What’s New in Cardiac MRI?

September 07, 2026 · 91 articles · 15 research themes · covering August 31, 2026 – September 07, 2026

Overview

This week’s cardiovascular literature is dominated by a clear push toward earlier, more precise risk stratification using advanced cardiac imaging—especially cardiac MRI. Across hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, amyloidosis, heart failure with mildly reduced EF, pulmonary arterial hypertension, Takotsubo syndrome, and post–myocardial infarction states, studies repeatedly show that “tissue-level” and “multi-chamber” metrics (strain, T1/T2 mapping, ECV, LGE, and edema/injury surrogates) can refine prognosis beyond conventional measures. Several papers also emphasize that combining complementary markers (e.g., LA strain with CMR fibrosis measures; LGE with T1/ECV; or multi-chamber strain sets) improves discrimination and may help clinicians decide who needs closer follow-up or escalation of therapy.

A second major theme is diagnostic reclassification—using multimodality imaging and structured interpretation frameworks to avoid common pitfalls. Examples include differentiating cardiac amyloidosis from HCM using LA strain, detecting subtle scar with blood-nulled LGE, and clarifying ischemic injury patterns when ECG localization fails. In parallel, multiple reports highlight how new imaging workflows can reduce reliance on invasive procedures (e.g., CMR for pediatric transplant rejection surveillance) or improve feasibility in challenging patients (free-breathing cine MRI for AF; CT-based feature tracking when CMR is unavailable).

Finally, the digest reflects the maturation of AI and image-processing pipelines from “promising” toward “workflow-ready,” with studies addressing segmentation accuracy, feature fusion, motion tracking, and the practical integration of imaging reports into clinical decision-making. While AI is still often positioned as an enrichment tool rather than a standalone diagnostic, the overall direction is consistent: better automation, better reproducibility, and better linkage between imaging outputs and clinical endpoints—ultimately enabling more personalized, imaging-guided cardiovascular care.

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Cardiac MRI & Imaging Biomarkers (Prognosis/Risk)

Prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance global T2 mapping in patients with Takotsubo syndrome.

This retrospective study evaluated whether cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) global myocardial T2 mapping within 30 days of admission predicts major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACE) in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Higher CMR-derived global T2 (with a time-dependent ROC–derived T2 threshold) was associated with subsequent MACE, supporting T2 as a prognostic marker of myocardial oedema severity. These findings suggest CMR T2 mapping could improve risk stratification and guide follow-up intensity in TTS beyond clinical presentation alone.

Kadoya Y, Lim J, Alaqaili M et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Moderate aortic stenosis: diagnostic pitfalls and the role of multimodality imaging in risk stratification and clinical management.

This 2026 review synthesized evidence on diagnostic pitfalls in moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and how multimodality imaging (including computed tomography aortic valve calcium scoring and advanced cardiac imaging/AI) can refine risk stratification and management. The key finding is that standard echocardiography can misclassify severity in moderate AS, while multimodality approaches better identify patients at higher risk even before progression to severe disease. Clinically, this supports integrating CT calcium scoring and other advanced imaging to tailor surveillance and treatment decisions for patients with moderate AS.

Santangelo G, Maloberti A, Tognola C et al. · Cardiovascular ultrasound · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Not So Innocent After All: Cardiomyopathy Induced by ‘Benign’ Premature Atrial Contractions.

This case report described a 36-year-old man with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction attributed to a high burden of monomorphic premature atrial contractions (PACs, 28%). Cardiac MRI excluded ischemic, infiltrative, and inflammatory cardiomyopathies, and electroanatomic mapping localized a single ectopic focus at the coronary sinus ostium that was successfully treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation. The report highlights that “benign” PACs can cause arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy and that targeted electrophysiology mapping and ablation may be curative.

Aygün AA, Soysal AU, Durmaz EŞ et al. · Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The changing therapeutic landscape of small-cell lung cancer.

This 2026 review examined the evolving therapeutic landscape of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), focusing on how advances in SCLC biology and identification of cell-surface proteins have enabled new targeted approaches. The key finding is that preclinical discoveries are increasingly translating into novel therapies with early evidence of efficacy, addressing the limitations of transient responses to chemotherapy and resistance to standard cytotoxics. Scientifically and clinically, it frames emerging biomarker- and target-driven strategies that may improve outcomes in this highly aggressive, heterogeneous cancer.

Ross JS, Hockemeyer KG, Redin E et al. · Lancet (London, England) · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Adult Post-operative Mental Health Outcomes Following Abdominal and Orthopedic Surgeries: A Scoping Review.

This Joanna Briggs Institute– and PRISMA-ScR–guided scoping review mapped evidence on adult post-operative mental health outcomes after abdominal and orthopedic surgeries. The key finding is that the literature base is broad but unevenly characterized, motivating clearer synthesis of how surgery affects mental health and which outcomes are most studied. This is significant for clinical care because it identifies gaps that can inform future trials and postoperative screening/intervention strategies.

Akwa GM, Tiemah NC, Chabeja A et al. · Cureus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Circulating Biomarkers Related to Mitral Valve Prolapse: Current Evidence and Mechanistic Perspective.

This review evaluated circulating biomarkers related to mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and their mechanistic links to myocardial stress, fibrosis/extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammation, and metabolic dysregulation. The key finding is that natriuretic peptides are the most validated circulating biomarkers in MVP, predicting adverse outcomes and potentially helping determine timing of interventions such as surgery. This supports incorporating biomarker data alongside imaging to personalize risk assessment and management in MVP.

Maries L, Songsangjinda T, Shah DJ · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Integration of Functional Mapping and Image-Guided Structural Information in Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation - Sense2 Mapping.

This prospective multicenter propensity-matched registry compared ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation using Sense2 mapping—integrating cardiac MRI/CT-derived ventricular scar information into functional mapping—against conventional strategies in 166 patients with post-infarct VT. The key finding is that incorporating imaging-guided structural scar data into the functional mapping workflow can improve procedural efficiency by targeting focused regions and potentially improving outcomes compared with standard ablation. Clinically, this supports a workflow that reduces protracted mapping time while maintaining effective VT substrate treatment.

Papageorgiou N, Bangash F, Ladopoulou D et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Circulating Biomarkers in Cardio-Oncology: Prediction and Prognostication.

This 2026 review summarized evidence for circulating biomarkers in cardio-oncology for prediction and prognostication of cancer therapy–related cardiovascular toxicity. The key finding is that cardiac troponins and natriuretic peptides are the most studied biomarkers, with troponins showing more consistent prognostic performance while natriuretic peptides vary, and that biomarker-guided treatment strategies have important limitations. This is significant because it clarifies which biomarkers are most actionable today and where evidence gaps remain for guiding therapy in patients receiving cancer treatments.

Kim J, Lee B, White A et al. · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Value of the Newly Designed Major and Minor Checklists in Diagnosis of Congenital Cardiovascular Disease and Associated Malformation: New Era of Fetal Cardiac MRI.

This study assessed the diagnostic utility of a newly designed major/minor checklist for interpreting fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (FCMRI) by correlating structured FCMRI interpretations with postnatal echocardiographic outcomes. The key finding is that the checklist-based structured interpretation framework improves reliability/consistency of FCMRI diagnosis in settings where fetal echocardiography may be limited (e.g., maternal obesity, uterine fibroids, oligohydramnios, malposition, or late-gestational acoustic shadowing). Scientifically and clinically, it supports standardizing FCMRI reporting to improve prenatal congenital heart disease detection and downstream planning.

Hassan HGEMA, Ragheb SR, Elyasaki AM et al. · Academic radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Prospective evaluation of real-world safety, symptoms improvement and adherence to mavacamten among Iranian patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (PERSIA-HOCM): protocol of a multicentre observational study.

