What's New in Cardiac MRI? — September 10, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 50 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
September 10, 2026 · 50 articles · 14 research themes · covering September 03, 2026 – September 10, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set, advanced cardiac imaging—especially CMR and CCT—continues to move from “diagnostic add-on” toward standardized, decision-driving tools. A position statement consolidates when CMR/CCT should be used for anatomical/functional assessment, prognosis, and therapy planning, while multiple studies and case reports show how specific tissue and functional markers (e.g., LGE patterns, T1/T2 mapping, edema burden, and structural remodeling) can refine risk beyond conventional clinical impressions.
A second dominant theme is imaging-enabled phenotyping of cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia risk. Several cohorts and mechanistic reports emphasize that combining modalities improves prediction: imaging-genetics integration in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, CMR-based strain/coupling to distinguish HCM severity and obstruction, and structural scar plus functional mapping to streamline VT ablation. Complementing this, prognostic CMR metrics in Takotsubo syndrome and reperfused STEMI (T2 edema and intramyocardial hemorrhage) highlight how early tissue injury quantification can stratify outcomes and potentially guide intensity of follow-up.
Finally, the digest reflects growing attention to systemic and non-cardiac drivers of cardiac disease, with inflammation, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and cardio-oncology all represented. Lupus myocarditis, MIS-C, and cardiac sarcoidosis studies quantify disease burden and support surveillance strategies, while CTEPH/PAH work clarifies how different interventions shape right ventricular recovery. In parallel, cardio-oncology reviews and protocols underscore the role of biomarkers (notably troponin) and the need for evidence generation in diverse populations, alongside broader efforts to reduce treatment intensity and improve long-term survivorship.
Pulmonary Hypertension & Right Heart Remodeling (CTEPH/PAH)
Sex differences in cardiac function and remodelling in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction across all stages of chronic kidney disease.
This retrospective study compared cardiac function and remodeling between females and males with chronic kidney disease (CKD stages 1–5) using comprehensive cardiac MRI in 84 sex-matched patients plus 28 healthy controls from the LGECKD cohort. Across CKD stages, the authors identified sex-specific differences in cardiac remodeling and function in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) phenotypes. These findings support sex-tailored cardiovascular risk assessment and imaging follow-up strategies for CKD patients at risk of HFpEF-related remodeling.
Kamieniarz P, Plietz AS, Urbach LV et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Long-term cardiac remodeling after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement: a cardiac MRI study.
This prospective intra-individual study evaluated long-term cardiovascular effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement in cirrhosis-related portal hypertension by performing combined hepatic and cardiac MRI before TIPS and at 1 year in patients undergoing paired imaging. Using volumetric/functional assessment, strain analysis, T1/T2 mapping, myocardial edema assessment, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), the authors quantified post-TIPS changes in myocardial structure and tissue characteristics. The findings clarify how TIPS influences cardiac remodeling and myocardial injury markers over time, informing cardiovascular monitoring in cirrhosis patients receiving TIPS.
Vollbrecht TM, Mesropyan N, Chang J et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right ventricular adaptation after pulmonary endarterectomy and balloon pulmonary angioplasty in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a comparative cardiac MRI-based study.
In a prospective multicenter cohort of 93 chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA, n=50) or balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA, n=43), researchers used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) plus right heart catheterization, exercise testing, and biomarkers to compare right ventricular (RV) reverse remodeling. The key finding is the differential pattern of RV adaptation after PEA versus BPA, assessed via CMR-based structural and functional changes alongside hemodynamic and functional measures. This is significant because it clarifies which intervention better supports RV recovery, informing treatment selection in CTEPH.
Rodenburg TC, Higuchi S, Andersen S et al. · The European respiratory journal · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Association Between MRI-Derived Right-to-Left Ventricular Volume Ratio and Regional Left Ventricular Myocardial Dysfunction in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
A retrospective study of 188 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients and 81 matched controls used MRI-derived RV/LV end-diastolic volume ratio to examine associations with regional left ventricular (LV) myocardial dysfunction and strain patterns. The key finding is that an elevated RV/LV volume ratio (≥1.27) is associated with LV dysfunction, including specific regional strain abnormalities, and the analysis evaluates mediating pathways linking RV dilation to LV impairment. This is clinically significant because it connects a validated RV dilation marker to downstream LV myocardial dysfunction in PAH, potentially improving risk understanding and imaging-based phenotyping.
