What's New in Cardiac MRI? — September 12, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 56 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
September 12, 2026 · 56 articles · 15 research themes · covering September 05, 2026 – September 12, 2026
Overview
This week’s cardiovascular literature is dominated by advances in cardiac imaging—especially cardiac MRI—and by efforts to translate imaging phenotypes into better diagnosis and risk prediction. Multiple studies focus on distinguishing clinically overlapping conditions (e.g., hypertrophic cardiomyopathy vs hypertensive heart disease, amyloidosis subtypes, myocarditis vs infarction-like presentations, and Takotsubo phenotypes). Across these, CMR tissue characterization (T1/T2 mapping, native T1, LGE, feature tracking strain) and multimodality imaging repeatedly emerge as the “tie-breakers” when standard tests are ambiguous.
A second major theme is moving from descriptive imaging to actionable decision support. Examples include CMR-based prognostication in ATTR cardiomyopathy (predicting progression to heart failure and conduction worsening under tafamidis), CMR-guided risk stratification in cardiac sarcoidosis and Takotsubo, and imaging-informed strategies for arrhythmia management (e.g., noninvasive scar prediction to guide VT ablation). Several papers also highlight the need for methodological rigor and external validation—particularly for radiomics/AI approaches—while showing promising performance when models are carefully designed and clinically grounded.
Finally, the digest includes a broad set of “clinical pattern recognition” reports and registries that expand differential diagnoses: rare causes of constrictive pericarditis, uncommon cardiac tumors/masses, congenital anomalies detected through advanced imaging, and mechanisms of cardioembolic stroke (including persistent venous shunts). Together, these studies reinforce a practical message: modern imaging not only detects disease, but can prevent misdiagnosis by revealing the underlying mechanism—whether inflammatory, infiltrative, structural, or treatment-related.
Cardiac Tumors and Rare Cardiac Masses
The changing therapeutic landscape of small-cell lung cancer.
This article reviews the evolving therapeutic landscape of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), focusing on preclinical advances and emerging targeted approaches in SCLC models and patient-relevant biology. It highlights that identifying SCLC-enriched/differential cell-surface proteins has enabled multiple targeted therapies with preliminary evidence of efficacy. These developments are clinically significant because they suggest a shift beyond transient chemotherapy responsiveness toward mechanism-driven treatments for recurrent, treatment-refractory SCLC.
Ross JS, Hockemeyer KG, Redin E et al. · Lancet (London, England) · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Disseminated HIV-Associated Burkitt Lymphoma With Cardiac and Presumed Central Nervous System Involvement.
This case report describes a 52-year-old man with HIV who developed disseminated HIV-associated Burkitt lymphoma with cardiac involvement and presumed central nervous system involvement. Imaging identified a right atrial mass and septal involvement, with contrast echocardiography demonstrating vascularity and invasion and cardiac MRI confirming atrial and ventricular septum involvement. The significance is that multimodal imaging—including contrast echocardiography in resource-limited settings—can enable earlier recognition of rare cardiac BL in immunocompromised patients.
Tsai D, Trilesskaya M · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Baseline fdg pet/ct-derived tumor burden and host metabolic activity predict complete metabolic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in ınvasive ductal breast cancer.
This retrospective study assessed whether baseline FDG PET/CT tumor burden and host metabolic activity predict complete metabolic response (CMR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in 90 women with histologically confirmed invasive ductal breast cancer. PET/CT-derived metrics such as metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), along with host ratios (e.g., brain-to-liver and bone marrow-to-liver) and inflammatory/body composition biomarkers (e.g., neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and psoas muscle measures), were evaluated for association with post-NAC CMR. If confirmed, these imaging and host metabolic features could help personalize NAC decisions by identifying patients likely to achieve complete metabolic response.
Cinar A, Senlik SD, Inanir A et al. · Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
ALCAPA syndrome: a rare cause of sudden cardiac arrest in adulthood?-a case report.
This adult case report described anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) as a rare cause of sudden cardiac arrest in a 30-year-old white German woman. After out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and successful defibrillation, she was stabilized and the diagnosis was pursued using modern cardiac imaging. The report emphasizes that ALCAPA, though typically diagnosed in infancy, should remain on the differential for unexplained adult sudden cardiac arrest.
Arnoldy C, Bansmann PM · Journal of medical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
EuroNet-PHL-LP1: complete resection or low-dose chemotherapy for pediatric low-risk nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma.
