What's New in Cardiac MRI? — August 24, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 52 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
August 24, 2026 · 52 articles · 15 research themes · covering August 17, 2026 – August 24, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s PubMed highlights, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) continues to expand from a diagnostic tool into a standardized, AI-enabled platform for risk stratification. Multiple studies focus on making CMR more practical and reproducible—through improved acquisition/triggering (camera-based seismocardiography, motion-robust 4D cine), standardized postprocessing for complex flow imaging (4D flow in congenital heart disease), and quantitative mapping reference values (including feasibility at 5.0T). In parallel, deep learning approaches are increasingly used to reduce operator dependence and accelerate interpretation, including DL-based strain for myocarditis diagnosis and AI architectures for segmentation and structured reporting.
A second dominant theme is inflammation-driven cardiac disease, especially myocarditis and immune-mediated phenotypes. Several myocarditis-focused papers use CMR tissue markers (mapping, LGE, and Lake Louise–based approaches) to predict prognosis, identify recurrence risk, and track evolution over time (e.g., MIS-C longitudinal CMR). Beyond myocarditis, case reports and reviews emphasize that immune triggers—such as dupilumab-associated eosinophilia, immune checkpoint inhibitor cardiotoxicity, mpox-associated myocarditis, and eosinophilic or giant cell myocarditis—can produce severe, sometimes reversible, cardiac involvement. Together, these studies reinforce an emerging clinical message: early recognition using multimodality imaging and aggressive, mechanism-aligned immunotherapy can be pivotal.
Finally, imaging is increasingly used to connect cardiac findings to broader outcomes and to guide intervention strategies. Examples include CMR/CT-derived biomarkers of coronary inflammation (perivascular fat attenuation), contrast-free scar detection (virtual native enhancement), and stress perfusion CMR as a “gatekeeper” for high-risk coronary disease. Structural and electrophysiology papers also show how imaging and ECG pattern recognition can refine localization and management (e.g., LV summit VT ablation guidance, arrhythmogenic risk in mitral valve prolapse). Complementing these clinical advances, a few non-imaging studies (e.g., a phase 3 cell therapy trial in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and a stroke-rehabilitation network framework) broaden the translational landscape toward mechanism-based, reproducible care.
Pediatric & Adolescent Oncology (Cardiotoxic/Immunotherapy Context)
[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 studied brentuximab vedotin (BV) combined with the ifosfamide–gemcitabine (IGE) regimen in 23 children with relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma treated at Beijing Children’s Hospital between June 2022 and August 2025. The abstract indicates all 23 patients received 1–4 cycles of BV plus IGE with follow-up through December 31, 2025, but the provided text is truncated before reporting efficacy and safety outcomes. If confirmed in the full report, this regimen could offer a clinically relevant treatment strategy for pediatric relapsed/refractory cHL by integrating an anti-CD30 antibody–drug conjugate with chemotherapy.
Zhang M, Li N, Huang S et al. · Zhonghua er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of pediatrics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI (CMR) Acquisition, Triggering, and Motion Robustness
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) with ECG synchronization. The key finding was that retrospectively gated slice-to-volume reconstruction from 2D RT spiral bSSFP data across four orientations produced 4D cine robust to irregular breathing, bulk motion, and cardiac arrhythmia without requiring patient cooperation. This is significant for more reliable cardiac functional assessment in real-world patients who cannot maintain breath-holds or have motion/arrhythmia.
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 for cardiac triggering in magnetic resonance imaging, aiming to overcome ECG triggering problems caused by magneto-hydro-dynamic effects and gradient switching. The key finding was that camera-seismocardiography can provide MR-compatible cardiac timing for image acquisition, addressing ECG waveform distortion while avoiding the physiological delay limitations of camera-PPG triggering. The significance is improved motion-artifact control and potentially higher-quality CMR without reliance on ECG waveforms.
Zhu Y, Lai H, Mo H et al. · IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CMR Quantitative Tissue Characterization (Mapping, Fibrosis/Edema)
Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Fibrosis and Edema in Atrial Fibrillation Using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.
