogeneous appearance in heart and glioma imaging under extremely low labeling rates. Using a dual-network collaborative learning framework that leverages prediction inconsistency to identify high-confidence ambiguity zones and low-confidence stable regions, the model guides region-guided learning to improve boundary segmentation. Scientifically, it advances robust medical image segmentation when annotations are scarce, which can improve downstream clinical interpretation of complex cardiac and brain tumor anatomy.
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 ↗
CineScribe: LLM-based detection and mitigation of ambiguity in cine cardiac magnetic resonance reports.
This study developed CineScribe, an LLM-based system trained on expert-annotated cine cardiac MRI reports to convert free-text reports into structured regional wall-motion abnormality (RWMA) representations and to standardize report generation. The key finding was strong performance on the report-structuring task, achieving a macro-F1 of 0.92 (95% CI 0.89–0.94), indicating effective mitigation of ambiguity in cineCMR documentation. The clinical significance is improved consistency and reduced miscommunication in cineCMR interpretation, which can support safer downstream decision-making and workflow automation.
Villanueva Benito G, Descalzo ML, Pujadas S et al. · Computers in biology and medicine · (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, two-center study assessed a deep learning (DL) model using non-contrast cine CMR to predict left ventricular adverse remodeling (LVAR) after acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 252 patients split into training (n=176) and testing (n=76) cohorts. Using a two-stage DL framework with a 3D U-shaped network for coarse-to-fine myocardial localization/segmentation and a classification model integrating imaging, morphological, and motion features, the key finding was that the non-contrast cine CMR DL approach could feasibly and accurately stratify risk for subsequent LVAR. Clinically, this provides a radiation- and contrast-sparing imaging tool to identify patients likely to develop adverse remodeling after STEMI for earlier intervention.
Bo K, Qu T, Wang H et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocarditis (Diagnosis, Risk Stratification, and Imaging Biomarkers)
Giant cell myocarditis: from immune pathogenesis to contemporary management.
This narrative review summarized immune pathogenesis and contemporary management of giant cell myocarditis (GCM), a rare inflammatory cardiomyopathy with rapid deterioration and malignant arrhythmias. It emphasizes that GCM is predominantly a T cell–mediated autoimmune disorder with contributions from macrophage-derived multinucleated giant cells and neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and notes that without immunosuppression median transplant-free survival is about three months. Clinically, the review reinforces the need for prompt immunosuppressive therapy and provides mechanistic context for emerging management strategies.
Vosko I, Wallner M · Heart failure reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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, relating quantitative CMR mapping parameters to in-hospital laboratory and clinical severity markers. It found associations between specific CMR tissue mapping measures (edema/inflammation and injury-related parameters) and bedside indicators of acute severity. The results are important because they support using CMR mapping not only for diagnosis but also for early prognostic stratification during hospitalization in acute myocarditis.
Kaya K, Janssen JP, Pennig L et al. · European journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Lyme Myopericarditis With Effusive-Constrictive Physiology: Serial CMR Identifies a Reversible Inflammatory Phenotype.
This case report described a 45-year-old man with Lyme myopericarditis with effusive-constrictive physiology after a tick bite, where distinguishing inflammatory from fixed constriction was central to management. Serial CMR demonstrated a reversible inflammatory phenotype, supporting an inflammatory (potentially treatable) process rather than irreversible constriction. The case is clinically significant because it shows how serial CMR can guide therapy decisions in uncommon Lyme-related effusive-constrictive presentations.
Alhirtani N, Bigham G, Fabrizio C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Deep learning-derived left ventricular circumferential strain for cardiac MRI diagnosis of acute myocarditis with preserved ejection fraction.