In the prospective phase 3 EuroNet-PHL-LP1 trial, children and adolescents with early-stage nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (nLPHL) were studied to determine whether complete surgical resection alone or low-dose, anthracycline-free CVP (cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, prednisone) could replace standard approaches. The trial found that treatment could be de-escalated based on resectability, with resected patients managed by active surveillance and unresectable patients receiving only 3 cycles of CVP. This is significant because it aims to maintain event-free survival while reducing exposure to anthracyclines in pediatric low-risk nLPHL.
Shankar A, Landman-Parker J, Mascarin M et al. · Blood advances · (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 discovered left atrial mass in whom undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) of the heart was diagnosed using multimodal imaging (echocardiography, cardiac MRI, PET-CT) followed by surgical excision and histopathology with immunohistochemistry. The key finding was that imaging initially suggested a benign lesion, but definitive UPS diagnosis was made postoperatively, followed by severe postoperative complications including right-sided heart failure, atrial arrhythmia, and recurrent skin ulcers requiring grafting. The clinical significance is that UPS can masquerade as benign cardiac masses, so early tissue diagnosis and aggressive oncologic management are crucial given its high aggressiveness.
Alwaheidi DF, Wani ML, Patel A · Clinical Medicine Insights. Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Valvular Heart Disease in Amyloidosis and Aortic Stenosis Risk Stratification
VALVE DISEASES IN CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS: WHAT WE HAVE TO KNOW.
This review summarizes what is known about valvular heart disease in cardiac amyloidosis, particularly in patients with immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) and transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. It emphasizes that aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular manifestation—especially in wild-type ATTR—and that concomitant CA and AS can interact synergistically to worsen ventricular outcomes. The clinical significance is improved recognition and risk assessment of combined CA+AS, which is common and has major implications for management and prognosis.
Lisi DD, Salvo FD, Castro F et al. · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Moderate aortic stenosis: diagnostic pitfalls and the role of multimodality imaging in risk stratification and clinical management.
This review article synthesized evidence on diagnostic pitfalls in moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and emphasized how multimodality imaging can improve risk stratification and management decisions. The key finding was that standard echocardiography can misclassify disease severity in moderate AS, and that advanced approaches such as computed tomography aortic valve calcium scoring and cardiac imaging (including AI-enabled assessment) better capture true risk. Clinically, this supports more accurate staging of moderate AS to identify patients who may benefit from closer follow-up or earlier intervention.
Santangelo G, Maloberti A, Tognola C et al. · Cardiovascular ultrasound · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Sarcoidosis (Epidemiology, Risk Stratification, and Outcomes)
Life-threatening Ventricular Arrhythmias in Cardiac Sarcoidosis with Implantable Devices: Incidence and Predictors in a UK Cohort.
This UK cohort study evaluated the incidence and predictors of device-detected life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) who received cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) between 2006 and 2024. It stratified patients at implantation by the 2014 Heart Rhythm Society ICD indication categories (Class I, Class IIa, or Neither) and assessed sustained ventricular arrhythmias as the primary endpoint. The findings are significant for refining ICD risk stratification and guiding guideline-based device decisions in CS patients.
Ahmed R, Paray NB, Azzu A et al. · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Management and Outcomes of Cardiac Sarcoidosis: Insights From the Nationwide MYSTICS Registry.
This nationwide multicenter retrospective registry analysis (MYSTICS) studied real-world management and outcomes of 2366 patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), focusing on 1852 newly diagnosed patients from 2012–2021. Patients were stratified into definite CS, probable CS, presumed systemic sarcoidosis, and presumed isolated CS based on diagnostic criteria, and the study characterized recurrence and outcomes across these groups. The large-scale dataset clarifies how diagnostic category and treatment patterns relate to prognosis in this heterogeneous, rare disease.