This JoVE protocol describes how to assess left ventricular myocardial fibrosis and edema in atrial fibrillation using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) quantitative mapping techniques. The approach uses T1 mapping, T2 mapping, and extracellular volume (ECV) fraction to quantify tissue remodeling consistent with fibrosis and edema. Standardizing these CMR biomarkers can improve mechanistic phenotyping and potentially guide prognosis or therapy selection in AF.
Wang Y, Zhou J, Zhu Y · Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocardial T1 and T2 Mapping at 5.0T: Feasibility and Comparison with 3.0-T MRI.
This prospective feasibility study established reference values for myocardial T1 and T2 mapping at 5.0T and compared mapping performance with 3.0T in 50 healthy volunteers using MOLLI for T1 and T2-prepared gradient-echo (T2-prep-GRE) and a simultaneous multi-parametric mapping approach. The key finding was that myocardial T1/T2 mapping at 5.0T was feasible and produced measurable reference values that could be compared with established 3.0T benchmarks. Clinically, 5.0T mapping reference ranges enable quantitative CMR tissue characterization at higher field strength for future 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 ↗
Deep Learning & AI for Cardiac Imaging Analysis
High frequency edge network for accurate cardiac structure segmentation.
This iScience study developed the High Frequency Edge Network (HF-EdgeNet) for accurate cardiac structure segmentation in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The key finding was that high-frequency anatomical boundary cues can be injected via a High Frequency Edge Transformer, with adaptive compensation for down-sampling degradation, improving segmentation performance. Scientifically, it advances MRI segmentation models by explicitly leveraging high-frequency edge information to better delineate cardiac structures.
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 dual-network MRI tumor subregion segmentation model (HVASS) for regions with ambiguous boundaries and heterogeneous tissue under extremely low labeling rates. The key finding was that HVASS uses dual-network collaborative learning with prediction inconsistency to automatically identify high-confidence ambiguity zones and low-confidence stable regions for improved boundary segmentation in heart and glioma MRI. Scientifically, it provides a region-guided strategy to increase segmentation reliability 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 segmentation, cardiomyopathy diagnosis, and structured clinical reporting with few-shot cross-modality adaptation. The key finding was that PULSE jointly performs ventricular segmentation using a DINOv2 Vision Transformer (ViT-B/14) with a Dense Prediction Transformer decoder, cardiomyopathy diagnosis using a 23-dimensional clinical biomarker vector with a Random Forest classifier, and template-based report generation populated from measured indices. Clinically, this integrated approach can streamline deployment by reducing the need for separate models and enabling adaptation across imaging modalities with limited labeled data.
Ghouse H, Alsharqi M, Nezami F et al. · IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR Postprocessing Standards (4D Flow, Segmentation Pipelines)
4D flow cardiac magnetic resonance postprocessing in congenital heart disease: SCMR FLIICR workgroup recommendations.
This guideline/recommendations document studied best practices for 4D flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) postprocessing in congenital heart disease, produced by the SCMR FLIICR workgroup. It addresses the need for standardized, comprehensive hemodynamic postprocessing despite the technical demands of 4D flow analysis in CHD. The clinical significance is improved consistency and quality of flow quantification across centers, supporting safer longitudinal management of adults with congenital heart disease.
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 ↗
Cardiac Imaging for Myocarditis (Diagnosis, Prognosis, Recurrence)
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. It found associations between quantitative CMR tissue markers (mapping-derived parameters) and laboratory/clinical indicators of acute disease severity. The significance is that CMR mapping may help risk-stratify patients at bedside during hospitalization for acute myocarditis.
Kaya K, Janssen JP, Pennig L et al. · European journal of radiology · (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 evaluated deep learning-derived left ventricular circumferential strain (DL-LVCS) for acute myocarditis diagnosis in patients with preserved ejection fraction (LVEF ≥55%) and compared it with conventional feature tracking-derived strain (FT-LVCS). DL-LVCS reduced operator dependency and analysis time while maintaining diagnostic performance across 142 acute myocarditis patients (106 with preserved EF) and 106 matched healthy controls. The clinical significance is that DL-LVCS could streamline CMR analysis and improve practical diagnosis of acute myocarditis when ejection fraction is preserved.