This retrospective diagnostic study compared deep learning-derived left ventricular circumferential strain (DL-LVCS) with conventional feature tracking-derived strain (FT-LVCS) for diagnosing acute myocarditis with preserved ejection fraction (LVEF ≥55%) in 142 acute myocarditis patients and 106 matched healthy controls. DL-LVCS reduced operator dependency and analysis time while maintaining strong diagnostic performance for acute myocarditis in the preserved EF subgroup. Clinically, this supports faster, more standardized CMR strain assessment to improve myocarditis diagnosis in patients with preserved systolic function.
Zhang X, Wang C, Cheng C et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (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 adult study assessed whether CMR myocardial injury tissue parameters—including cine, native T1/T2 and post-T1 mapping, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)—predict adverse clinical outcomes in 76 patients with acute myocarditis stratified into fulminant (FM; with and without mechanical circulatory support) and non-fulminant groups. The key finding was that specific LGE and mapping-based myocardial injury characteristics were associated with prognosis in acute myocarditis. This is significant because it identifies CMR tissue markers that may help stratify risk and guide management intensity in adults with acute myocarditis.
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 article describes a 32-year-old man with well-controlled HIV who developed acute myocarditis as an immune-mediated complication of mpox infection. Cardiac MRI showed lateral-wall edema on T2-weighted imaging and nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement with preserved ejection fraction, meeting the updated Lake Louise Criteria, and the patient recovered fully with supportive care. This is significant because it documents mpox-associated myocarditis and provides imaging criteria that can facilitate timely diagnosis and management.
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 longitudinal CMR study in children diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) assessed whether MIS-C biomarkers and inpatient echocardiographic findings were associated with myocarditis and myocardial delayed enhancement (MDE) on CMR using modified Lake Louise criteria. The key finding was the characterization of admission and serial biomarker/echo associations with CMR-defined myocarditis and the description of how CMR abnormalities evolve over time in MIS-C. Clinically, linking early MIS-C features to CMR outcomes can improve risk stratification and guide follow-up for cardiac involvement after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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 of pediatric patients (<21 years) with clinically diagnosed acute myocarditis who underwent CMR within 14 days of initial presentation evaluated CMR imaging findings and predictors of recurrent myocarditis. The key finding was identification of CMR features associated with full recovery versus recurrence (comparing those groups using Mann–Whitney U and Fisher’s exact tests). Predicting recurrence risk using early CMR could improve surveillance and management strategies for children with myocarditis.
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 report described a 35-year-old woman with acute myocarditis presenting atypically with unilateral neck pain, dysphagia, and severe systemic inflammation leading to reversible cardiogenic shock. The key finding was that despite the absence of classic chest pain/dyspnea at presentation, cardiac biomarker elevation and severe left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction ~30%) were attributable to myocarditis and improved with appropriate management. The case highlights the clinical significance of considering myocarditis in patients with profound systemic inflammation and cardiac dysfunction even when initial symptoms are extracardiac.
Fayyaz A, Khan SW, Azam M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Eosinophilic/Immune-Mediated Myocardial Disease (including ICI, EGPA, Löffler)
Chest Pain With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: Harnessing the Power of Multimodality Imaging.
This case report studied cardiovascular immune-related adverse events during immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in a 53-year-old woman with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma treated with pembrolizumab. She developed worsening pleuritic chest pain with progressive pericardial thickening on serial chest computed tomography and elevated inflammatory markers, consistent with pericarditis in the setting of ICI exposure. The report is clinically important because it underscores that ICI-associated pericarditis can mimic other common causes of chest pain and may require multimodality imaging for timely recognition.
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 report studied eosinophilic cardiomyopathy in a 64-year-old man with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis after dupilumab therapy. Three months after starting the IL-4Rα antagonist dupilumab, he developed marked hypereosinophilia and cardiac biomarker elevation, and echocardiography/cardiac magnetic resonance imaging plus endomyocardial biopsy confirmed eosinophilic myocarditis. The findings are significant because they document a rare progression from dupilumab-associated eosinophilia to EGPA-related cardiac involvement and support rapid immunosuppression with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide.
Agredano I, Michiels V, Argacha JF et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Rare Cause of Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report of Löffler Endocarditis.