Fang H, Li Y, Wang J et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Inflammatory Myocardial Disease (Myocarditis, Sarcoidosis, MIS-C)
Management and Outcomes of Cardiac Sarcoidosis: Insights From the Nationwide MYSTICS Registry.
This multicenter retrospective analysis of the nationwide MYSTICS registry studied 2366 patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), focusing on 1852 newly diagnosed cases from 2012–2021 stratified by diagnostic certainty (definite, probable, presumed systemic, presumed isolated). The study characterized real-world CS management patterns and clinical outcomes, including recurrence, across these diagnostic groups. The results provide large-scale evidence to refine diagnostic categorization and guide treatment and surveillance strategies in CS.
Izumi C, Yoshikawa Y, Komuro I et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Persistent long-term subclinical myocardial changes in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children revealed by cardiac magnetic resonance and galectin-3.
This study evaluated long-term myocardial structure and function in children after multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and two-dimensional echocardiography, alongside serum galectin-3 measurements. It found persistent subclinical myocardial changes on CMR in the post-MIS-C period, with galectin-3 used to reflect ongoing inflammation or fibrosis risk. These findings suggest that CMR-based surveillance and galectin-3 may help identify children with prolonged myocardial injury beyond apparent clinical recovery.
Ov SK, Pilania RK, Semwal R et al. · World journal of clinical pediatrics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Characterizing systemic lupus erythematosus associated myocarditis: From rare clinical disease to subclinical involvement.
AQUILES cohort investigators and a systematic literature review studied lupus-related myocarditis (LM) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients to define frequency, clinical/subclinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and outcomes. LM occurred in 15 of 534 AQUILES patients (2.8%) with 19 episodes, and pooled frequency across 21 studies was ~1.7%, with the overall evidence supporting a spectrum from clinically apparent to subclinical involvement. This is scientifically and clinically significant because it quantifies LM burden and informs diagnostic vigilance and risk assessment in SLE beyond overt cardiac symptoms.
Narváez J, de Daniel-Bisbe L, Capdevila O et al. · Autoimmunity reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pediatric Myocarditis: Contemporary Insights Into Viral and Immune-Mediated Pathobiology, Precision Diagnostics, Advanced Multimodality Imaging, Risk Stratification, and Evolving Therapeutic Strategies.
This review studied pediatric myocarditis in children, focusing on viral and immune-mediated mechanisms, host genetic susceptibility, and myocardial repair, and it discusses precision diagnostics, multimodality imaging, risk stratification, and evolving therapies. It concludes that pediatric myocarditis is a heterogeneous disorder driven by interactions among infectious triggers, innate/adaptive immune responses, genetic susceptibility, and repair pathways, with additional clinical phenotypes such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and vaccine-associated myocarditis. Clinically, this supports more tailored diagnostic evaluation and risk-directed management rather than treating pediatric myocarditis as a single viral entity.
Fatima H, Rana MA, Asghar T et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Congenital/Structural Heart Disease (including rare anomalies)
ALCAPA syndrome: a rare cause of sudden cardiac arrest in adulthood?-a case report.
This adult case report described a 30-year-old white German woman who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). After successful defibrillation and stabilization, the report highlights that adult ALCAPA may be detected incidentally with modern cardiac imaging despite its classic diagnosis in infancy. Clinically, it underscores the need to consider rare coronary anomalies like ALCAPA in adult sudden cardiac arrest workups.
Arnoldy C, Bansmann PM · Journal of medical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac morphology in children at 2 and 10 years of age after congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair: a comparative MRI-based analysis of ECMO and non-ECMO patients.
This retrospective MRI-based comparative study analyzed cardiac morphology in 57 children after congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) repair, comparing those treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO; n=31) versus non-ECMO (n=26) at ages 2 and 10 years. The study assessed morphological parameters to determine differences between groups and their temporal relationship with later development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The results help define how early post-CDH management (ECMO vs non-ECMO) may be linked to long-term cardiac remodeling relevant to PAH risk.