Izumi C, Yoshikawa Y, Komuro I et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Arrhythmic Risk Stratification According to LGE Corridors and Genetics in Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
This multicenter European cohort study evaluated major ventricular arrhythmic events in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy who underwent cardiac MRI late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) assessment for “LGE corridors” and genetic testing for high-risk genotypes. The key finding was that ventricular arrhythmia risk was stratified by the combined presence of LGE corridors and high-risk genotypes, extending the concept of conduction-related LGE corridors from ischemic to nonischemic disease. Clinically, this supports using LGE corridor mapping plus genotype to refine arrhythmic risk prediction and guide management in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
Ramos-López N, Mora-Ayestarán N, Ochoa JP et al. · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiomyopathy Phenotyping & Differential Diagnosis (HCM/HHD/Nonischemic)
Left Atrium Myocardial Remodeling and Prognostic Marker Derived from CMR Feature Tracking in Pediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
This retrospective study assessed left atrial (LA) myocardial remodeling and prognostic value of LA strain derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (CMR-FT) in pediatric patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). It found that LA strain parameters measured by CMR-FT were associated with adverse outcomes using Cox regression analysis. The scientific/clinical significance is that CMR-FT LA strain may serve as an early prognostic marker in pediatric HCM, potentially improving risk prediction beyond left ventricular measures.
Chen X, Tang Y, Ma X et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Late Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity Mimicking Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy in a Young Adult.
This JACC Case Reports report describes a 26-year-old man with childhood Burkitt lymphoma who developed delayed doxorubicin (cumulative 120 mg/m2) cardiotoxicity years after treatment. Despite normal or near-normal ejection fraction and unremarkable ECG/ambulatory monitoring, imaging showed reduced global longitudinal strain and cardiac magnetic resonance findings consistent with delayed anthracycline cardiotoxicity mimicking arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. The significance is that clinicians should consider late doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in young patients with arrhythmia-like phenotypes, using strain and CMR to avoid misdiagnosis.
Chedid M, Barrett C, Sun M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF INCRETIN RECEPTOR AGONISTS: BEYOND GLYCEMIC CONTROL.
This narrative review examined cardiovascular effects of incretin receptor agonists across three pharmacologic tiers—GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), dual GLP-1/GIP agonists, and triple GLP-1/GIP/glucagon receptor agonists—focusing on mechanisms beyond glycemic control. Mediation analyses from major cardiovascular outcome trials suggest that glycemic improvement accounts for less than ~15–20% of the reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events, with the remainder attributed to weight loss, lipid remodeling, blood pressure lowering, systemic inflammation reduction, and direct myocardial protection. The review highlights mechanistic targets that may explain cardiovascular benefit and guide future drug development and patient selection.
Ravic M, Srejovic IM, Milosavljevic I et al. · Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 sex differences in cardiac function and remodeling across all stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF spectrum), using comprehensive cardiac MRI (CMR) in 84 sex-matched CKD patients (stages 1–5) plus 28 healthy controls from the LGECKD study. Using MANCOVA with confounder adjustment, the study evaluated how cardiac structure and function differed between females and males across CKD stages. The results could inform sex-specific risk assessment and management strategies for HFpEF in CKD.
Kamieniarz P, Plietz AS, Urbach LV et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 assessed how hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) distribution patterns and obstruction affect myocardial strain and left atrioventricular (AV) coupling in 199 HCM patients using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking. The key finding was that different LVH patterns (P1–P4) and the presence of obstruction were associated with distinct alterations in CMR-derived myocardial strain and left AV coupling metrics. This is scientifically and clinically important because it links HCM phenotypic heterogeneity (pattern and obstruction) to measurable CMR functional coupling, potentially improving risk stratification beyond morphology alone.
Li Y, Li Z, Chen S et al. · Open heart · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 phases in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), focusing on subclinical atrial cardiomyopathy assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Across included studies (7 total; 5 with extractable quantitative data; total n=656 with phase-specific subgroup sizes reported), ESUS patients demonstrated impaired LA strain across the measured strain phases compared with controls or baseline comparators. This is important because it supports LA strain as a sensitive, noninvasive marker of atrial mechanical dysfunction that may help identify embolic substrate in ESUS independent of known paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Thapa S, Shah S, Fnu P et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pleiotropic Phenotype of RYR2 Exon 3 Deletion: Biventricular Noncompaction and Malignant Arrhythmias.
This case report studied a 33-year-old woman with a pathogenic RYR2 exon 3 deletion (E3DS) presenting during pregnancy with premature ventricular contractions and later developing biventricular noncompaction, sinus node dysfunction, and nonsustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Postpartum, she developed persistent bradyarrhythmia, and electrophysiology testing showed complete supranodal atrioventricular block with extensive right atrial low-voltage areas, while cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed biventricular noncompaction. The findings emphasize that RYR2 E3DS can produce both structural cardiomyopathy and malignant arrhythmias/conduction disease, supporting early rhythm surveillance and advanced imaging in ryanodinopathy.