This case report describes a 46-year-old woman with restrictive cardiomyopathy ultimately attributed to Löffler endocarditis (idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome). Cardiac MRI showed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy features, right ventricular hypertrophy, and a restrictive filling pattern that raised suspicion for Löffler endocarditis, and the report emphasizes diagnostic and treatment challenges with corticosteroid therapy. The clinical significance is that CMR pattern recognition can prompt consideration of rare eosinophilic cardiac disease when initial therapy response is suboptimal.
Diz Ferre JL, Soltesz EG, Fava A · Case reports in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Tumors & Rare Structural Masses (Imaging/Diagnosis)
Apical Right Ventricular Sequestration with Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation: Multimodal Imaging Evaluation in an Adolescent.
This case report studied apical right ventricular sequestration as a variant of double-chamber right ventricle in a 14-year-old female with palpitations, failure to thrive, and recurrent respiratory infections. Multimodal imaging identified apical sequestration of the right ventricle with a large ventricular septal defect, reduced functional right ventricular volume, severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation, and biventricular dysfunction. The findings emphasize that this rare nonobstructive congenital anatomy can be underrecognized and should be carefully characterized with multimodality imaging for appropriate management.
De la Cruz-Pelayo J, Mélendez-Ramírez G, de la Mora-Cervantes R et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Blunt Trauma-Induced Atrial Fibrillation as First Sign of an Unspecified Cardiac Hemangioendothelioma.
This case report studied blunt trauma–associated atrial fibrillation as the first presentation of an unspecified cardiac hemangioendothelioma in a 40-year-old man. Echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography–computed tomography demonstrated a large nonmetastatic right atrial tumor obstructing inflow and encasing the right coronary artery, and radical surgical resection was performed after biopsy suggested a mesenchymal neoplasm. The report is clinically significant because it links trauma-triggered arrhythmia to a rare cardiac vascular tumor and supports the role of multimodal imaging plus surgical management.
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 report and systematic review studied spindle cell cardiac lipoma in a 13-year-old male with a cardiac murmur. Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple intracardiac masses involving the aortic valve, interventricular septum, and posterior left ventricular wall, causing severe aortic regurgitation and moderate aortic stenosis, with the mass arising from the left coronary cusp and extending into the left ventricular outflow tract. The work is significant because it documents an exceptionally rare primary cardiac adipocytic tumor in adolescence and consolidates diagnostic and management considerations for clinicians.
Soh SL, Wee IJY, Murray Binti Jeffery Murray RL et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Arrhythmogenic Syndromes & Ventricular Arrhythmia Risk (including ACM/ECG phenotypes)
Inflammatory Hot Phases in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy: A Dynamic Electrophysiologic Substrate Beyond Scar.
This review examined arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) mechanisms and clinical implications of episodic inflammatory exacerbations (“hot phases”) beyond the traditional scar-based model, integrating proposed pathways such as desmosomal instability, inflammasome activation, cytokine signaling, and anti-desmoglein-2 responses. It highlights that cardiac magnetic resonance tissue characterization can help identify dynamic inflammatory substrate that may accelerate injury, scar formation, and arrhythmic vulnerability. Clinically, recognizing “hot phases” could enable more targeted risk stratification and potentially immunomodulatory strategies in selected ACM patients.
Zarghami M, Maleki ND, Naddaf S et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Arrhythmogenic Mitral Valve Prolapse: Looking Beyond Mitral Regurgitation.
This JACC Case Reports report described an arrhythmogenic phenotype in a 70-year-old woman with Barlow disease (mitral valve prolapse) where risk assessment focused beyond mitral regurgitation severity. Despite being asymptomatic, she had bileaflet prolapse with mitral annular disjunction and frequent polymorphic premature ventricular complexes on ambulatory ECG monitoring, followed by out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation before completion of work-up. The case underscores that MVP patients—especially with arrhythmogenic ECG features and structural findings like mitral annular disjunction—may require evaluation for malignant ventricular arrhythmia risk beyond MR grading.