Jawhar S, Thater G, Appelhaus S et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Topsy-Turvy Heart: Multimodality Prenatal and Postnatal Imaging for Clinical Management.
This case report studied a fetus diagnosed prenatally with topsy-turvy heart and an aortopulmonary window, using fetal echocardiography and fetal cardiac magnetic resonance to plan postnatal management. Immediately after birth, the newborn developed severe respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, despite comprehensive prenatal anatomic assessment. The clinical significance is that combined prenatal imaging can better characterize complex congenital anatomy (including suspected airway abnormalities) to support delivery planning and early postnatal decision-making.
Meyer D, Geiger J, Weber R et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Long-Term Follow-Up With Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in 2 Patients With Isolated Left Ventricular Apical Hypoplasia.
This report studied two patients with isolated left ventricular apical hypoplasia using serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging from childhood into early adulthood. Over more than a decade of follow-up, both patients showed stable ventricular morphology and course on CMR. The long-term imaging data improve understanding of prognosis in this rare congenital anomaly and support CMR as a tool for longitudinal monitoring.
Isenia C, Hassing HC, Constantinescu AA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Unveiling the Unknown: A Case Report of Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma in the Heart.
This case report described a 66-year-old man with an incidentally found left atrial mass in whom undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) of the heart was ultimately diagnosed. Multimodal imaging (echocardiography, CMR, PET-CT) initially suggested a benign lesion, but surgical excision with histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed UPS, followed by postoperative complications and subsequent chemotherapy. The report is clinically significant because it highlights diagnostic pitfalls and the aggressive clinical course of rare primary cardiac UPS.
Alwaheidi DF, Wani ML, Patel A · Clinical Medicine Insights. Cardiology · (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 diagnostic study evaluated a newly designed major/minor checklist for interpreting fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (FCMRI) in fetuses with suspected congenital cardiovascular disease, using postnatal echocardiography as the reference standard. The key finding was that structured checklist-based FCMRI interpretation can improve diagnostic reliability compared with less standardized approaches (with performance assessed against postnatal echo outcomes). Scientifically and clinically, the checklist aims to make FCMRI a more dependable adjunct when fetal echocardiography is limited by factors such as maternal obesity, uterine fibroids, oligohydramnios, fetal malposition, or late-gestational acoustic shadowing.
Hassan HGEMA, Ragheb SR, Elyasaki AM et al. · Academic radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Four Synchronous Myxomas Unmasking Carney Complex: When to Think About Carney Complex?
This case report described a 39-year-old man with multiple synchronous cardiac myxomas discovered on multimodality imaging (transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, CT, and CMR), ultimately raising suspicion for Carney complex (CNC). The key finding was that four distinct highly mobile intracardiac lesions were present simultaneously, which is atypical for sporadic myxomas and supports an underlying syndromic etiology. Clinically, it underscores that multiple concurrent myxomas should prompt evaluation for CNC to guide appropriate genetic and long-term management.
Ballan G, Genovese D, Bortolato A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 new systolic heart murmur and a history of stage 3 Burkitt lymphoma in remission, ultimately diagnosed with an exceptionally rare angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) of the pulmonary artery. The key finding was that multimodality imaging (echocardiography, CMR, and PET-CT) identified a 1.9 cm hyperintense mass attached to the pulmonic valve and main pulmonary artery wall, leading to surgical resection. Clinically, it highlights the diagnostic challenge of rare pulmonary artery tumors and the value of advanced imaging to localize and characterize cardiac/pulmonary vascular masses.
Jafary Z, Rana S, Vaughan M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiomyopathies: Hypertrophic (HCM) Phenotyping & Strain
Impact of hypertrophic pattern and obstruction on cardiovascular magnetic resonance myocardial strain and left atrioventricular coupling in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a retrospective study.
This retrospective study of 199 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients assessed how left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) distribution patterns and obstruction affect cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial strain and left atrioventricular (LA-V) coupling using CMR feature tracking. The key finding was that different LVH patterns and the presence of obstruction were associated with distinct strain profiles and altered LA-V coupling metrics. This supports using CMR-derived strain and coupling measures to better phenotype HCM severity and obstruction-related remodeling.