Faucher L, Cardi T, Fitouchi S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Thromboembolism, Shunts, and Cardioembolic Stroke Mechanisms
Paradoxical Stroke via Persistent Levoatriocardinal Vein and Evaluation and Management Recommendations.
This case report describes an 80-year-old man with Parkinson disease, dementia, and prostate cancer who experienced a paradoxical stroke attributed to a persistent levoatriocardinal vein (LACV) causing a right-to-left shunt. After occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery was treated with endovascular thrombectomy, multimodal imaging (including transthoracic echocardiography with agitated contrast and brain MRI showing embolic infarcts) supported the LACV mechanism and informed management recommendations. The clinical significance is that persistent LACV should be considered in unexplained embolic strokes, and that evaluation for shunt physiology can guide appropriate prevention strategies.
Tejan-Sie A, Rodriguez RT, Padgett L et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocarditis (Pediatric and Adult) and Inflammatory Myocardial Disease
Septal Myocarditis Mimicking Proximal Left Anterior Descending Artery Occlusion.
This case report describes a previously well 21-year-old woman presenting with acute chest pain and ST-segment elevation with a proximal left anterior descending artery infarction phenotype that ultimately proved to be focal septal myocarditis. Coronary angiography showed nonobstructive coronaries, while cardiac magnetic resonance demonstrated focal septal edema with nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement consistent with acute myocarditis. The clinical significance is that CMR can distinguish myocarditis from acute coronary occlusion when ECG and biomarkers mimic myocardial infarction.
Jeong SY, Jayawardena SV, Seton N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Characterizing systemic lupus erythematosus associated myocarditis: From rare clinical disease to subclinical involvement.
This study characterized lupus-related myocarditis (LM) by analyzing 534 SLE patients in the AQUILES tertiary-care registry (1990–2025) and by conducting a systematic literature review from 1990 to February 2026. In AQUILES, 15/534 patients (2.8%) had 19 LM episodes, and the pooled descriptive frequency across studies was ~1.7% (with heterogeneity), with the paper detailing clinical/subclinical diagnostic patterns and outcomes. The results help define the real-world spectrum of LM from overt to subclinical involvement, improving recognition and risk assessment in systemic lupus erythematosus.
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 narrative review synthesized current evidence on pediatric myocarditis, focusing on viral and immune-mediated mechanisms, precision diagnostics, advanced multimodality imaging, risk stratification, and evolving therapies. The key finding was that pediatric myocarditis is heterogeneous, driven by interactions among infectious triggers, innate and adaptive immune responses, host genetic susceptibility, and myocardial repair processes, with additional clinical entities such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and vaccine-associated myocarditis. The clinical significance is that it frames how modern imaging and risk stratification can guide more tailored diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in children.
Fatima H, Rana MA, Asghar T et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac Amyloidosis (AL/ATTR) Imaging, Biomarkers, and Therapy Monitoring
Regional Myocardial Tissue Characterization by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Is Associated With Heart Failure Development in Asymptomatic Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy.
This Circulation Reports study investigated whether cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) tissue characterization in asymptomatic patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) predicts subsequent heart failure (HF) development. Among 113 ATTR-CM patients (14 asymptomatic), those who developed HF over a median 770 days had higher left ventricular mass index on echocardiography and worse CMR native T1–based tissue characteristics compared with those who remained asymptomatic. The significance is that CMR-derived myocardial tissue markers may enable earlier identification of asymptomatic ATTR-CM patients at high risk for progression to HF.
Tsuruda T, Nakada H, Suiko Y et al. · Circulation reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical Factors Related to Cardiac Conduction Disturbance in Patients With Wild-Type Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Undergoing Tafamidis Treatment.
This Circulation Reports study evaluated clinical factors associated with cardiac conduction disturbances in 50 patients with wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) receiving tafamidis. Using baseline CMR and subsequent follow-up after starting tafamidis, the study assessed changes in atrioventricular conduction disturbances (AVCD) and intraventricular conduction disturbances (IVCD) and related them to clinical variables including CMR parameters. The significance is that identifying predictors of conduction worsening could improve monitoring strategies and risk stratification during tafamidis therapy.