Ribeyrolles S, Zannis K, Berrebi A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Left Ventricular Summit Ventricular Tachycardia Identified by Electrocardiographic Pattern Recognition and Managed With Radiofrequency Ablation.
This case report described a 66-year-old man with left ventricular summit ventricular tachycardia (LVSVT) diagnosed using characteristic 12-lead ECG pattern recognition and treated with radiofrequency ablation. The ECG showed frequent premature ventricular complexes with left bundle branch block-like morphology, inferior axis, and early precordial transition, consistent with LVSVT arising from the epicardial superior left ventricular wall between major coronary origins. The report supports ECG-guided localization to facilitate targeted ablation of LV summit arrhythmogenic foci.
Moreira MG, Hardy CA, Costa LMAD et al. · The American journal of case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Congenital Heart Disease Imaging, Hemodynamics & Outcomes (CMR/4D flow/SSM)
4D flow cardiac magnetic resonance postprocessing in congenital heart disease: SCMR FLIICR workgroup recommendations.
This article provides SCMR FLIICR workgroup recommendations for 4D flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) postprocessing in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). It highlights that 4D flow enables improved flow quantification and potentially reduced scan time, but that comprehensive hemodynamic postprocessing in CHD can be demanding and requires standardized workflows. These recommendations aim to improve reproducibility and clinical usability of 4D flow CMR hemodynamic analysis 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 ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Linking shape and clinical outcomes: Statistical shape model of Bidirectional Glenn connection in congenital single ventricle patients.
This study used statistical shape modeling (SSM) on cardiovascular magnetic resonance images from 29 congenital single-ventricle patients after the bidirectional Glenn procedure to characterize 3D morphology of the superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC) and relate it to clinical outcomes. The key finding was that anatomical variability in the SCPC after bidirectional Glenn is associated with clinical outcomes, including the impact of left pulmonary artery (LPA) stenosis within a broader shape-outcome framework. This supports using CMR-based SSM to risk-stratify single-ventricle patients and potentially guide surveillance or intervention planning.
Arrese-Zubizarreta M, Rodriguez-Florez N, Sivera R et al. · PLOS digital health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI Acquisition/Workflow Innovations (triggering, motion robustness, 5T, sequences)
Motion-Robust Approach for 4D Cardiac Cine Using 2D Real-Time Acquisitions and Slice-to-Volume Reconstruction.
This study proposed a motion-robust 4D cardiac cine acquisition and reconstruction method using 2D real-time acquisitions with ECG synchronization and slice-to-volume reconstruction (SVR) to reduce sensitivity to irregular breathing, bulk motion, and arrhythmia. It used 2D real-time spiral bSSFP in four cardiac orientations, swept slices across the heart for volume coverage, and performed retrospectively gated SVR to reconstruct 4D cine with 1 mm³ voxels and 25 cardiac phases. The technique is significant because it enables reliable 4D functional assessment without patient cooperation, potentially improving cardiac MRI feasibility in uncooperative or unstable patients.
Tian Y, Joshi AA, Detterich JA et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 (MRI) as an alternative to ECG triggering in a clinical imaging workflow. The key finding is that Camera-Seismocardiography can provide a triggering signal that avoids ECG waveform distortion from magneto-hydro-dynamic effects and gradient switching, addressing a major limitation of ECG-based CMR triggering. This is significant because improved, robust cardiac triggering can reduce motion artifacts and enable higher-quality CMR acquisitions without relying on ECG performance.
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 feasibility study measured myocardial T1 and T2 reference values at 5.0 Tesla in 50 healthy volunteers and compared mapping performance against 3.0 Tesla using MOLLI (T1), T2-prepared GRE (T2), and a simultaneous multi-parametric mapping approach. The key finding was that myocardial T1/T2 mapping at 5.0T is feasible and yields reference values that differ from 3.0T, with protocol-specific performance characteristics. Establishing 5.0T reference ranges is scientifically important for harmonizing quantitative CMR and clinically important for interpreting future 5.0T myocardial disease studies.