This BMJ Open protocol describes a prospective multicentre observational study (PERSIA-HOCM) in Iranian patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) to evaluate real-world safety, symptom improvement, and adherence to mavacamten. The key finding is the study design itself: it will generate prospective effectiveness and tolerability data for mavacamten in a non-Western routine-care population where prospective evidence is limited. This is significant because it will inform clinicians about mavacamten’s real-world performance and monitoring needs in Iranian HOCM patients outside randomized trial settings.

Ghaseminejad-Raeini A, Karimi MA, Shirinezhad A et al. · BMJ open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Vasodilator stress perfusion CMR for outcome prediction in patients under 45 years with suspected CAD.

This multicenter prospective registry studied long-term prognostic value of vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for all-cause mortality in consecutive patients younger than 45 years with suspected coronary artery disease undergoing vasodilator stress CMR at three French centers. The key finding was that vasodilator stress CMR provided outcome prediction in this young, suspected-CAD population over long-term follow-up. Clinically, this supports using vasodilator stress perfusion CMR for risk stratification in patients <45 years where prognostic data have been lacking.

Vesvrotte ER, Garot J, Duhamel S et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance-based arrhythmogenic substrate assessment improves sudden cardiac death risk stratification in heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction: a multicenter retrospective observational study.

This multicenter retrospective observational study assessed cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) markers—late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T1 mapping—for sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk stratification in 1855 patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). Incorporating LGE and T1 mapping into CMR-based arrhythmogenic substrate assessment improved SCD risk stratification compared with existing approaches, using a development cohort (n=1417) and external validation cohort (n=438). Clinically, this provides a more accurate CMR-informed algorithm to identify HFmrEF patients at higher SCD risk for targeted prevention.

Wang W, Zhu R, Gao Y et al. · The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac volumes, function, and arterial stiffness five years after severe preeclampsia: A comparison with sedentary and active controls.

This study compared cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) measures of cardiac volumes, function, and arterial stiffness five years after severe preeclampsia in 10 women with severe preeclampsia versus 20 women with normotensive pregnancies (10 lifestyle-matched and 10 physically active). The abstract indicates an investigation into whether severe preeclampsia leads to persistent subclinical cardiovascular remodeling and whether physical activity modifies these outcomes. The findings are significant for long-term cardiovascular surveillance and for identifying whether lifestyle interventions after severe preeclampsia can mitigate later-life vascular and cardiac dysfunction.

Edvinsson C, Steding-Ehrenborg K, Venkateshvaran A et al. · Clinical physiology and functional imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Integrated left ventricular mass and left atrial function for prediction of cardiovascular outcomes: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

This cohort study evaluated whether a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived left ventricular (LV) mass–to–left atrial (LA) strain ratio predicts cardiovascular outcomes in participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. The key finding was that the LV mass/LA strain ratio, calculated from indexed end-diastolic LV mass and peak LA strain at CMR exams 1 (2000–2002) and 5 (2010–2012), identifies early atrioventricular mechanical uncoupling and predicts subsequent cardiovascular events. The clinical significance is that this integrated CMR biomarker may enable earlier risk stratification before overt structural disease.

Salameh E, Hoballah M, Ebrahimihoor E et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Left Ventricular Remodeling in Childhood Cancer Survivors Treated With Anthracyclines: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and left ventricular remodeling in childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines, using accelerometry and CMR. The key finding was that MVPA was analyzed as a predictor/ correlate of CMR-derived remodeling metrics including indexed end-diastolic LV mass (LVMi), LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDVi), mass:volume ratio, and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). The clinical significance is that identifying modifiable activity-related associations with anthracycline cardiotoxic remodeling could inform survivorship risk reduction strategies.

Narayan HK, Chen S, Wong FL et al. · Pediatric blood & cancer · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Feasibility of cardiac magnetic resonance for assessing atrioventricular block in acute myocarditis.

This retrospective single-center study evaluated the feasibility of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for assessing atrioventricular block (AVB) severity in acute myocarditis (AM) patients. The key finding was that CMR functional and tissue parameters differed between non-AVB, nonadvanced AVB, and advanced AVB groups, and the study defined adverse outcomes including death, heart failure decompensation readmission, and need for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronisation therapy. The clinical significance is that CMR may help stratify AVB severity and prognosis in acute myocarditis, potentially guiding monitoring and escalation of care.

Liao R, Qian Z, Yin F et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Enhanced risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy through the integration of extracellular volume fraction on cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

This cohort study assessed whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)–derived extracellular volume fraction (ECV), a marker of diffuse interstitial fibrosis, adds prognostic value beyond late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in 990 consecutive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. The key finding was that integrating global ECV with LGE improved risk stratification for HCM-related events (a composite of sudden cardiac death events, heart failure events, and HCM-related death) over a median 3.2-year follow-up. This is significant because it refines CMR-based prognostication in HCM, potentially improving identification of patients at higher risk for adverse outcomes.

Lee HJ, Gwak SY, Lee S et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Incremental prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance beyond biomarker staging in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

This retrospective multicentre study evaluated whether adding cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters to National Amyloidosis Centre (NAC) biomarker staging improves risk prediction in 266 transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) patients undergoing CMR (2007–2023). Cox regression showed that CMR variables provided incremental prognostic value beyond NAC stage for time to death and could help guide evaluation for advanced heart failure therapies and emerging disease-modifying treatments. Incorporating CMR into ATTR-CA staging may refine patient selection for escalation of care beyond serum biomarker–based risk stratification.

Chiou T, Minga I, Subashchandran V et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Long-term prognostic value of stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with hypertension without known coronary artery disease.

This longitudinal cohort study assessed whether vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has long-term prognostic value in consecutive patients with hypertension without known coronary artery disease (CAD) referred for stress CMR (follow-up to major adverse cardiovascular events). Using Cox regression, the study found that stress CMR findings were associated with subsequent major cardiovascular events, supporting CMR as a risk stratification tool in this population. The significance is that stress CMR screening may help identify hypertensive patients at higher risk for cardiovascular mortality and non-fatal MI even without known CAD.

Houssany-Pissot S, Garot J, Duhamel S et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Prognostic Value of Coronary Sinus Flow and Aortic Pressure Gradient Quantified by 4D Flow CMR in AMI.

This retrospective study evaluated prognostic associations of coronary sinus flow (CS Flow) and aortic valve pressure gradients measured by 4D flow CMR in 103 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients imaged before PCI. The key finding was that 4D flow CMR–derived CS Flow (normalized to left ventricular mass) and supra-/sub-aortic peak pressure gradients were predictive of a composite endpoint including all-cause death, unplanned revascularization, recurrent MI, heart failure rehospitalization, and stroke. This is clinically significant because it suggests that hemodynamic metrics from 4D flow CMR can refine risk prediction after AMI beyond conventional imaging.

Li Y, Wang S, Li G et al. · Academic radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Pathway for the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Disease: Contemporary Perspective.

This contemporary perspective article proposed an updated pathway-based framework for diagnosing and managing pericardial disease across key clinical scenarios (e.g., chest pain, hemodynamic collapse, dyspnea, and other presentations). It highlights that recent European Society of Cardiology and American College of Cardiology consensus guidance improves phenotyping with multimodal imaging and supports targeted immunomodulatory therapies, but real-world implementation varies. The clinical significance is a structured approach to align diagnostic testing and treatment decisions with the urgency and phenotype of pericardial disease.

Sivalokanathan S, Herzog E, Haider SW et al. · Critical pathways in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Pathophysiologic Consequences of Early Coarctation Stenting in a Longitudinal Porcine Model.