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 investigated whether late gadolinium-enhanced cardiac MRI (including LGE) and C-reactive protein (CRP) predict clinical prognosis in acute myocarditis. It assessed myocardial injury using CMR cine, mapping (native T1, T2, and post-T1), and LGE in 41 fulminant myocarditis patients (17 without mechanical circulatory support and 24 with MCS) and 35 non-fulminant patients, linking these tissue parameters and CRP to adverse outcomes. The significance is that combining CMR injury markers with CRP may improve risk stratification and prognostication in acute myocarditis.
Shi X, Wang Y, Zhang Z et al. · Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CMR Myocardial Changes in MIS-C: Admission Clinical Features and Longitudinal Findings.
This longitudinal CMR study evaluated children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) diagnosed from 2020–2021 who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance, linking MIS-C biomarkers and inpatient echocardiographic findings to CMR outcomes of myocarditis and myocardial delayed enhancement (MDE) using modified Lake Louise criteria. The study characterized admission clinical features and the evolution of CMR findings over time, identifying associations between early inflammatory markers/echo features and later myocarditis or MDE. These results help define which MIS-C patients are most likely to develop persistent myocardial injury detectable by CMR and guide follow-up strategies.
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 assessed imaging findings and predictors of recurrence. The key finding was identification of CMR imaging features associated with recurrence versus full recovery in this pediatric cohort. Scientifically and clinically, defining predictors of recurrent myocarditis can improve risk stratification and follow-up planning for children after an initial myocarditis episode.
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 who presented with unilateral neck pain and dysphagia with severe systemic inflammation rather than classic chest pain or dyspnea, ultimately developing reversible cardiogenic shock from acute myocarditis. Despite atypical presentation, elevated cardiac biomarkers and severe left ventricular dysfunction were present, and the case emphasizes that cardiac MRI was used to support the diagnosis. The report is significant because it broadens clinical awareness of myocarditis presentations and supports early CMR evaluation when systemic inflammation and shock occur without typical cardiac symptoms.
Fayyaz A, Khan SW, Azam M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Inflammatory/Immune-Mediated Cardiac Disease (Beyond Myocarditis)
Inflammatory Hot Phases in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy: A Dynamic Electrophysiologic Substrate Beyond Scar.
This JACC Advances review synthesized evidence that arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) can include episodic inflammatory “hot phases” beyond the classic fibrofatty scar paradigm. It highlights proposed mechanisms such as desmosomal instability, inflammasome activation, cytokine signaling, and humoral immune responses (including anti–desmoglein-2), and discusses how CMR tissue characterization can capture these dynamic inflammatory states. Recognizing inflammatory substrate dynamics may improve risk prediction and timing of interventions in selected ACM patients.
Zarghami M, Maleki ND, Naddaf S et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Giant cell myocarditis: from immune pathogenesis to contemporary management.
This review studied the immune pathogenesis and contemporary management of giant cell myocarditis (GCM), a predominantly T cell-mediated autoimmune disease affecting middle-aged adults. It found that without immunosuppression, median transplant-free survival is about three months, and that immune tolerance breakdown with macrophage-derived multinucleated giant cells and neutrophil extracellular trap formation drives disease. Clinically, it emphasizes early immunosuppressive therapy and highlights potential trigger roles for viral and environmental factors.
Vosko I, Wallner M · Heart failure reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Lyme Myopericarditis With Effusive-Constrictive Physiology: Serial CMR Identifies a Reversible Inflammatory Phenotype.
This case report studied a 45-year-old man with Lyme disease presenting with Lyme myopericarditis and effusive-constrictive physiology, using serial cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to distinguish inflammatory from fixed constriction. Serial CMR identified a reversible inflammatory phenotype, implying that the constrictive physiology was at least partly inflammation-driven rather than permanently fibrotic. This matters because identifying reversibility can shift management toward anti-inflammatory/anti-infective strategies instead of irreversible constriction pathways.