Li Y, Li Z, Chen S et al. · Open heart · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
A Multitask Deep Learning Pipeline for Classifying Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Hypertensive Heart Disease Based on Native T1 Mapping.
This retrospective single-center study developed and evaluated a multitask deep learning pipeline to classify hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) versus hypertensive heart disease (HHD) using native T1 mapping from 3.0-T modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) maps. In 174 patients (121 HCM, 53 HHD), the multitask model used a two-stage protocol with patient-level stratified fivefold cross-validation to improve discrimination beyond global T1 values. Clinically, this approach could support more accurate CMR-based differentiation of HCM and HHD when morphology and global T1 alone are insufficient.
Zhu H, Qian Y, Yang X et al. · Journal of imaging informatics in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiomyopathies: Myocardial Injury & Prognosis (T2/Edema/IMH/TTS)
Nighttime light exposure and cardiac structure and function.
This population-based cohort study used 11,071 UK Biobank participants who wore wrist accelerometers with integrated light sensors for 7 days (2013–2015) and underwent CMR about 3 years later to test whether nighttime light exposure (>3 lux) relates to cardiac structure and function. The authors reported dose-response associations between nighttime light exposure and CMR cardiac phenotypes, and they also evaluated links to incident cardiovascular disease outcomes. Scientifically, it strengthens evidence that environmental light exposure may contribute to subclinical cardiac remodeling detectable by CMR.
Dai J, Dai W, Heianza Y et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Early-stage myocardial changes are not aggravated by Western diet or ageing in Mybpc3 c.2373insG heterozygous mice.
This mouse study tested whether Western diet feeding or ageing worsens early hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)-like myocardial changes in targeted knock-in mice carrying the Dutch heterozygous Mybpc3 c.2373insG mutation (cardiac myosin-binding protein C, cMyBP-C). In Mybpc3 c.2373insG heterozygous mice, early-stage myocardial changes were not aggravated by Western diet or by ageing at 3, 8.5, or 18 months. The findings suggest that, in this genetic model, metabolic and ageing “second hits” may be insufficient to drive early disease progression, informing mechanistic understanding of genotype–phenotype modulation.
van den Dolder FW, Nollet EE, Warnaar VAJ et al. · The Journal of physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Focal Myocardial Fibrosis Mimicking Hypertrophy in INOCA and the Energetic Cost of Supranormal Ejection Fraction.
This JACC Case Reports report studied a 72-year-old postmenopausal woman with ischemia with nonobstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) to characterize the myocardial consequences of coronary spasm using acetylcholine provocation testing and cardiac magnetic resonance. Cardiac MRI demonstrated focal late gadolinium enhancement in the interventricular septum consistent with replacement fibrosis that mimicked hypertrophy, alongside a supranormal ejection fraction (79%) with reduced end-systolic metrics. The case highlights that chronic microvascular/epicardial spasm can produce focal fibrotic remodeling and altered cardiac energetics even when coronary arteries are nonobstructed.
Nguyen TH, Nakamura T, Sato A · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance global T2 mapping in patients with Takotsubo syndrome.
This retrospective study evaluated cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) global T2 mapping in consecutive patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) who underwent tissue mapping within 30 days of admission. Higher global myocardial T2 (myocardial edema burden) was associated with worse major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACE), with a time-dependent ROC-derived T2 threshold used for prognostic discrimination. Scientifically and clinically, CMR T2 mapping could improve early risk stratification in TTS and guide intensity of follow-up and management.
Kadoya Y, Lim J, Alaqaili M et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Quantitative intramyocardial hemorrhage assessment by conventional T2-weighted imaging improves risk stratification in reperfused STEMI.
This single-center retrospective study assessed whether quantitative intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) measured on conventional T2-weighted (T2W) CMR improves risk stratification in reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. The key finding was that IMH defined as a hypointense core within edema on T2W imaging—quantified as a percentage of left ventricular mass—was prognostically informative for a composite endpoint of all-cause death and heart failure hospitalization. Clinically, it suggests that conventional T2W imaging can provide actionable risk information even when T2* mapping 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 ↗
Psychosocial Stress-Induced Takotsubo Syndrome in a Male Patient: Breaking the Stereotype.