In a longitudinal porcine model of coarctation of the aorta (COA), investigators compared sham, COA controls, and COA with early stent implantation plus serial dilation to adult aortic diameters, with terminal assessment at 20 weeks. The study found that early COA stenting produced measurable longitudinal cardiovascular consequences compared with controls (details truncated in the abstract), indicating that early intervention alters downstream vascular and cardiovascular physiology over time. Scientifically, this provides preclinical evidence to inform the expected mid-to-long-term effects and potential tradeoffs of early stent-based COA treatment.

Gober LM, Stellon MA, Culver MA et al. · Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Left atrial reservoir strain for predicting progression to end-stage in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

This multicenter observational study evaluated whether left atrial reservoir strain predicts progression to end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in 925 HCM patients followed for a median of 6.5 years. Among 491 patients with baseline cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), the key finding was that left atrial reservoir strain provided prognostic information for progression to end-stage HCM (LVEF <50% without reversible causes). Clinically, this supports using left atrial functional metrics to identify patients at higher risk of deterioration earlier in the disease course.

Kwak S, Jeong MH, Park CS et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiac MRI & Imaging Biomarkers (Diagnosis/Differential)

AI-Powered Detection of Left Ventricular Myocardial Scar from Dual-Sequence CT: Global and Segmental Prediction Validated by CMR​.

This retrospective study developed an AI-powered dual-sequence computed tomography (CT) framework using coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) to detect myocardial scar, with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) as the reference standard. Using a deep learning nnU-Net model with automated segmentation and American Heart Association 17-segment rule-based subdivision, the approach enabled global and segmental scar prediction validated against CMR. Scientifically and clinically, it suggests a scalable CT-based alternative for myocardial scar detection when CMR access is limited.

Lu R, Yang T, Li M et al. · Journal of imaging informatics in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Psychosocial Stress-Induced Takotsubo Syndrome in a Male Patient: Breaking the Stereotype.

This case report described a 48-year-old man with psychosocial stress–triggered Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) complicated by dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and four apical left ventricular thrombi identified on cardiac magnetic resonance. The key finding was that despite a male sex and psychosocial trigger profile that is atypical for TTS, severe complications occurred and the patient recovered fully with β-blockade and anticoagulation. Scientifically and clinically, it broadens the recognized TTS phenotype and highlights the importance of CMR-based thrombus detection and prompt anticoagulation in complicated cases.

Beesley H, Soroa M, Lerakis S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

13N-ammonia positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in patients with ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries: focus on feature tracking and T1 mapping.

This study evaluated whether patients with ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) show subclinical myocardial changes using hybrid 13N-ammonia PET/MRI, comparing 44 prospectively enrolled INOCA patients with 22 matched healthy controls. INOCA patients demonstrated abnormalities on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (left ventricular wall motion) and altered myocardial T1 mapping consistent with early tissue-level dysfunction. These findings support 13N-ammonia PET/MRI with T1 mapping and CMR-FT as a sensitive approach for detecting early INOCA-related myocardial injury that may be missed by conventional imaging.

Wen R, Xie Q, Meng X et al. · Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

The value of CMR-derived left atrial strain parameters in differential diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

This retrospective study assessed whether CMR-derived left atrial (LA) strain parameters can differentiate cardiac amyloidosis (CA) from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using CVI42 tissue tracking in 37 HCM patients, 41 CA patients, and 29 normal controls. The key finding was that LA strain metrics derived from CMR tissue tracking provided diagnostic discrimination between CA and HCM despite overlapping LV hypertrophy phenotypes. Scientifically and clinically, LA strain quantification may improve noninvasive differential diagnosis of CA versus HCM and reduce reliance on more invasive or less accessible testing.

Jin Y, Shao X, Zhang Y et al. · Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Blood-nulled late gadolinium enhancement increases sensitivity for subtle basal myocardial scar in mitral valve prolapse with annular disjunction.

This case report described how blood-nulled late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR improved detection of subtle basal myocardial scar in a 67-year-old woman with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and mitral annular disjunction (MAD). The key finding was that blood-nulled LGE increased sensitivity for a small (3-mm) posterior MAD–associated basal inferolateral scar that could be obscured on conventional bright-blood LGE imaging. This is clinically significant because it may enhance CMR-based arrhythmia risk stratification in MVP/MAD by revealing low-contrast fibrosis targets for ventricular arrhythmia.

Avakian A, Umair M · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Ischemic Heart Disease & Reperfusion Injury

Quantitative intramyocardial hemorrhage assessment by conventional T2-weighted imaging improves risk stratification in reperfused STEMI.

This single-center retrospective study evaluated whether quantitative intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) assessed on conventional T2-weighted (T2W) CMR improves risk stratification in 453 reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients imaged at a median of 5 days post-reperfusion. IMH was quantified as a hypointense core within edema on T2W imaging and expressed as a percentage of left ventricular mass, and it was associated with a worse composite outcome of all-cause death and heart failure hospitalization. The finding supports conventional T2W CMR as a more practical prognostic tool for reperfusion injury compared with T2* mapping, which is limited by artifacts and longer acquisition times.

Li Z, Chen Z, Zhang M et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Inferior ST-segment elevation in anterior myocardial infarction: Coronary anatomy and CMR-defined injury distribution-A pilot study.

This exploratory pilot study investigated why inferior ST-segment elevation (STE) can occur during anterior myocardial infarction by combining coronary anatomy assessment with CMR-defined myocardial injury distribution in patients with first anterior STEMI who underwent successful primary PCI and CMR within 1 week. Patients were classified by presence of STE in all three inferior leads, and the study examined the relationship between LAD anatomy and the spatial orientation of the electrical field with the CMR injury substrate. The significance is improved mechanistic understanding of concomitant inferior STE in anterior MI, which may refine interpretation of ECG patterns and infarct localization.

Aslanger EK, Aggül B, Hamkan E et al. · Journal of electrocardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Angiography-Based Index of Microcirculatory Resistance in Assessing the MVO and Infarct Size in STEMI Patients.

This randomized study evaluated an angiography-based index of microcirculatory resistance (angio-IMR) for assessing microvascular obstruction (MVO) and infarct size (IS) in 123 STEMI patients undergoing PCI, comparing 5 mg intravenous recombinant staphylokinase (r-SAK) bolus versus normal saline (NS) before PCI. The key finding was that angio-IMR was associated with CMR-detected MVO and infarct size and that thrombolysis with r-SAK influenced post-PCI angio-IMR relative to NS. Clinically, angio-IMR may provide a catheter-based surrogate for microvascular injury and infarct burden, potentially improving risk stratification after STEMI.

Wu T, Zhang X, Li C et al. · Clinical cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Formoterol fumarate attenuates atherosclerosis and improves cardiometabolic dysfunction in ApoE-deficient mice.

This preclinical study tested whether formoterol fumarate, a long-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist, attenuates atherosclerosis and improves cardiometabolic dysfunction in 8-week-old male ApoE-deficient (ApoE KO) mice. Mice treated with formoterol fumarate at 0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks showed improvements in metabolic and vascular outcomes compared with vehicle, including reduced atherosclerotic burden assessed by en face Oil Red O staining (details truncated). These results suggest a potential anti-atherosclerotic and cardiometabolic therapeutic role for β2-agonist signaling beyond bronchodilation, warranting further mechanistic and translational studies.

Juvenal H, Gu W, Zhao Z et al. · Vascular pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Viability testing for guiding revascularization in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

This review evaluated the clinical role of myocardial viability testing to guide revascularization decisions in ischemic cardiomyopathy, in the context of contemporary revascularization strategies and modern guideline-directed medical therapy. The key finding was that major trials such as STICH and follow-up data show that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) improves long-term survival largely independently of viability status, challenging the traditional viability-testing paradigm. Clinically, this supports rethinking when viability testing is used, potentially limiting it to selected scenarios rather than as a universal gatekeeper for revascularization.