Alhirtani N, Bigham G, Fabrizio C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Chest Pain With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: Harnessing the Power of Multimodality Imaging.
This case report studied a 53-year-old woman with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer receiving pembrolizumab who developed chest pain due to suspected cardiovascular immune-related toxicity, using serial chest CT and transthoracic echocardiography as multimodality imaging. Progressive pericardial thickening on serial CT supported immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated pericarditis/pericardial involvement despite initially negative troponin and prior misattribution to other causes. The clinical significance is that early multimodality imaging can improve recognition and management of rare but serious ICI-related cardiovascular adverse events.
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/eosinophilic myocarditis in a 64-year-old man who developed marked hypereosinophilia and cardiac involvement 3 months after starting dupilumab (an IL-4Rα antagonist) for type 2 inflammatory disease. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance showed left ventricular dysfunction and endomyocardial biopsy confirmed eosinophilic myocarditis, with rapid improvement after high-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. The report is clinically significant because it highlights a rare but severe progression from dupilumab-associated eosinophilia to EGPA-spectrum cardiac disease, supporting early recognition and aggressive immunosuppression.
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 described a 46-year-old woman with restrictive cardiomyopathy due to Löffler endocarditis, an idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome, using cardiac MRI to characterize myocardial and endocardial involvement. Cardiac MRI showed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy features, right ventricular hypertrophy, and a restrictive filling pattern that raised suspicion for Löffler endocarditis, with persistent symptoms despite initial corticosteroid and diuretic therapy. The report highlights diagnostic imaging challenges and the potential need for careful management beyond initial corticosteroids in eosinophilic restrictive cardiomyopathy.
Diz Ferre JL, Soltesz EG, Fava A · Case reports in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Acute Myocarditis as an Immune-Mediated Complication of Mpox Infection.
This JACC Case Reports report described a 32-year-old man with well-controlled HIV who developed acute myocarditis after mpox infection confirmed by PCR, with coronary and embolic causes excluded. Cardiac MRI showed lateral-wall edema on T2-weighted imaging and nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement meeting the updated Lake Louise Criteria, and the patient recovered fully with supportive care. The case underscores mpox as a potential trigger for immune-mediated myocarditis and supports CMR-based diagnosis when chest pain and biomarker elevation occur after infection.
Khoury F, Kim JHJ, Baghdasaryan E et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular Risk Stratification Using Imaging Biomarkers
Normative values for quantitative MRI biomarkers of the liver in collegiate athletes.
This retrospective single-center study established liver-specific quantitative MRI normative values (PDFF, R2*-based liver iron concentration [LIC], and T1/T2 relaxation times) in collegiate athletes undergoing return-to-play cardiac MRI after COVID-19 recovery using 1.5T/3.0T chemical shift–encoded MRI and partial-coverage cardiac mapping. Whole-liver PDFF and R2* (for LIC) and cardiac-mapping–derived T1/T2 provided athlete-specific reference ranges for liver fat, iron, and relaxation biomarkers. These normative data enable more accurate interpretation of quantitative liver MRI biomarkers in athletes and may improve detection of abnormal liver health in this population.
Anagnostopoulos A, Heidenreich JF, Roshanshad A et al. · Magnetic resonance imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Coronary CT angiography-derived perivascular fat attenuation index as a potential marker for heart failure in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
In a retrospective study of 75 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and 75 matched controls, coronary CT angiography (CCTA) was used to derive the perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) around the proximal RCA, LAD, and LCX and test its association with heart failure. Higher perivascular FAI, reflecting coronary inflammation, was associated with heart failure in HCM. This suggests CCTA-derived perivascular FAI could serve as a noninvasive imaging biomarker of inflammatory burden relevant to HF risk in HCM.