Hamamoto K, Kitagawa T, Okamoto D et al. · Circulation reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Diagnostic Sensitivity of [18F]-Florbetaben-PET/CT in Detecting Cardiac Involvement in AL Amyloidosis: The Prospective MoRBiDA Study.
This prospective MoRBiDA study evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity of [18F]-florbetaben PET/CT for detecting cardiac involvement in treatment-naive AL amyloidosis and related imaging findings to established markers. The study integrates multimodality imaging (molecular PET/CT plus cardiac MRI/echocardiography) and biomarkers of cardiac and clonal disease to assess detection performance and correlations with prognosis/therapy response. Clinically, it aims to determine whether F-PET can improve early identification of cardiac AL amyloidosis, which is critical for timely treatment decisions.
Milani P, Sanna GD, Pepe G et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Circulating Biomarkers Related to Mitral Valve Prolapse: Current Evidence and Mechanistic Perspective.
This narrative review studied circulating biomarkers in mitral valve prolapse (MVP), focusing on mechanistic links to myocardial stress, fibrosis/extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammation, and metabolic dysregulation. It found that natriuretic peptides are the most validated circulating biomarkers, predicting adverse outcomes and potentially informing timing of surgical intervention. The review is clinically important because it supports integrating blood-based biomarkers with imaging to improve individualized risk stratification and management in MVP.
Maries L, Songsangjinda T, Shah DJ · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Heart Failure and Right Ventricular Dysfunction/Uncoupling (CMR and Biomarkers)
Carbohydrate antigen 125 for predicting right ventricular dysfunction and right ventricular to pulmonary artery uncoupling in acute heart failure: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.
This retrospective single-center cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) study evaluated whether serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) predicts CMR-defined right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and right ventricular–pulmonary artery (RV-PA) uncoupling in 479 consecutive acute heart failure (AHF) patients. Higher CA125 levels were associated with CMR-derived RVD (RV ejection fraction <45%) and RV-PA uncoupling (RV stroke volume/RV end-systolic volume <1), with discriminatory performance assessed by ROC analysis and multivariable logistic regression. If validated, CA125 could provide a simpler blood-based surrogate for CMR markers of RV failure and RV-PA uncoupling that are linked to prognosis in AHF.
Valero E, de la Espriella R, Miñana G et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 patients with cirrhosis-induced portal hypertension using combined hepatic and cardiac MRI before and 1 year after TIPS (n=11/2018–5/2022). One year after TIPS, cardiac MRI with volumetric/functional assessment, strain analysis, T1/T2 mapping, myocardial edema measures, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was used to characterize whether TIPS-associated hemodynamic changes produced persistent cardiac remodeling. These findings are clinically significant because they define the magnitude and imaging phenotype of long-term post-TIPS cardiac remodeling, informing cardiovascular surveillance in cirrhosis patients.
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.
This prospective multicenter cohort study compared right ventricular (RV) adaptation after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) versus balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) in 93 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension using cardiac MRI, right heart catheterization, exercise testing, and biomarkers. The key finding was a differential pattern of RV reverse remodeling between PEA and BPA, assessed through cardiac MRI-based structural and functional changes alongside hemodynamic and clinical measures. Scientifically and clinically, it informs which intervention better supports RV recovery in CTEPH and helps refine treatment selection based on imaging-defined RV remodeling.
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.
This retrospective study assessed 188 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients stratified by an MRI-derived right-to-left ventricular end-diastolic volume ratio (RV/LV; normal <1.27 vs elevated ≥1.27) and compared them with 81 matched controls to determine how RV dilation relates to left ventricular (LV) myocardial dysfunction. The key finding was that an elevated RV/LV volume ratio was associated with regional LV dysfunction patterns on MRI strain analysis, and the study evaluated mediating pathways linking RV dilation to LV impairment. Clinically, this supports using RV/LV volume ratio on cardiac MRI as a marker not only of RV remodeling but also of downstream LV dysfunction in PAH.
Fang H, Li Y, Wang J et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Takotsubo Syndrome (CMR Phenotyping and Prognosis)
Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and myocardial edema burden in Takotsubo syndrome: acute and long-term outcomes-insights from the EVOLUTION registry.
This EVOLUTION registry sub-analysis studied clinical and CMR characteristics and outcomes of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) patients with versus without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), using CMR performed within 5 days of echocardiography in 249 patients (226 women). Patients with LVOTO had distinct CMR features (including higher left ventricular mass) and worse in-hospital and long-term outcomes compared with those without LVOTO. These findings support incorporating LVOTO status and CMR phenotyping to refine risk stratification and management in TTS.