Li KY, Dhingra NK, Patel R et al. · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Spatial proximity or vector orientation? Re-evaluating ECG interpretation in anterior myocardial infarction using cardiac magnetic resonance.

In a prospective study of 105 patients with anterior myocardial infarction (MI), investigators compared ECG-based infarct localization methods (conventional categories and simplified frontal/horizontal ST-axis orientation) against CMR-defined myocardial injury distribution assessed 3–7 days after presentation. The key finding was that ECG interpretation based on spatial proximity or vector orientation did not reliably match the CMR injury pattern, indicating limitations of standard ECG localization approaches. This matters clinically because it challenges ECG-only inference of infarct extent/location and supports CMR for more accurate characterization of anterior MI injury.

Aslanger EK, Aggül B, İnan D et al. · Journal of electrocardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Feasibility and Yield of a Diagnostic Protocol for Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries.

In a prospective multicenter cohort of MINOCA patients undergoing initial invasive coronary angiography (ICA) (Dec 2020–Jun 2024), investigators assessed the feasibility and diagnostic yield of a structured stepwise protocol that used ad hoc optical coherence tomography (OCT) for culprit lesion identification. The key finding was that the protocol enabled a more comprehensive diagnostic workup beyond ICA despite real-world constraints of time and cost. Clinically, this supports OCT-guided MINOCA evaluation to improve final diagnosis assignment and downstream management.

Nishimiya K, Yosofi B, Dimitriu-Leen AC et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Microvascular dysfunction and neurovascular signalling impairment in diabetic silent myocardial ischemia.

This article reviewed mechanisms of diabetic silent myocardial ischemia (DSMI) in the context of coronary microvascular dysfunction and neurocardiac signaling impairment driven by chronic hyperglycemia. It highlights that oxidative stress, advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction reduce nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and worsen coronary flow reserve and capillary integrity, while diabetic peripheral/autonomic neuropathy blunts nociceptive signaling. These linked vascular and neurogenic pathways provide mechanistic targets for improving detection and treatment of a high-risk but symptom-silent complication of diabetes.

Rajasekaran HK · Microvascular research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Interventional Cardiology & Device/Procedure Outcomes

Transient Pneumopericardium During Implantation of an Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator.

This JACC Case Reports report described an extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD) implantation in a 48-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction 14%) who had survived out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. During substernal tunneling, the procedure was complicated by pericardial puncture and pneumopericardium, requiring lead repositioning and subsequent successful intraoperative defibrillation testing. The clinical significance is heightened awareness of pericardial injury risk during EV-ICD substernal routing and the need for careful procedural monitoring.

Ollitrault P, Pellissier A, Ferchaud V et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

One Anatomy, Multiple Valve Choices: Interobserver Agreement in Selecting Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve.

This study evaluated interobserver agreement in selecting transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) device type, size, and position using 3D patient-specific anatomies derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The key finding was that agreement among six experienced observers across three regions could be quantified (using Coh statistics) and that a framework for determining agreement was feasible when assessing self-expanding versus balloon-expandable versus surgical approach options. This is clinically important because it addresses variability in TPVR planning, which can affect procedural success and device selection consistency.

Pérez-Cualtán CE, Cabrales J, Garay F et al. · Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

AngioVac aspiration as a combined diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for an indeterminate right atrial mass in a patient with malignancy.

This case report studied the use of AngioVac catheter-directed aspiration as a combined diagnostic and therapeutic approach for an indeterminate right atrial mass in a woman with active primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma. Despite TTE/TEE and cardiac MRI suggesting thrombus versus malignant involvement, AngioVac aspiration achieved significant debulking and successful tissue retrieval without the need for high-risk surgical biopsy. The report supports AngioVac as a practical alternative when distinguishing tumor from thrombus is difficult and surgery is prohibitive.

Abumuhfouz M, Sena A, Suleiman S et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiomyopathies & Genetic/Inherited Heart Disease

Four Synchronous Myxomas Unmasking Carney Complex: When to Think About Carney Complex?

This case report described a 39-year-old man with four synchronous cardiac myxomas discovered on multimodality imaging (transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, CT, and CMR) after evaluation for recurrent ventricular extrasystoles. The key finding was that multiple simultaneous myxomas unmasked Carney complex (CNC), prompting consideration of an underlying syndromic etiology rather than sporadic solitary tumors. Clinically, it emphasizes that multiple concurrent myxomas should trigger evaluation for CNC to guide surveillance and management.

Ballan G, Genovese D, Bortolato A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac-Predominant Fukutinopathy Caused by Novel Compound Heterozygous FKTN Variants: A Diagnostic and Genetic Odyssey.

This case report studied a 30-year-old man with cardiac-predominant fukutinopathy due to novel compound heterozygous FKTN variants. Whole-exome sequencing identified FKTN c.1112A>G (p.Tyr371Cys; likely pathogenic) and c.1224G>T (p.Lys408Asn; VUS) with trans inheritance confirmed by parental Sanger sequencing, explaining dilated cardiomyopathy with persistent QT prolongation and subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement. The findings emphasize that fukutinopathy can present primarily as cardiomyopathy and that genotype-directed evaluation can clarify diagnosis in atypical dystroglycanopathy presentations.

Imayavaramban B, Kumar P, Chowdhury RR et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Refractory Postcardiotomy Right Ventricular Failure Revealing Massive Right Ventricular Lipomatous Replacement: Autopsy-Imaging Correlation.

This autopsy-imaging correlation case report studied refractory post-cardiotomy right ventricular (RV) failure in a 76-year-old woman with massive RV lipomatous replacement. Despite preserved biventricular function preoperatively and extensive post-bypass support (inotropes, inhaled vasodilators, temporary RV support, and veno-arterial ECMO), the patient developed refractory RV failure, and subsequent correlation supported the presence of extensive RV fat replacement. The study underscores the diagnostic challenge of distinguishing benign RV fat from arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy versus postischemic metaplasia and the clinical importance of accurate interpretation.

Landín P, Plateros S, Campelos P et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Takotsubo-Like Cardiomyopathy as the Initial Presentation of Primary Carnitine Deficiency.

This case report studied an 18-year-old woman with primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) presenting with sudden cardiac arrest and Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy. Genetic testing identified a homozygous pathogenic SLC22A5 variant (c.43G>T; p.Gly15Trp), and cardiac MRI showed a Takotsubo-like phenotype preceding/associated with ventricular fibrillation arrest. The clinical significance is that PCD can manifest as life-threatening arrhythmia and stress cardiomyopathy, making early genetic diagnosis potentially lifesaving because PCD is treatable.

Talasani N, Przybylski R, Delaney MA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Phenotypic overlap masking MELAS in Turner syndrome: a diagnostic challenge.

This case report studied a 51-year-old woman with mosaic Turner syndrome whose phenotypic overlap masked mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), creating a diagnostic challenge. The key finding was that despite cardiac involvement consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-like features, the overlapping Turner syndrome phenotype delayed recognition of MELAS. The clinical significance is that clinicians should consider MELAS in Turner patients with multisystem findings to avoid diagnostic anchoring and inappropriate management.

Shinozaki T, Sumiyoshi H, Ueshima D et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Managing pregnancy in women with pre-existing cardiomyopathies: A case series.

This case series described pregnancy management and outcomes in women with pre-existing cardiomyopathies, including dilated, hypertrophic, and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, focusing on complications such as arrhythmias, rising left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and heart failure. The reported course varied by cardiomyopathy phenotype and genetics, with management spanning biomarkers plus pharmacological and device strategies across pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Scientifically and clinically, the series highlights phenotype-specific risk profiling and tailored pre-conception planning for safer maternal-fetal management in cardiomyopathy.