Peng L, Feng Y, Yuan J et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 MRI using virtual native enhancement (VNE) for myocardial scar detection in patients from two CMR sites (Leeds and Fuwai), with scar presence determined independently by each site using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) as the ground truth. VNE demonstrated diagnostic performance for identifying myocardial scar in real-world clinical settings in a blinded, multicenter design. If validated, contrast-free VNE could enable routine scar assessment without gadolinium, improving feasibility and potentially reducing contrast-related risks in clinical CMR workflows.
Zhang Q, Zhou D, Thompson P et al. · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · (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 assessed whether vasodilator stress perfusion CMR could rule out left main (LM) and high-risk multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD) and predict major cardiovascular adverse events in 4,144 consecutive patients from the 13-center SPINS (Stress CMR Perfusion Imaging in the United States Study). Stress perfusion CMR provided prognostic information for adverse outcomes in this high-risk population and supported its use for identifying patients with LM/MVD risk. Clinically, the findings strengthen the role of stress perfusion CMR as a noninvasive gatekeeper for revascularization decision-making and risk stratification in suspected LM/MVD.
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 compared coronary plaque burden and plaque signal intensity measured by non-contrast T1-weighted cardiovascular MR using the iT2prep-BOOST sequence against plaque burden and attenuation characterization from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in patients undergoing both imaging tests. The key finding was the degree of agreement (or discrepancy) between iT2prep-BOOST–derived quantitative plaque metrics and CCTA-derived plaque measures. If iT2prep-BOOST correlates robustly with CCTA, it could provide a radiation- and contrast-sparing MR alternative for assessing coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden and high-risk 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 ↗
COVID-19 outcomes and persistent symptoms in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: association with pre-existing cardiovascular magnetic resonance phenotype.
This registry-based study evaluated whether pre-existing cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) phenotypes in 1704 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) participants are associated with COVID-19 outcomes and recovery, using patient-reported questionnaires and multivariable logistic regression. Among 767 participants with reported COVID-19 infection (mean age 49±11 years), the key finding is that baseline CMR features were analyzed for associations with hospitalization and impaired recovery (≥3 months), but the provided abstract text is truncated before stating which CMR phenotypes were significant. Clinically, identifying CMR markers linked to worse post-COVID recovery could improve risk stratification and follow-up planning for HCM patients after infection.
Singhal A, Appleby E, Agnel O et al. · Heart (British Cardiac Society) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Congenital Heart Disease Imaging & Outcomes
Apical Right Ventricular Sequestration with Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation: Multimodal Imaging Evaluation in an Adolescent.
This case report studied a 14-year-old female with palpitations, failure to thrive, and recurrent respiratory infections, using multimodal cardiac imaging to evaluate complex congenital anatomy. Imaging identified apical right ventricular sequestration as a nonobstructive variant of double-chamber right ventricle with severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation and biventricular dysfunction. The multimodal characterization is significant for accurate diagnosis and risk stratification in adolescents with rare right ventricular variants.
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 analyzed how 3D anatomical variability of the superior cavopulmonary connection after the Bidirectional Glenn procedure relates to outcomes in 29 congenital single-ventricle patients using statistical shape modeling (SSM) on cardiovascular magnetic resonance images. The key finding was that morphological variability captured by SSM was associated with clinical outcomes, extending beyond the known impact of left pulmonary artery stenosis. The significance is that SSM-derived shape phenotypes may enable more individualized risk stratification and follow-up planning after SCPC/Bidirectional Glenn.
Arrese-Zubizarreta M, Rodriguez-Florez N, Sivera R et al. · PLOS digital health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Arrhythmias & Electrophysiology (Imaging/ECG Guidance)
Left Ventricular Summit Ventricular Tachycardia Identified by Electrocardiographic Pattern Recognition and Managed With Radiofrequency Ablation.
This case report studied a 66-year-old man with left ventricular summit ventricular tachycardia (LVSVT) diagnosed using 12-lead ECG pattern recognition. The characteristic ECG features enabled successful management with radiofrequency ablation of the epicardial LV summit focus. This supports ECG-guided localization as a practical strategy to improve ablation targeting and outcomes in LVSVT.