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 ↗
Contrast-Free/Alternative Imaging for Scar & Plaque
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 settings, with blinded scar reading at two sites (Leeds and Fuwai) using LGE as the ground truth. The key finding was that VNE can detect myocardial scar without gadolinium contrast with diagnostic performance suitable for clinical validation. This is significant because it supports a contrast-free pathway for scar imaging that could improve accessibility and reduce risk in patients where gadolinium is undesirable.
Zhang Q, Zhou D, Thompson P et al. · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Sepsis-Associated Cardiac Sequelae (calcification, long-term effects)
Myocardial Calcification After Severe Sepsis: 3-Patient Case Series, Multimodality Imaging, and Review of the Literature.
This case series and literature review investigated myocardial calcification after severe sepsis in three men who developed left ventricular myocardial calcification following septic shock or prolonged ICU admission. Computed tomography defined the distribution and extent of calcium deposition, while cardiac magnetic resonance showed nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement in corresponding segments. The multimodality imaging findings emphasize that post-septic myocardial calcification can have heterogeneous long-term consequences and that CT and CMR provide complementary diagnostic information.
Ruiz-López A, Salido Iniesta M, Gómez Revelles S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocardial Calcification as a Rare Cardiac Sequela: When Sepsis Leaves Its Mark.
This case report studied sepsis-associated myocardial calcification in a 33-year-old woman who developed septic shock from disseminated Streptococcus pneumoniae. Four weeks after the initial septic presentation, repeat chest computed tomography showed new extensive left ventricular and papillary muscle calcifications despite normal coronary angiography and marked troponin elevation. The report highlights that severe sepsis can leave persistent structural cardiac sequelae detectable on follow-up imaging, informing long-term surveillance after septic shock.
El-Hamad A, Sene PM, El Mehdi El Yamani M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Thromboembolism & Paradoxical Embolism (PFO, coronary embolism)
PFO-Mediated Paradoxical Coronary Embolism Causing Myocardial Infarction: Concordant Imaging Findings.
This JACC Case Reports report describes a 36-year-old man with myocardial infarction due to patent foramen ovale (PFO)-mediated paradoxical coronary embolism. Coronary angiography showed distal thrombotic occlusion without atherosclerosis, and cardiac MRI demonstrated subendocardial-to-transmural infarction with edema confined to the corresponding vascular territory, with echocardiography confirming a PFO with right-to-left shunting. The case is clinically significant because it illustrates how concordant coronary imaging plus CMR can support diagnosis of paradoxical coronary embolism when a venous thromboembolic source is not immediately evident.
Shrestha A, Wong C, Theuerle J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Trauma & Post-Traumatic Cardiac Lesions (AF, aneurysm, hematoma)
Shortness of Breath Due to a Large Spontaneous Left Atrial Intramural Hematoma.
This JACC Case Reports report described a 58-year-old man with acute severe shortness of breath after marathon running who was found on echocardiography and cardiac MRI to have 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, and surgical exploration confirmed the diagnosis. The case is clinically important because it highlights a non-iatrogenic LAIH presentation and supports CMR signal/enhancement patterns for diagnosis and management planning.
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 report described a 13-year-old male with a post-traumatic left ventricular septal aneurysm after blunt chest trauma, presenting with ECG changes and elevated troponin. Echocardiography showed an apical septal aneurysm without ventricular septal defect and preserved systolic function, while CMR demonstrated near-transmural late gadolinium enhancement; the patient was managed conservatively with enalapril, propranolol, and aspirin and remained stable. The report is significant because it suggests that selected pediatric traumatic ventricular aneurysms with preserved function and no associated defect may be treated non-surgically.