This case report described a 48-year-old man who developed Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) after psychosocial stress related to financial and occupational strain, an atypical trigger profile for male patients. The key finding was that TTS in this patient was complicated by dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and four discrete apical thrombi identified on cardiac magnetic resonance, with recovery after β-blockade and anticoagulation. The significance is that clinicians should consider TTS even in men and with psychosocial triggers, especially when CMR reveals thrombus and obstruction.
Beesley H, Soroa M, Lerakis S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Rhythm & Conduction Disorders (Atrial arrhythmias, PAC-induced CMP, CTS)
Sex Differences in Cardiac Rhythm and Conduction Abnormalities After Noncardioembolic Ischemic Stroke.
This single-center screening study investigated sex differences in newly diagnosed cardiac rhythm and conduction abnormalities within 1 year after noncardioembolic acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in 673 patients (39% women) without prior cardiac disease. The authors found sex-specific patterns in post-AIS cardiac pathologies identified through standardized cardiologic evaluation including telemetry and echocardiography. These results highlight that post-stroke cardiac monitoring and risk stratification may need to account for sex differences.
Schmick A, Rohner MH, Gebhard C et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Atypical Atrial Flutter Unveiling Cor Triatriatum Sinister in a Stable Adult.
This case report studied a stable 64-year-old man with asymptomatic atrial flutter to determine the cause of arrhythmia and incidental anatomy using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). TEE excluded intracardiac thrombus and revealed a left atrial membrane, while CMR confirmed nonobstructive cor triatriatum sinister (CTS). The report underscores that CTS can present with atrial arrhythmias in adults and that multimodality imaging can guide safe TEE-guided cardioversion and anticoagulation.
Panjiyar B, Herrera AJ, Hermann J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Not So Innocent After All: Cardiomyopathy Induced by ‘Benign’ Premature Atrial Contractions.
This case report studied a 36-year-old man with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction found to have frequent monomorphic premature atrial contractions (PACs) with a 28% burden. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging excluded ischemic, infiltrative, and inflammatory cardiomyopathies, and electroanatomic mapping localized a single ectopic focus at the coronary sinus ostium, with successful radiofrequency catheter ablation. The significance is that “benign” PACs can induce arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy, and targeted electrophysiology mapping and ablation can be curative.
Aygün AA, Soysal AU, Durmaz EŞ et al. · Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI/CT Clinical Indications & Imaging Standards
Left Atrial Strain Impairment in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized evidence through July 2026 on left atrial (LA) strain impairment in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), focusing on LA strain phases measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance. Across included studies (7 total; 5 with extractable quantitative data, total n=656), the authors concluded that ESUS is associated with impaired LA mechanical function even without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Clinically, it supports LA strain as a sensitive marker of atrial cardiomyopathy and a potential substrate for embolic risk stratification in ESUS.
Thapa S, Shah S, Fnu P et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Correction to: A 20-minute, free-running, whole-heart cardiac MRI to image myocardial injury following reperfused myocardial infarction: demonstration in a large animal model.
This item is a correction to a Radiology Advances article about a 20-minute free-running whole-heart cardiac MRI technique for imaging myocardial injury after reperfused myocardial infarction in a large animal model. It does not introduce new experimental findings but amends the previously published content related to that imaging demonstration. The significance is primarily to ensure accurate reporting and interpretation of the cardiac MRI method used for post-reperfusion myocardial injury assessment.
Radiology advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Current indications for cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiac computed tomography: a position statement from the Cardiovascular Imaging Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology.
This position statement from the Cardiovascular Imaging Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology reviewed current clinical indications for cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT) across patients with a broad range of cardiovascular diseases. It concludes that CMR and CCT are essential for anatomical and functional assessment, prognostic stratification, and therapeutic planning, but that access and implementation remain uneven across health care settings. The statement is clinically significant because it standardizes when to use CMR/CCT to improve decision-making and equity of advanced cardiac imaging delivery.
Antonio Parada-Barcia J, Rodríguez-Pérez Á, Eiros-Bachiller R et al. · Revista espanola de cardiologia (English ed.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiomyopathies: Arrhythmia Risk Stratification (Imaging-Genetics/Scar)
Pleiotropic Phenotype of RYR2 Exon 3 Deletion: Biventricular Noncompaction and Malignant Arrhythmias.