Bruce C, Montanaro C, Wander G et al. · Case reports in women’s health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

[Ventricular hypertrophy and pre-excitation: a diagnostic clue to PRKAG2-related cardiomyopathy].

This report described a 44-year-old man with ventricular hypertrophy and pre-excitation whose presentation suggested PRKAG2-related cardiomyopathy, a metabolic phenocopy of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed asymmetric hypertrophy with extensive late gadolinium enhancement and early adverse remodeling, and after primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement, genetic testing identified a heterozygous PRKAG2 variant (truncated in abstract). The case emphasizes that PRKAG2-related cardiomyopathy can be misclassified as hypertrophic or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and that CMR plus genetic testing can clarify diagnosis and guide risk management.

Quadrini F, Rodio D, Maddaluna P et al. · Giornale italiano di cardiologia (2006) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac lipoma of the right atrial appendage: Multimodality imaging of a rare tumor at an uncommon site.

This case report described multimodality imaging of a rare cardiac lipoma located in the right atrial appendage (RAA) in a 60-year-old woman. A small mobile fat-containing RAA mass was incidentally found on CT pulmonary angiography during evaluation for acute pulmonary embolism, and cardiac MRI confirmed imaging features consistent with lipoma. The report is significant because it documents an uncommon tumor site and highlights the value of multimodality imaging for characterization when such masses are discovered incidentally.

Kosum P, Tumkosit M, Jarutasnangkul L et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardio-Oncology & Cancer-Related Cardiac Issues

Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma: An Exceptionally Rare Pulmonary Artery Tumor Presenting as an Asymptomatic Heart Murmur.

This case report described a 28-year-old man with a history of stage 3 Burkitt lymphoma in remission who presented with an asymptomatic heart murmur and was found to have a rare angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) of the pulmonary artery. Using echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and PET-CT, imaging identified a 1.9 cm hyperintense mass attached to the pulmonic valve and main pulmonary artery wall, and the patient underwent surgical resection. The clinical significance is that AFH should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary artery tumors presenting subtly, even in patients without established risk factors.

Jafary Z, Rana S, Vaughan M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Creating bottom-up RNA transfer vehicles from synthetic protein assemblies.

The study investigated whether AI-designed synthetic protein assemblies can be functionalized to create nucleic-acid transport vehicles independent of viral evolutionary constraints. The authors report bottom-up RNA transfer vehicles built from generative-model protein architectures that enable nucleic acid delivery. This provides a proof-of-concept platform for engineering programmable RNA delivery systems without relying on natural viral capsid evolution.

Schuhmacher MK, Gruber C, Lang CMR et al. · Nature · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

SMARCA4, STK11, and KEAP1 co-inactivation associates with poor prognosis and upregulation of the TGF-β pathway in lung adenocarcinoma.

This translational oncology study investigated lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and found that co-inactivation of SMARCA4, STK11, and KEAP1 is associated with poor prognosis and increased upregulation of the TGF-β pathway. The key finding was that multigenic loss involving these genes correlates with worse overall survival and a TGF-β pathway transcriptional signature. The clinical significance is that this molecular co-inactivation pattern may identify high-risk LUAD patients and suggest pathway-relevant therapeutic opportunities.

Costa EA, Mello BP, Wohlhieter C et al. · Translational oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac Safety Outcomes in Delandistrogene Moxeparvovec Clinical Trials for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with Up to 5 Years of Follow-up.

This analysis assessed cardiac safety outcomes of delandistrogene moxeparvovec, a dystrophin gene transfer therapy, in clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) with up to 5 years of follow-up. The key finding was that across trials (101, 102, ENDEAVOR, and EMBARK; excluding baseline LVEF <40%), cardiac adverse events and echocardiographic measures were monitored longitudinally with troponin I assessed regularly, supporting an overall cardiac safety evaluation over extended follow-up. This is significant for translating gene therapy into routine DMD care by characterizing longer-term cardiac risk in a population with progressive cardiomyopathy.

Veerapandiyan A, Bourke J, Soslow JH et al. · Cardiology and therapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Outcomes From the Multicenter ACCRU-LY-1804/CARiBOU TRIAL (Cytarabine, Acalabrutinib and Rituximab Integrated With Bortezomib-Based Outpatient Therapy) in 1st Line Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

This phase 2 multicenter ACCRU trial studied first-line mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients treated with CARiBOU (alternating VR-CAP and R-cytarabine with continuous acalabrutinib) plus bortezomib-based outpatient therapy. The key reported outcome was complete metabolic response (CMR) rate, with secondary endpoints including safety, feasibility of stem cell collection, proportion proceeding to ASCT, and progression-free and overall survival. If effective and feasible, this multitargeted regimen could improve sustained complete responses in previously untreated MCL while maintaining an outpatient-oriented treatment strategy.

Smith SD, Sundaram S, Giri S et al. · American journal of hematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiac MRI Techniques & Quantification Methods

Feasibility of left atrial and left ventricular strain assessment using CT feature tracking in patients with atrial fibrillation.

This prospective single-center feasibility study assessed whether CT feature tracking (CT-FT) can measure left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) strain in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, using 3T CMR as the reference standard. In 30 patients undergoing CCTA and CMR within 3 days before radiofrequency ablation, CT-FT-derived LA reservoir strain (LASr) and LV strain metrics (LVGLS, LVGCS, LVGRS) were evaluated for feasibility against CMR. Clinically, it supports the potential for CT-based strain assessment as an adjunct when CMR is not available.

Lv L, Qin C, Ji A et al. · European journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Association of epicardial fat tissue combined with left ventricular strain with left ventricular fibrosis in obese patients: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.

This cardiac magnetic resonance study investigated obese patients to determine whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) combined with LV strain is associated with LV fibrosis. The authors assessed EAT and LV strain using CMR feature tracking and evaluated the relationship with LV fibrotic remodeling (via CMR fibrosis measures). The findings support using combined EAT and strain metrics for earlier detection of fibrotic changes in obesity-related cardiac dysfunction.

Yao Y, Liu L, Jiang H et al. · Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Spatial phenotyping of epicardial adipose tissue from cardiac MRI.

This study developed a deep learning framework to spatially phenotype epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) distribution using cardiac MRI. The key finding was that an asymmetric multi-modal CNN–Transformer model enabled automated segmentation of the four cardiac chambers and EAT, and spatial statistical modeling produced quantitative, chamber-resolved characterization of EAT distribution. The scientific significance is that improved EAT mapping may help clarify how regional fat distribution contributes to cardiovascular disease risk.

Feng F, Long T, Hasaballa AI et al. · Medical image analysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Deformable image registration for self-supervised cardiac phase detection in cardiac magnetic resonance images of patients with various diseases.

This study developed a self-supervised deep learning approach for deformable image registration–based cardiac phase/keyframe detection in cine CMR across patients with various cardiac diseases, targeting five short-axis (SAX) and four four-chamber (4CH) keyframes. The key finding was that the proposed method can automatically infer multiple clinically relevant keyframes beyond simple end-systole/end-diastole detection by leveraging dense deformable registration to derive motion descriptors. Scientifically, this improves automated temporal localization of myocardial motion in CMR, which can enable more robust downstream analysis and sub-phase assessment.

Mueller SK, Koehler S, Kiekenap J et al. · Medical image analysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

ContiMorph: An unsupervised learning framework for cardiac motion tracking with time-continuous diffeomorphism.

This paper introduced ContiMorph, an unsupervised deep-learning framework for cardiac motion tracking that replaces scaling-and-squaring–based discrete Lagrangian motion field integration with time-continuous diffeomorphism modeling. By combining a frame-aware U-Net with a time-embedded transformer to learn temporally continuous intra-frame motion fields, ContiMorph improves exploitation of temporal continuity and yields better tracking accuracy than SS-dependent approaches. The scientific significance is a more temporally faithful motion estimation pipeline that can enhance downstream cardiac function assessment and disease quantification from image sequences.