Moreira MG, Hardy CA, Costa LMAD et al. · The American journal of case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Ischemic Heart Disease & Coronary Pathophysiology (Imaging-Based)
Myocardial Calcification After Severe Sepsis: 3-Patient Case Series, Multimodality Imaging, and Review of the Literature.
This 3-patient case series and literature review describes myocardial calcification after severe sepsis in three men following septic shock or prolonged ICU admission. In each case, cardiac CT characterized calcium distribution and cardiac MRI showed nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement in corresponding segments. The report underscores complementary roles of CT and CMR for diagnosing and understanding heterogeneous long-term cardiac consequences of postseptic myocardial calcification.
Ruiz-López A, Salido Iniesta M, Gómez Revelles S 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 report studied a 33-year-old woman with septic shock from disseminated Streptococcus pneumoniae, using serial computed tomography to characterize myocardial injury sequelae. Four weeks after the initial episode, repeat CT showed new extensive left ventricular and papillary muscle calcifications consistent with sepsis-related myocardial calcification. Clinically, this highlights a rare but potentially persistent structural complication of severe sepsis that may explain ongoing cardiac impairment.
El-Hamad A, Sene PM, El Mehdi El Yamani M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
BMIPP Imaging in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Exercise-Induced Vasospastic Angina With Ventricular Fibrillation.
This case report studied a 51-year-old man with exercise-induced vasospastic angina leading to ventricular fibrillation and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, using BMIPP (iodine-123 β-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid) SPECT to detect ischemic “memory.” Despite coronary angiography showing no significant stenosis after return of spontaneous circulation, BMIPP imaging supported myocardial ischemia consistent with vasospastic angina. Noninvasive BMIPP SPECT can help identify ischemia when invasive spasm provocation testing is uncertain.
Aikawa H, Murai K, Seiki S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Intramyocardial Dissecting Hematoma After Myocardial Infarction Diagnosed by Multimodality Imaging.
This case report studied a 47-year-old man with post–myocardial infarction cardiogenic shock and severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction initially misdiagnosed as LV thrombus. Multimodality imaging—especially cardiac magnetic resonance—identified an extensive anterior transmural infarction with a dissecting intramyocardial cavity consistent with intramyocardial dissection, despite anticoagulation. The finding is important scientifically and clinically because intramyocardial dissection can mimic LV thrombus and may require different management than anticoagulation alone.
Borg BC, Josephs C, Ghincea C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
PFO-Mediated Paradoxical Coronary Embolism Causing Myocardial Infarction: Concordant Imaging Findings.
This case report studied a 36-year-old man with myocardial infarction caused by paradoxical coronary embolism mediated by a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Coronary angiography showed distal thrombotic occlusion without atherosclerosis, cardiac MRI demonstrated infarction with edema confined to the corresponding vascular territory, and echocardiography confirmed a PFO with right-to-left shunting. The significance is that concordant multimodality imaging can support causality in rare PFO-mediated coronary embolism, guiding appropriate evaluation for venous thromboembolic sources and management.
Shrestha A, Wong C, Theuerle J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (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 report described a 56-year-old man with a giant thrombosed coronary aneurysm causing recurrent ischemic events after an initial non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, using multimodality imaging to guide management. Cardiac MRI showed preserved left ventricular ejection fraction with inferior wall akinesia and transmural involvement, and surgical management was pursued after failed percutaneous revascularization due to complex aneurysmal anatomy. The case highlights how CMR and other imaging modalities can characterize myocardial injury and inform treatment decisions in rare coronary aneurysm disease.
di Mario R, Esposito A, Bernardi M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Tumors & Masses (Imaging Diagnosis/Management)
Shortness of Breath Due to a Large Spontaneous Left Atrial Intramural Hematoma.