Jocson C, Argrave M, Nasworthy M · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiometabolic/Pharmacology & Non-Cardiac Therapeutics (preclinical/other clinical trials)
Deramiocel heart-derived cellular therapy in advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy (HOPE-3): a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
This phase 3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studied deramiocel (human allogeneic heart-derived cardiosphere-derived cells) in participants aged ≥10 years with advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Deramiocel infusion was evaluated for efficacy and safety to support prior HOPE-2 findings, with the abstract indicating the investigational product was administered intravenously. If effective and safe, deramiocel would represent a clinically meaningful cell-based therapy targeting both cardiac and skeletal muscle decline in advanced DMD.
McDonald CM, Villa C, Soslow JH et al. · Lancet (London, England) · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The Effect of Different Types of Adhesive Systems on Marginal Integrity of Class II Resin Composite Restoration.
This in vitro dental study compared marginal integrity of Class II resin composite restorations using cervical margin relocation (CMR) or deep margin elevation (DME) with a universal adhesive in etch-and-rinse versus self-etch modes, versus gold-standard systems, after 6 months of water aging. Using standardized Class II cavities in 32 human maxillary premolars, specimens were assigned to OptiBond FL (OFL), Clearfil SE Bond (CSE), Single Bond Universal etch-and-rinse (UER), or Single Bond Universal self-etch (USE), and then stored in 37°C distilled water for 6 months. The results are intended to inform clinical selection of adhesive systems and bonding modes to improve restoration marginal integrity under CMR/DME approaches.
Phuntusuntorn P, Engkatanachai K, Singhatanadgit W et al. · The journal of adhesive dentistry · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Understanding the cardiology training landscape in Asia-Pacific region.
This cross-sectional survey mapped cardiology training and credentialing pathways across the Asia-Pacific by administering a 42-item online questionnaire to credentialed cardiologists representing 23 regions. It found that all regions required specialist qualification to practise cardiology, with 69.6% reporting a single training pathway and additional variation in other regions. The results provide an evidence base for harmonizing cardiology curricula development and addressing training disparities across the region.
Cader FA, Lee WYS, Widodo WA et al. · Postgraduate medical journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Placental Histopathology and Transplacental Transfer of RSV-specific Neutralizing Antibodies The Silver Study.
This prospective observational cross-sectional study evaluated whether placental histopathology influences transplacental transfer of natural respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-specific neutralizing antibodies in pregnant women delivering extremely preterm (24–32 weeks), moderately preterm (33–36 weeks), or term infants (37–42 weeks). Cord-to-maternal ratios (CMRs) for RSV-A and RSV-B neutralizing antibodies were analyzed in relation to placental histological characteristics. The findings are clinically relevant because they may identify placental features that predict reduced passive RSV antibody transfer and thereby inform risk stratification and early-life prevention strategies for preterm infants.
Phijffer EWEM, Willemsen J, Wildenbeest JG et al. · The Pediatric infectious disease journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Updates on Imaging Modalities for the Diagnosis of Aortic Stenosis.
This review article assessed current and emerging imaging modalities for diagnosing and risk-stratifying aortic stenosis (AS), focusing on limitations of standard transthoracic echocardiography in low-flow/low-gradient disease. It reports that advanced echocardiographic approaches (including 3D imaging, stress echocardiography, and Doppler-derived indices such as mean gradient-to-effective orifice area ratio) and computed tomography can improve assessment of AS severity when flow-dependent parameters are inconsistent. The review is significant for clinical decision-making because it supports more accurate grading and management selection in challenging AS phenotypes.
Itani H, Moumneh MB, Zayed A et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
PULSE: A Unified Multi-Task Architecture for Cardiac Segmentation, Diagnosis, and Few-Shot Cross-Modality Clinical Adaptation.