Jiang M, Ruan X, Zheng L et al. · Medical image analysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Agreement between ventricular stroke volumes and great vessel flow using cine and phase-contrast MRI in healthy subjects.

This study assessed agreement between ventricular stroke volumes and great-vessel forward flow in 15 healthy volunteers using cine MRI for LV/RV stroke volume and phase-contrast MRI for ascending aorta (Ao) and pulmonary artery (PA) flow. Bland–Altman and intraclass correlation analyses evaluated whether LV-SV, RV-SV, Ao flow, and PA flow match as assumed by CMR-based indirect quantification of valvular regurgitation. Demonstrating the degree and direction of bias informs how reliably these MRI-derived quantities can be used clinically to infer regurgitant volumes.

Kawaguchi A, Kawaguchi W, Hayashi M et al. · Radiological physics and technology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Free-Breathing Dynamic, Regularized, Adaptive Cluster Optimization (DRACO) Cine Cardiac MRI in Atrial Fibrillation.

This prospective study developed and tested a free-breathing version of DRACO cine cardiac MRI for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), aiming to handle both cardiac and respiratory motion. It included 10 sinus rhythm participants and 20 AF participants scanned at 3.0 T using bSSFP with ECG-gated segmented cine and real-time acquisition, evaluating the quality and quantifiability of the resulting cine images. If successful, DRACO could improve cine MRI feasibility and image reliability in AF without requiring breath-holding.

Ming Z, Pogosyan A, Dong X et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Arrhythmias & Electrophysiology (Imaging-Guided)

Hidden in Plain Sight: Electromechanical Window Negativity in Congenital Long QT Syndrome.

This clinical case report described a 19-year-old woman with KCNH2-related congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) who had recurrent syncope triggered by abrupt auditory stimuli and torsades de pointes up to 273 beats/min on ambulatory monitoring. The key finding was that the electromechanical window (EMW)—a validated marker of malignant arrhythmia susceptibility—was present but “hidden in plain sight” within routine echocardiographic imaging, despite normal cardiac MRI and standard echocardiography structure. The clinical significance is that recognizing EMW on routine echo could improve risk stratification beyond genotype and QTc duration in congenital LQTS.

Paterson T, Sanders R, Pooranachandran V · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Exercise-Induced Ventricular Tachycardia Unmasking High-Risk Anomalous Right Coronary Artery in an Adult.

This case report studied a 43-year-old adult whose exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia unmasked a high-risk anomalous right coronary artery (AAOCA). During exercise stress testing, frequent ventricular ectopy progressed to nonsustained VT during recovery, and coronary CT angiography identified an anomalous right coronary artery arising from the left sino-coronary region. The report reinforces that AAOCA may present in adulthood with exertional arrhythmias and that CCTA is pivotal for diagnosis and risk assessment.

Eisa A, Rashwan R, Aldarab’ah FM et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Inflammatory/Autoimmune Cardiac Disease

Depressed LV Contractility as a Sentinel of Fulminant Systemic Scleroderma.

This case report studied rapidly progressive systemic scleroderma in a 21-year-old man presenting with depressed left ventricular (LV) contractility and cardiac involvement. Cardiac MRI showed diffuse gadolinium enhancement and endomyocardial biopsy demonstrated mast cell infiltration with early fibrosis, but despite guideline-directed therapy and cyclophosphamide the patient rapidly deteriorated and died. The report highlights depressed LV contractility as a sentinel feature of fulminant cardiac systemic sclerosis and underscores the need for early recognition and aggressive management.

Luo M, Branch T, Vasoya D et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Rapidly Progressive Myocarditis and Cardiogenic Shock: The Failing Heart in Systemic Sclerosis.

This case report studied rapidly progressive myocarditis with cardiogenic shock in a 49-year-old woman with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc). Cardiac biomarkers were markedly elevated, echocardiography showed severe biventricular systolic dysfunction, and cardiac MRI demonstrated diffuse biventricular myocardial inflammation confirmed by endomyocardial biopsy with lymphocytic infiltration. The report highlights fulminant myocarditis as a severe, under-recognized cardiac manifestation of SSc with poor outcomes, supporting early diagnostic evaluation and urgent treatment.

Mohammad F, Alhajri N, Al-Matrooshi N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

ECMO-Supported Pericardiectomy in Constrictive Tuberculous Pericarditis With Severe Ventricular Dysfunction.

This case report studied a 20-year-old man with constrictive tuberculous pericarditis complicated by severe biventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF <15%). After deterioration despite empirical antituberculosis therapy and heart failure management, he underwent ECMO-supported radical pericardiectomy for refractory cardiogenic shock. The report suggests that veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be a critical bridge to surgery in tuberculous constrictive pericarditis when ventricular function is profoundly depressed.

Elmorshidy M, Helal A, El-Din M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Active clinically isolated cardiac sarcoidosis with inactive pulmonary sequelae: incremental diagnostic value of multimodality imaging: a case report.

This case report studied a 62-year-old woman with active clinically isolated cardiac sarcoidosis (myocardial inflammation without clinically active extracardiac disease) and inactive pulmonary sequelae using multimodality imaging. The key finding was that integrating structural and metabolic/tissue characterization modalities provided incremental diagnostic value beyond conventional echocardiographic assessment in this diagnostic context. This highlights the clinical significance of multimodality imaging to improve diagnostic confidence when cardiac sarcoidosis is active but extracardiac disease is not evident.

Briceño Loaiza L, Celi Loaiza X · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

When rare meets rarer: constrictive pericarditis in Erdheim-Chester disease-a case report.

This case report studied a 57-year-old man with multisystem Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) who developed exceptionally rare constrictive pericarditis. The key finding was that multimodality imaging demonstrated extensive cardiovascular involvement with echocardiographic constrictive physiology, cardiac MRI showing diffuse late gadolinium pericardial enhancement, and CT showing circumferential periarterial infiltration. Clinically, it underscores that ECD can present with constrictive pericarditis and that comprehensive imaging is crucial for diagnosis and management planning.

Dimova-Mileva M, Kanchev I, Marinova E et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Left ventricular myocardial strain analysis by feature tracking cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases: A case-control study.

This case-control study evaluated left ventricular myocardial strain measured by cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) in 30 patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) versus 10 matched healthy controls. ARD patients showed evidence of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction on strain analysis despite preserved conventional cardiac function. These findings support CMR-FT strain as a sensitive tool for earlier detection of myocardial involvement in ARDs, potentially improving cardiovascular risk identification before overt impairment.

ElMahdy EKA, Ibrahim AS, AbdulRahim SAA et al. · La Clinica terapeutica · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Rheumatoid arthritis and multisite cardiac aneurysms involving the LVOT, valves, and intervalvular Fibrosa: A case-based systematic review.

This systematic review studied rheumatoid arthritis (RA)–associated aneurysmal or pseudoaneurysmal cardiac involvement, focusing on multisite aneurysms involving the LV outflow tract (LVOT), valves, and intervalvular fibrosa. The key finding was that reported cases are exceptionally rare and largely described in isolated reports, but the review characterized clinical, imaging, pathological, and therapeutic features of these RA-related aneurysms/pseudoaneurysms. The clinical significance is that awareness of these uncommon RA complications may prompt earlier recognition and tailored management to prevent catastrophic outcomes such as rupture or embolism.