This JACC Case Reports article studied a 33-year-old woman with an RYR2 exon 3 deletion (E3DS) to define the phenotype using clinical evaluation, electrophysiology study, and cardiac magnetic resonance. The patient had biventricular noncompaction, sinus node dysfunction, nonsustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and postpartum progression to persistent bradyarrhythmia with complete supranodal atrioventricular block and extensive right atrial low-voltage areas. The report emphasizes that RYR2 E3DS can combine structural cardiomyopathy and malignant arrhythmias with severe conduction system disease, informing risk stratification and management.
Faucher L, Cardi T, Fitouchi S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Arrhythmic Risk Stratification According to LGE Corridors and Genetics in Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
In consecutive nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy patients from 22 European centers, investigators assessed major ventricular arrhythmias using cardiac MRI late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) “corridors” combined with high-risk genotypes (HRGs) from genetic testing. The study found that arrhythmic risk stratification improves when LGE corridor information is integrated with HRGs, supporting a combined imaging-genetics approach rather than either factor alone. This is significant because it can refine prediction of ventricular arrhythmias and guide risk-adapted management in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
Ramos-López N, Mora-Ayestarán N, Ochoa JP et al. · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Vasodilator stress perfusion CMR for outcome prediction in patients under 45 years with suspected CAD.
This retrospective analysis studied long-term all-cause mortality prediction using vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in a multicenter cohort of patients younger than 45 years with suspected coronary artery disease. The key finding was that stress CMR retains prognostic value for mortality in this younger population, extending evidence beyond older cohorts. The clinical significance is improved risk stratification for early CAD evaluation using vasodilator stress CMR in patients where traditional risk models may be less informative.
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 ↗
Electrophysiology & Catheter Ablation (Mechanism-guided/AI-assisted mapping)
Exercise-Provoked Wide-Complex Tachycardia and Extreme Duke Score: Orthodromic Reciprocating Tachycardia Unmasked by Electrophysiology Study.
This case report studied a 44-year-old man with exercise-provoked sustained wide-complex tachycardia during stress-test recovery to determine whether the rhythm was ventricular or supraventricular. Despite initial features consistent with ventricular tachycardia (including left bundle branch block morphology, ST depression, and troponin elevation), electrophysiology study unmasked orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia mediated by a concealed left posterior accessory pathway. The significance is that electrophysiology can resolve diagnostic ambiguity in wide-complex tachycardia and directly change treatment by identifying a supraventricular mechanism.
Ray N, Petty A, Money D et al. · JACC. Case 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 registry studied ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation using Sense2 mapping, which integrates functional mapping with image-guided structural scar information from cardiac MRI and CT in 166 post-infarct VT patients. It compares outcomes of MRI/CT-targeted focused functional mapping and ablation versus conventional ablation strategies, aiming to reduce protracted mapping and procedure time. The significance is that combining structural scar data with functional mapping may improve procedural efficiency and potentially ablation outcomes in post-infarct VT.
Papageorgiou N, Bangash F, Ladopoulou D et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Transient Pneumopericardium During Implantation of an Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator.
This JACC Case Reports report described an adult 48-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy who received an extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD) for secondary prevention after out-of-hospital ventricular tachycardia, with CMR confirming extensive nonviable inferior scar. The key finding was that substernal tunneling during EV-ICD implantation caused pericardial puncture leading to pneumopericardium, requiring lead repositioning and subsequent intraoperative defibrillation testing. The significance is procedural risk awareness for EV-ICD implantation via the substernal route, emphasizing careful technique to avoid pericardial injury.
Ollitrault P, Pellissier A, Ferchaud V et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pericardial Disease (Constrictive/Pericardiectomy/Infectious Causes)
Constrictive Pericarditis and Bilateral Pleural Effusions Unmasked in an HLA-B27 Positive Patient.
This case report studied a 40-year-old HLA-B27 positive man with progressive dyspnea, fevers, and cough to evaluate the etiology of constrictive pericarditis. The patient progressed from acute pericarditis to constrictive physiology, failed medical therapy, and improved after radical pericardiectomy, with extensive workup otherwise unrevealing. The report suggests that HLA-B27 positivity may be associated with constrictive pericarditis in some patients, expanding the differential for CP beyond classic causes.