This case report studied a 58-year-old man with acute severe shortness of breath after recent marathon and 10-mile running, using echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate a left atrial mass. Cardiac MRI showed intermediate T1 signal, slightly elevated T2 signal, and no enhancement on first-pass or late gadolinium enhancement, supporting a diagnosis of spontaneous left atrial intramural hematoma confirmed at surgery. Recognizing the imaging pattern of LA intramural hematoma can guide appropriate surgical management and avoid misdiagnosis of atrial tumors or thrombi.
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 studied a 13-year-old boy who developed a post-traumatic left ventricular septal aneurysm after blunt chest trauma, using echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement. The aneurysm was managed conservatively with enalapril, propranolol, and aspirin, and the patient remained clinically stable with preserved systolic function despite near-transmural late gadolinium enhancement. The report suggests that selected pediatric traumatic septal aneurysms without ventricular septal defect and with preserved function may be treated non-surgically.
Jocson C, Argrave M, Nasworthy M · 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 a 40-year-old man who developed atrial fibrillation after blunt chest trauma, using transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and PET-CT to evaluate a right atrial mass. Imaging showed a nonmetastatic 76×76 mm tumor obstructing inflow and encasing the right coronary artery, and radical resection confirmed a cardiac hemangioendothelioma with reconstruction using a bovine pericardial patch and saphenous vein interposition graft. The case is clinically important because trauma-associated atrial fibrillation can be the first sign of rare cardiac vascular tumors requiring 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 report and systematic review studied a 13-year-old male with a cardiac spindle cell lipoma, using transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to define tumor extent. CMR showed a large lobulated mass arising from the left coronary cusp of the aortic valve with extension into the left ventricular outflow tract, associated with severe aortic regurgitation and moderate aortic stenosis, and the patient underwent surgical management. The report emphasizes that rare benign adipocytic tumors can present as valvular disease in adolescents and may require surgery when diagnosis is uncertain.
Soh SL, Wee IJY, Murray Binti Jeffery Murray RL et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Valvular Heart Disease & Structural Cardiology
Arrhythmogenic Mitral Valve Prolapse: Looking Beyond Mitral Regurgitation.
This JACC Case Reports report describes a 70-year-old woman with Barlow disease and arrhythmogenic mitral valve prolapse (MVP) who had bileaflet prolapse, moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation, mitral annular disjunction, and left-sided remodeling. Despite being asymptomatic initially, she developed frequent polymorphic premature ventricular complexes and then out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation with cardiac arrest, with CMR used as part of the arrhythmogenic evaluation. The case emphasizes that arrhythmogenic risk in MVP may extend beyond mitral regurgitation severity and warrants multimodality assessment.
Ribeyrolles S, Zannis K, Berrebi A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Updates on Imaging Modalities for the Diagnosis of Aortic Stenosis.
This review studied imaging modalities for diagnosing aortic stenosis (AS), focusing on how different echocardiographic and CT approaches address limitations of flow-dependent grading. It found that transthoracic echocardiography can be inconsistent in low-flow, low-gradient, or normal-flow, low-gradient AS, while advanced echocardiographic methods (e.g., 3D imaging, stress echo, and Doppler indices such as mean gradient-to-effective orifice area ratio) and computed tomography improve severity assessment and risk stratification. The significance is improved diagnostic accuracy for guiding management decisions in elderly patients with degenerative AS.
Itani H, Moumneh MB, Zayed A et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardio-Neuro & Systemic Cross-Organ Associations
Left Ventricular Myocardial Strain Impairment Correlates With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden In Patients With Normal Ejection Fraction.
In 139 participants with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, this cross-sectional study used concurrent cardiac MRI and brain MRI to test whether left ventricular myocardial strain impairment correlates with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) burden. Greater impairment in LV myocardial strain was associated with higher CSVD burden on neuroimaging. This links subclinical LV dysfunction to cerebral microvascular injury markers, supporting integrated cardio-neuro MRI risk stratification even when ejection fraction is normal.
Wang W, Zhang X, Liang M et al. · Brain research bulletin · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Placental Histopathology and Transplacental Transfer of RSV-specific Neutralizing Antibodies The Silver Study.