Alberti M, Cito V, Capozza P et al. · Vascular pharmacology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Non-invasive detection of acute cell-mediated graft rejection in paediatric heart transplant recipients: The role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

This prospective study evaluated whether multiparametric cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can non-invasively detect acute cell-mediated graft rejection in 15 paediatric heart transplant recipients, using contrast-enhanced 1.5T CMR followed by endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and right heart catheterization. The key finding was that CMR multiparametric assessment (including analysis of parametric-map textural features) could distinguish rejection from non-rejection cases, supporting CMR as a potential alternative to EMB for acute rejection detection. This is clinically significant because it suggests a pathway to reduce reliance on invasive EMB in children after heart transplantation while improving rejection surveillance.

Gesuete V, Ragni L, Niro F et al. · International journal of cardiology. Congenital heart disease · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Multidisciplinary approach in cardiac sarcoidosis: to biopsy or not?

This narrative review examined the contemporary diagnostic strategy for cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), focusing on whether endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) remains necessary within a multidisciplinary framework given the patchy nature of disease and EMB’s limited sensitivity. The key finding was that noninvasive imaging has increasingly complemented or reduced reliance on EMB, but tissue diagnosis may still be important in selected cases depending on clinical and imaging context. Scientifically and clinically, this helps clinicians balance diagnostic yield and procedural risk when deciding between biopsy and imaging-driven diagnosis in suspected CS.

Pericao A, Sharma R · Current opinion in pulmonary medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Pulmonary Vascular Disease & Right-Heart Disorders

Optimal Strain Combinations for Prognostic Prediction in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

This prospective study examined which combinations of myocardial strain parameters best predict outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Using elastic net Cox regression and stepwise Cox regression with Akaike information criterion, the authors identified an optimal set of LV global longitudinal strain, right ventricular GLS (including right ventricular free-wall longitudinal strain), and right atrial phasic strain that stratified all-cause mortality and a composite endpoint. Clinically, the work supports using a tailored multi-chamber CMR feature set for improved prognostic prediction in PAH.

Guo J, Leng S, He J et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Sequential Changes in Right Ventricular Straein During the Development of Pulmonary Hypertension Assessed With Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking: An Animal Study.

This animal study investigated sequential changes in right ventricular (RV) strain during pulmonary hypertension (PH) development in Wistar rats using CMR feature tracking (CMR-FT). In rats induced with monocrotaline, RV strain changes over 1–4 weeks correlated with histological vascular remodeling, while vehicle-injected controls showed no comparable progression. The scientific significance is that CMR-FT–derived RV strain can noninvasively track PH progression and may serve as an imaging biomarker for disease evolution and therapeutic targeting.

Kim NY, Im DJ, Hong YJ et al. · Korean journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Impact of Systemic-to-Pulmonary Artery Shunt Embolization on Right Heart Hemodynamics in Patients with Bronchiectasis.

This study evaluated right heart hemodynamic changes in 20 patients with bronchiectasis complicated by systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts (SPS) undergoing SPS embolization, using right heart catheterization (including stroke volume, cardiac index, cardiac output, pulmonary artery pressure, PAWP, and shunt oxygen saturation) and cardiac MRI in those who could tolerate it. After embolization, right heart hemodynamics improved within 24–48 hours, with favorable changes in measured pressures and cardiac performance parameters. These findings suggest that SPS embolization can rapidly ameliorate cardiopulmonary hemodynamic burden in bronchiectasis patients with SPS, supporting its potential as a targeted interventional strategy.

Wu H, Jiang F, Guo L et al. · Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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AI/Deep Learning for Cardiac Imaging & Decision Support

AFFUNet: adaptive feature fusion Transformer U-Net with joint loss function for medical image segmentation.

This paper studied the Adaptive Feature Fusion U-Net (AFFUNet) architecture for medical image segmentation, proposing an adaptive Transformer-based feature fusion strategy with a joint loss function. The key finding is that AFFUNet addresses limitations of fixed feature fusion, standard Dice loss, and boundary optimization by adaptively weighting features and improving focus on difficult samples and segmentation edges. Clinically, this could improve segmentation accuracy and boundary precision for downstream diagnostic and treatment-planning workflows in medical imaging.

Pang M, Yang C, Luo Y · Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

The role of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of pericardial constriction.

This review studied how artificial intelligence (AI) can support diagnosis of pericardial constriction (constrictive pericarditis) and distinguish it from restrictive cardiomyopathy using cardiac imaging. It found that the strongest existing evidence uses machine learning/deep learning applied to echocardiography, with newer methods emerging to integrate additional imaging modalities. The scientific significance is that AI-assisted multimodality interpretation could improve diagnostic accuracy in a condition where misclassification has major management implications.

Lipat K, Booth T, Sengupta PP · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Precision-guided heart failure interventions: The expanding role of advanced cardiac imaging and artificial intelligence.

This narrative review studied precision-guided heart failure interventions and the expanding roles of advanced cardiac imaging and artificial intelligence across anatomy, myocardial substrate, and physiology. It found that modern heart failure care increasingly relies on imaging to guide interventions such as transcatheter valve therapies, cardiac resynchronization/pacing, complex coronary interventions, invasive hemodynamic assessment, and implantable pressure sensors, with AI supporting more precise phenotyping. The scientific significance is that integrating advanced imaging with AI could improve selection and targeting of therapies in diverse heart failure phenotypes.

Albulushi A, Al-Farhan H · American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Advances in artificial intelligence for the evaluation of mitral regurgitation.

This narrative review summarized advances in artificial intelligence (AI) for evaluating mitral regurgitation (MR) across the diagnostic pathway, from pre-imaging screening to multimodality imaging. It reports that AI tools such as digital stethoscopes and deep learning electrocardiographic models are emerging for scalable detection and risk stratification, but currently function more as enrichment tools than standalone diagnostics. The review’s significance is in mapping where AI is ready for clinical integration versus where further validation is needed to reduce interobserver variability in MR assessment.

Sanchez AA, Sadeghpour A, Asch FM · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Hemodynamics & Flow/Pressure Imaging

Early-Diastolic Right Ventricle-Pulmonary Artery Pressure Gradient by Doppler Echocardiography to Guide Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Pulmonary Regurgitation after Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction.

This retrospective study evaluated whether an echocardiographic early-diastolic right ventricle–pulmonary artery pressure gradient (Echo-EaDPG) can guide cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) assessment of pulmonary regurgitation (PR) in pediatric patients after right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction. The key finding was that Echo-EaDPG, derived from early-diastolic peak PR velocity (ΔP = 4v^2), can serve as a practical complementary hemodynamic marker when CMR is not routinely feasible. Clinically, this approach may enable more feasible longitudinal PR monitoring after RVOT reconstruction in children.

Kawamura J, Ueno K, Shimozono T et al. · Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Heart involvements in systemic sclerosis beyond pulmonary hypertension: From conduction, rhythm and function defects to coronary artery disease.

This narrative review summarized cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) beyond pulmonary hypertension, covering conduction and rhythm disturbances, myocardial fibrosis and function defects, and progression to coronary artery disease. It emphasized that cardiac disease is frequently underestimated, with clinically manifest involvement in roughly 15–35% and subclinical dysfunction detected in about 70% when advanced screening is used. The significance is to raise awareness and improve screening strategies for SSc patients to prevent morbidity and mortality from diverse cardiac complications.

Barile R, Rotondo C, Giancaspro G et al. · La Revue de medecine interne · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Public Health/Health Systems & Non-Cardiac Contexts

Evolution of ART Medication Adherence Support and Monitoring Across IeDEA Sites: Results From Three Waves of Consortium-Wide Site Assessment Surveys, 2017, 2020 and 2023.

This study examined implementation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication adherence support and monitoring recommendations across IeDEA sites using serial cross-sectional surveys in adults with HIV. Across 43 countries (survey waves 2017 n=206, 2020 n=200, 2023 n=214; 131 clinics completed all three), the key finding was that adherence-support and monitoring practices evolved over time with measurable differences in clinic resources and routine strategies. The scientific significance is that these consortium-wide data identify gaps and trends that can inform policy and quality-improvement efforts for ART adherence monitoring globally.