Villalonga M, Al-Dalakta A, El Roumi J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Disseminated meningococcal infection presenting with constrictive pericarditis and bilateral septic arthritis without meningitis: A case report.
This case report studied a previously healthy vaccinated man in his 50s with disseminated meningococcal infection presenting with constrictive pericarditis and bilateral septic arthritis without meningitis. Blood cultures grew Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W while cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, and pericardial fluid cultures were negative, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated constrictive pericarditis. The significance is that invasive meningococcal disease can present with extra-meningeal complications without classic meningitis, so clinicians should consider it in atypical constrictive pericarditis and septic arthritis presentations.
Binidris M, Shehata M, Mahfouz A et al. · SAGE open medical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Epicardial Lipomatosis as a Cause of Constrictive Pericarditis.
This case report studied two patients with epicardial lipomatosis causing constrictive pericarditis. Both underwent multimodality imaging—transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging—which demonstrated diffuse epicardial fat, and both were managed conservatively with optimization of heart failure therapy and dialysis strategy. The clinical significance is that epicardial lipomatosis is a rare, potentially missed cause of constrictive physiology that multimodality imaging can identify to support appropriate non-surgical management.
Raval PA, Odhiambo JO, Ombati K et al. · Case reports in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Amyloidosis Imaging & PET
Diagnostic Sensitivity of [18F]-Florbetaben-PET/CT in Detecting Cardiac Involvement in AL Amyloidosis: The Prospective MoRBiDA Study.
The prospective MoRBiDA study evaluated treatment-naive cardiac AL amyloidosis patients to determine the diagnostic sensitivity of [18F]-florbetaben PET/CT (F-PET) for detecting cardiac involvement and to relate imaging results to multimodality imaging and biomarkers. The key finding reported is the study’s assessment of F-PET sensitivity for cardiac amyloid detection and its correlations with established cardiac and clonal disease markers used for prognosis and therapy response. This matters clinically because it tests whether F-PET can improve early detection of cardiac involvement in AL amyloidosis, where timing strongly affects outcomes.
Milani P, Sanna GD, Pepe G et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardio-Oncology & Treatment-Related Cardiotoxicity (biomarkers, cancer therapies)
EuroNet-PHL-LP1: complete resection or low-dose chemotherapy for pediatric low-risk nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma.
The EuroNet-PHL-LP1 phase 3 trial studied children and adolescents with early-stage nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (nLPHL) to test whether complete resection alone or low-intensity, anthracycline-free CVP (cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, prednisone) could replace standard approaches. It found that complete resection enabled active surveillance, while unresectable disease treated with 3 cycles CVP was feasible as a low-intensity strategy, with event-free survival outcomes reported for these cohorts. This is clinically significant because it aims to reduce treatment intensity (including avoiding anthracyclines) while maintaining disease control in pediatric low-risk nLPHL.
Shankar A, Landman-Parker J, Mascarin M et al. · Blood advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The changing therapeutic landscape of small-cell lung cancer.
This narrative review studied small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and how the therapeutic landscape has evolved, integrating preclinical biology into new treatment strategies. It reports that advances in understanding SCLC heterogeneity and cell-surface protein expression have enabled multiple targeted therapies with preliminary evidence of efficacy beyond traditional chemotherapy. The clinical significance is that SCLC treatment is shifting toward biology-driven, potentially more durable approaches, informing future trial design and patient selection.
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 scoping review studied adult post-operative mental health outcomes after abdominal and orthopedic surgeries by mapping the breadth and depth of evidence across surgical populations. Using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidance, it conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and gray literature to synthesize existing findings on post-operative mental health challenges. The significance is that it identifies gaps in evidence about how surgery affects mental health, supporting better study design and more holistic perioperative care.
Akwa GM, Tiemah NC, Chabeja A et al. · Cureus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Circulating Biomarkers in Cardio-Oncology: Prediction and Prognostication.