This prospective observational cross-sectional study (The Silver Study) examined whether placental histopathology affects transplacental transfer of RSV-specific neutralizing antibodies in pregnancies delivering extremely preterm (24–32 weeks), moderately preterm (33–36 weeks), and term infants (37–42 weeks). The key finding was that placental histological characteristics were associated with cord-maternal ratios of neutralizing RSV-A and RSV-B antibodies, indicating variable antibody transfer efficiency by placental features. This is clinically significant because it helps explain differences in early-life RSV protection and may guide risk stratification for preterm infants.
Phijffer EWEM, Willemsen J, Wildenbeest JG et al. · The Pediatric infectious disease journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical Trials, Guidelines, and Health Systems/Training
Deramiocel heart-derived cellular therapy in advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy (HOPE-3): a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
This phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated deramiocel, a heart-derived cellular therapy of human allogeneic cardiosphere-derived cells, in participants aged ≥10 years with advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Deramiocel infusion improved clinical outcomes compared with placebo while assessing safety in this advanced DMD population. If confirmed, deramiocel could represent a disease-modifying cell therapy strategy for advanced DMD affecting both cardiac and skeletal muscle function.
McDonald CM, Villa C, Soslow JH et al. · Lancet (London, England) · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Imaging-Guided Versus Conventional Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
This PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis compared imaging-guided versus conventional ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation strategies in adults with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) using studies identified from 2016 to May 2026. The pooled analyses evaluated whether advanced imaging–guided substrate characterization and lesion delivery reduce VT recurrence compared with conventional ablation. The findings clarify the incremental clinical value of imaging guidance for VT ablation in ICM and inform evidence-based adoption of imaging workflows.
Ahmed S, Sawalha K, Sharief M et al. · Journal of arrhythmia · (2026) · 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 study evaluated how different adhesive systems and application modes affect marginal integrity of Class II resin composite restorations after cervical margin relocation (CMR) or deep margin elevation (DME) and 6 months of water aging. Using 32 human maxillary premolars, it compared OptiBond FL (OFL), Clearfil SE Bond (CSE), and Single Bond Universal (UER in etch-and-rinse mode vs USE in self-etch mode) and assessed marginal integrity after storage in 37°C distilled water. The results inform which universal adhesive strategy best preserves restoration margins under clinically relevant aging conditions.
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 studied cardiology training and credentialing pathways across 23 Asia-Pacific regions using a 42-item online questionnaire of credentialed cardiologists. It found that all regions require specialist qualification to practise cardiology, with 69.6% reporting a single training pathway and smaller proportions reporting multiple pathways (21.7% and 8.7%). The results are significant for informing harmonized cardiology curriculum development and identifying regional gaps in training structures.
Cader FA, Lee WYS, Widodo WA et al. · Postgraduate medical journal · (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 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 at Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona. Key procedural refinements after case 3 optimized traction and exposure, with a median operative time of 296 minutes (range 233–410). Standardizing robotic CME right colectomy technique is clinically important to improve reproducibility and safety as new robotic platforms enter 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 study investigated the piperidine-derived antibiotic-resensitizer C10 and its ability to restore aminoglycoside activity against persister cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo (with mechanistic experiments in persister-state E. coli). C10 increased ribosomal RNA promoter B-driven transcriptional activity and chemical uptake in persister cells, indicating partial metabolic/transcriptional reactivation that revived aminoglycoside killing capacity. The work is significant because it provides in vivo evidence for a resensitization strategy targeting the persister state, a major cause of recurrent antimicrobial failure.
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 stroke recovery by reframing rehabilitation as a network-oriented neurorehabilitation paradigm rather than targeting isolated impairments. It argues that functional recovery depends on reorganization of distributed, interconnected neural systems and that current therapies often lack sufficient specification and documentation of mechanisms to enable replication. The significance lies in guiding future clinical trial design and mechanistic reporting toward network-based, more reproducible rehabilitation interventions.
Conti FM, Gassert R, Doganci N et al. · Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on August 24, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published August 17, 2026 – August 24, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.