Brazier E, Odhiambo F, Edwards JK et al. · Journal of the International AIDS Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Lower- Versus Conventional-Sodium Dialysate and Left Ventricular Mass in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis: Causal Analyses of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

This causal analysis used data from a randomized clinical trial to investigate why allocation to lower dialysate sodium ([Na+]) reduced interdialytic weight gain and BNP but did not reduce left ventricular mass index (LVMI) measured by cardiac magnetic resonance in home and self-care satellite hemodialysis patients. The study modeled a causal pathway between dialysate [Na+] allocation and LVMI by quantifying effects through intermediate physiological variables. Scientifically, it clarifies mechanisms behind the discordant biomarker versus LVMI results, informing how dialysate composition might (or might not) translate into structural cardiac benefits in dialysis populations.

Marshall MR, Vandal AC, Chan CT et al. · Kidney medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A cross-sectional online survey evaluating how anaesthesiologists view cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging reports as a tool for perioperative risk evaluation.

This cross-sectional online survey evaluated how anaesthesiologists perceive and use cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) reports for perioperative risk evaluation. The study’s primary endpoint was whether anaesthesiologists incorporate preexisting CMR findings into perioperative decision-making, with secondary analyses examining factors associated with CMR use and understanding of CMR parameters (abstract truncated). The results are important for improving communication and integration of CMR findings into perioperative workflows to better support cardiovascular risk stratification.

Fischer K, Harms R, Fini JN et al. · BJA open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Data-source choice in diabetes mortality surveillance and equity monitoring in the United States, 1999-2023.

This analysis compared diabetes mortality surveillance conclusions across 51 US jurisdictions from 1999–2023 using different data sources—CDC WONDER versus Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023—to assess effects on trends, high-burden classification, and income-related inequality. Using concordance, Joinpoint regression, mixed-effects models, Moran’s I, and inequality metrics, the study found that data-source choice can change mortality rate estimates and downstream equity monitoring conclusions (results truncated). The work is significant for public health surveillance design, emphasizing that selecting mortality data sources can influence which areas and populations are identified as highest risk.

Li WJ, Tao SS, Wang P et al. · Diabetes research and clinical practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cost-effectiveness of imaging modalities in coronary heart disease: A comprehensive review.

This comprehensive review assessed the cost-effectiveness of imaging modalities used in coronary heart disease (CHD), focusing on myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with SPECT and PET and summarizing economic evaluations across studies. The key finding was that the relative value of SPECT versus PET MPI depends on clinical context and evolving technology, with the review emphasizing the need for careful modality selection to manage rising healthcare costs. This is significant for health-system decision-making because it frames how to choose nuclear cardiology imaging strategies that balance diagnostic/management benefit with economic impact.

Milan E, Giubbini R, Vitola J et al. · Seminars in nuclear medicine · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Toxic and explosive risks in pharmacy: An underestimated reality.

This article reviewed occupational toxic and explosive hazards faced by pharmacists, focusing on compounding pharmacies handling carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substances such as chemotherapy drugs, anesthetic gases, antibiotics, and hormones. It highlights that secondary exposure can occur via fine powder dispersion or volatile vapors even when standard protective equipment is used, and that fire/explosion risks are increased with flammable solvents like ethanol, acetone, and ethyl ether. The significance is improved recognition of real-world pharmacy safety risks to inform better hazard control and protective practices.

Yap Larioui K, Khoukh K, Zekri S et al. · Presse medicale (Paris, France : 1983) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Size-resolved microelectrical effects of fine aerosol on nocturnal ozone: Evidence from field observations and statistical modeling.

This field study investigated how particle electrical properties—specifically particle charge-to-mass ratio (CMR)—relate to nocturnal ozone (O3) enhancement in Xi’an during 2023–2025. Using generalized additive models (GAM), partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), and a simplified interfacial contribution model, it tested whether particulate electrical characteristics help explain nocturnal O3 variability under stable conditions. The findings are significant because they extend nocturnal O3 mechanism understanding beyond meteorological transport to include aerosol electrical effects that may influence atmospheric chemistry.

Wang Y, Zhang L, Li J et al. · Environmental research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Congenital/Structural Heart Disease (Including Pediatrics)

[Interarterial anomalous right coronary artery in a competitive athlete: case report].

This case report described a 37-year-old competitive endurance athlete with an interarterial anomalous right coronary artery arising from the left sinus of Valsalva with an intramural course identified during pre-participation screening. Coronary computed tomography angiography demonstrated high-risk anatomical features associated with ischemia and sudden cardiac death risk under intense exercise. The report underscores the importance of recognizing dynamic, exercise-related risk in athletes with interarterial coronary anomalies and using advanced imaging for risk assessment.

Lodi E, Tardini L, Poli ML et al. · Giornale italiano di cardiologia (2006) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Advanced Cardiac Imaging Techniques for Detection of Myocardial Ischemia in Children with Coronary Artery Abnormalities.

This review studied advanced cardiac imaging approaches for detecting myocardial ischemia in children with coronary artery abnormalities, including Kawasaki disease post-inflammatory vasculopathy, cardiac allograft vasculopathy, congenital coronary anomalies, and post–coronary reimplantation complications. It found that diagnosis is difficult because symptoms are often absent or atypical and that effective detection requires integrating multiple imaging modalities beyond routine resting electrocardiography. The clinical significance is that improved imaging strategies could enable earlier identification of ischemia and reduce risk of ventricular dysfunction and sudden cardiac death in pediatric coronary disease.

Jin JB, Williams JL, Wang SM et al. · Cardiology and therapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Intraoperative Cardiac Events During Pediatric Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Under Anesthesia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

This retrospective cohort study evaluated intraoperative cardiac events in children (≤18 years) with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under anesthesia from 2013–2025. It aimed to quantify the incidence and identify predictors of cardiovascular instability using a recently proposed composite framework for intraoperative cardiovascular instability. Defining event rates and risk factors in this non-surgical but physiologically vulnerable setting can guide peri-anesthetic monitoring and risk stratification for pediatric cardiac MRI.

Wingert T, Liang J, Feldman K et al. · Paediatric anaesthesia · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Valvular Heart Disease (Imaging/Interventions)

Successful repair of a rare submitral aneurysm with basal septal defect: a technique combining edge-to-edge repair and patch exclusion.

This case report studied surgical repair of a rare submitral left ventricular aneurysm (SLVA) with a basal septal defect in a 44-year-old male, using multi-modality imaging (including cardiac MRI) and a combined edge-to-edge mitral repair plus patch exclusion technique. The key finding was that imaging showed a large basal septal LV aneurysm with thick mural thrombus and severe secondary mitral regurgitation from anterior leaflet tethering, and the combined surgical strategy addressed both the aneurysm and valvular pathology while preserving ventricular geometry. The clinical significance is that this hybrid approach may offer a practical operative solution for high-mortality SLVA cases complicated by severe MR.

Sawant G, Aironi B, Agarwal A et al. · Indian journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

An integrative approach to patient selection for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in secondary mitral regurgitation.

This review synthesized evidence and proposed an integrative patient-selection framework for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) in secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR), integrating randomized trial data (notably MITRA-FR and COAPT) with multimodality imaging and proportionality concepts. The key finding was that differences in trial outcomes are largely attributable to echocardiographic selection and left-ventricular remodeling, implying that SMR severity should be interpreted relative to ventricular size and regurgitant context. This is significant because it provides a structured approach to identify patients most likely to benefit from M-TEER, potentially improving real-world effectiveness and reducing inappropriate procedures.

Brusosa M, Flores-Umanzor E, Horlick E · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Generated automatically on September 07, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published August 31, 2026 – September 07, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.