This review studied circulating biomarkers used in cardio-oncology to predict and prognosticate cancer therapy–related cardiovascular toxicity in patients receiving oncologic treatments. It found that cardiac troponins consistently provide strong prognostic value, whereas natriuretic peptides show more variable performance for cardiotoxicity prediction, and that biomarker-guided therapeutic strategies have important limitations. Clinically, the synthesis supports troponin-based risk stratification while highlighting the need for better evidence and standardized approaches for using biomarkers to guide interventions.
Kim J, Lee B, White A et al. · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 multicentre, prospective observational study protocol planned to evaluate real-world safety, symptom improvement, and adherence to mavacamten in Iranian adults with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). The key finding (as a protocol) is the study design to generate prospective effectiveness and tolerability data outside randomized trials, focusing on routine clinical practice outcomes. The significance is that it will address evidence gaps for mavacamten in non-Western populations and support more generalizable guidance for cardio-oncology–adjacent cardiomyopathy care decisions.
Ghaseminejad-Raeini A, Karimi MA, Shirinezhad A et al. · BMJ open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Valvular Heart Disease (Mitral Prolapse, Aortic Stenosis)
Comparative Discriminatory Ability of Body Mass Index, Percent Body Fat, Waist Circumference, and Waist-to-Height Ratio for Cardiometabolic Risk Among Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2024.
Using KNHANES 2024 data, a cross-sectional study compared BMI, percent body fat (PBF), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) for cardiometabolic risk discrimination among 2412 Korean adults aged 40–64 years. The key finding is the relative discriminatory performance of these anthropometric measures for identifying cardiometabolic risk defined by ≥2 of elevated blood pressure, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL cholesterol. This is significant for public health and clinical screening because it identifies which simple body-measurement metric best flags elevated cardiometabolic risk in Korean adults.
Park E · Biological research for nursing · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Moderate aortic stenosis: diagnostic pitfalls and the role of multimodality imaging in risk stratification and clinical management.
This review studied moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and analyzed diagnostic pitfalls of standard echocardiography in patients with non-severe AS, emphasizing multimodality imaging for risk stratification and management. It finds that moderate AS is not benign and that computed tomography aortic valve calcium scoring and other advanced imaging approaches can better quantify severity and predict outcomes than conventional echocardiographic parameters alone. The clinical significance is improved identification of higher-risk patients with moderate AS who may benefit from closer surveillance or earlier intervention.
Santangelo G, Maloberti A, Tognola C et al. · Cardiovascular ultrasound · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Circulating Biomarkers Related to Mitral Valve Prolapse: Current Evidence and Mechanistic Perspective.
This review studied circulating biomarkers in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), focusing on mechanistic links to myocardial stress, fibrosis/extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammation, and metabolic dysregulation. It finds that natriuretic peptides are the most validated biomarkers, consistently predicting adverse outcomes and potentially informing timing of surgical intervention. The clinical significance is that biomarker-informed risk stratification could complement imaging to enable more individualized MVP management.
Maries L, Songsangjinda T, Shah DJ · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Machine Learning & AI for Cardiac Imaging (Segmentation/Scar Detection)
CPU-based fast cardiac cine MRI segmentation using lightweight CNNs and knowledge distillation.
This study developed and evaluated CPU-deployable lightweight convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for cardiac cine MRI segmentation by training student models via knowledge distillation from a residual-encoder U-Net teacher. The key finding is that distilled lightweight architectures (MobileUNetV2, MobileUNetV3 with squeeze-and-excitation attention, and EfficientLiteUNet) achieve fast and accurate segmentation on CPU, including deployment in web browsers. This is significant because it enables practical, resource-limited clinical deployment of automated cine segmentation without requiring GPU inference.
Feng X, Singulane CC, Patel AR et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 deep learning (nnU-Net) framework to detect myocardial scar from dual-sequence computed tomography (CT) using coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) features, with CMR as the reference standard. The key finding was that the AI model could predict myocardial scar both globally and by American Heart Association 17-segment subdivisions, with performance validated against CMR. Scientifically, this supports a CMR-sparing approach for scar detection when CMR access is limited by cost, time, or expertise.
Lu R, Yang T, Li M et al. · Journal of imaging informatics in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on September 10, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published September 03, 2026 – September 10, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.