This paper introduced PULSE, a unified multi-task architecture for cardiac segmentation, cardiomyopathy diagnosis, and structured clinical reporting using a single framework rather than separate models. PULSE performs ventricular segmentation with a DINOv2 Vision Transformer (ViT-B/14) backbone and Dense Prediction Transformer (DPT) decoder, cardiomyopathy diagnosis from a 23-dimensional clinical biomarker vector via a Random Forest classifier, and generates template-based reports populated with measured indices. The approach is clinically relevant because it streamlines deployment by combining imaging segmentation, diagnosis, and standardized reporting into one system with few-shot cross-modality adaptation.
Ghouse H, Alsharqi M, Nezami F et al. · IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 bottom-to-up 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 findings were feasibility and iterative technical refinements (port set-up and BSU positioning) after early cases, with a median operative time of 296 minutes and no intraoperative outcomes reported in the truncated abstract. The study is significant as an early standardization step for robotic CME technique and lymphadenectomy execution in clinical practice.
Pedrazzani C, De Giulio E, Turri G et al. · Updates in surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Piperidine-derived resensitizers revive aminoglycoside capacity against persister cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo.
This in vivo study investigated whether the piperidine-derived antibiotic-resensitizer C10 can restore aminoglycoside activity against persister cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. C10 was shown to function as an antibiotic-resensitizing agent by partially reactivating persister-cell transcription and metabolism (including increased ribosomal RNA promoter B-driven activity and chemical uptake in persister-state E. coli), supporting improved aminoglycoside effectiveness in vivo. The work is significant because it provides mechanistic and translational evidence that resensitizers like C10 may overcome persister-mediated antibiotic tolerance during real infections.
Kim Y, Kim M, Lee H et al. · Drug resistance updates : reviews and commentaries in antimicrobial and anticancer chemotherapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Network-oriented neurorehabilitation after stroke: a paradigmatic approach.
This opinion paper studied the conceptual framework for network-oriented neurorehabilitation after stroke in the context of how recovery emerges from distributed brain network reorganization. It argues that rehabilitation should move beyond targeting isolated impairments toward specifying and documenting therapeutic processes and mechanisms that can be replicated and compared across studies. The significance lies in guiding future clinical trial design and intervention reporting to better align therapy evaluation with the brain’s dynamic network biology.
Conti FM, Gassert R, Doganci N et al. · Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
[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 Chinese case series evaluated brentuximab vedotin (BV) combined with the IGE regimen (ifosfamide and gemcitabine) in 23 children with relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma treated at a single center between June 2022 and August 2025. The key finding was the reported efficacy and safety outcomes of BV+IGE across 1–4 chemotherapy cycles with follow-up through December 31, 2025. The study is clinically relevant for pediatric relapsed/refractory cHL because it provides real-world evidence for a BV-based combination strategy.
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 preclinical study tested whether formoterol fumarate (FF), a long-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist, attenuates atherosclerosis and cardiometabolic dysfunction in apolipoprotein E–deficient (ApoE KO) mice. ApoE KO mice treated with FF (0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks) showed improvements in metabolic and vascular injury readouts, including reduced atherosclerotic burden assessed by en face Oil Red O staining and improved organ damage biomarkers. The findings are significant because they support a potential anti-atherosclerotic, multi-organ cardiometabolic protective role for FF beyond bronchodilation.
Juvenal H, Gu W, Zhao Z et al. · Vascular pharmacology · (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 cohort study investigated longitudinal changes in cardiac function, ventricular volumes, and myocardial fibrosis assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac MRI (CMR) in female Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy carriers (MDC) versus non-carrier females. Across three annual CMR visits, it found measurable progression patterns in MDC compared with non-carriers, indicating that heterozygous dystrophin mutation carriers can develop cardiomyopathic remodeling and fibrosis over time. Clinically, these findings improve understanding of the natural history of MDC and support CMR-based surveillance strategies for early detection of adverse cardiac remodeling.
Ledingham L, Conroy S, Kanwar K et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Generated automatically on August 22, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published August 15, 2026 – August 22, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.