Cau R, Santoro F, Pontone G et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance global T2 mapping in patients with Takotsubo syndrome.
This retrospective study evaluated Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) patients who underwent cardiac MRI with tissue mapping within 30 days of admission to test whether global myocardial T2 (edema) predicts major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACE). The key finding was that higher global T2 values were associated with subsequent MACE, and a time-dependent ROC-derived T2 threshold improved prognostic discrimination. This is significant because CMR T2 mapping could provide an imaging-based risk stratification tool for TTS beyond standard clinical variables.
Kadoya Y, Lim J, Alaqaili M et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Arrhythmia-Induced Cardiomyopathy & Catheter Ablation Targeting
Speckle tracking echocardiography predicts electroanatomical scar in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia.
This prospective study evaluated whether speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) segment- and layer-specific longitudinal strain (LS) can predict electroanatomical scar in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia (VT). STE-derived LS patterns were matched to electroanatomical mapping data (using an 18-segment model) to identify strain measures that forecast scar presence. If reproducible, STE could help noninvasively identify ablation targets when cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) fibrosis imaging is not feasible.
Gabrielli FA, Bencardino G, Ballacci F et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 whose exercise testing produced sustained wide-complex tachycardia with left bundle branch block morphology and troponin elevation, initially mimicking ventricular tachycardia. Coronary angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance excluded obstructive/structural heart disease, and electrophysiology study unmasked orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia mediated by a concealed left posterior accessory pathway. The case demonstrates that stress-test wide-complex tachycardia can represent supraventricular tachycardia with aberrancy, and that electrophysiology study is pivotal for correct diagnosis and management.
Ray N, Petty A, Money D 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 attributed to a high burden of monomorphic premature atrial contractions (PACs) (28%). Cardiac MRI excluded ischemic, infiltrative, and inflammatory cardiomyopathies, electroanatomic mapping localized a single ectopic focus at the coronary sinus ostium, and radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed successfully. Scientifically and clinically, it supports that frequent PACs can induce arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy and that targeted ablation can be curative.
Aygün AA, Soysal AU, Durmaz EŞ et al. · Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI/CT AI, Segmentation, and Image Analysis Methods
CORE: Suppressing Spurious Similarity via Confidence-Aware Prototypes for Few-Shot Medical Image Segmentation.
This computer-vision study developed CORE, a confidence-aware prototype learning framework for few-shot medical image segmentation (FSMIS) to reduce false positives caused by spurious prototype-query similarity. CORE introduces confidence-aware handling of heterogeneous foreground reliability and improves prototype-query matching to suppress background-to-foreground spurious similarity. The method aims to improve segmentation accuracy in clinical settings where only a few labeled examples are available.
Xu C, Li S, Wang H et al. · IEEE transactions on medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 (CMRI) and two-dimensional echocardiography, alongside serum galectin-3 as a biomarker of persistent inflammation/fibrosis. The key finding was that CMRI could reveal persistent subclinical myocardial changes after MIS-C, and serum galectin-3 levels were assessed for correlation with these imaging abnormalities. This is significant because it identifies ongoing cardiac involvement beyond apparent clinical recovery and supports biomarker–imaging linkage for long-term follow-up.
Ov SK, Pilania RK, Semwal R et al. · World journal of clinical pediatrics · (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 described a 72-year-old postmenopausal woman with ischemic symptoms and ECG findings in whom acetylcholine provocation testing demonstrated epicardial and microvascular coronary spasm. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed focal late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the interventricular septum, indicating replacement fibrosis that mimicked hypertrophy, alongside a supranormal ejection fraction of 79% with reduced end-systolic measures. The significance is that it highlights how coronary vasospasm can produce focal fibrotic remodeling detectable by CMR, with potential implications for interpreting “hypertrophy-like” imaging and understanding energetic consequences of supranormal systolic function.
Nguyen TH, Nakamura T, Sato A · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Atypical Atrial Flutter Unveiling Cor Triatriatum Sinister in a Stable Adult.
This case report described a stable 64-year-old man with asymptomatic atrial flutter in whom transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were used to diagnose cor triatriatum sinister (CTS). The key finding was that TEE excluded intracardiac thrombus and incidentally revealed a left atrial membrane, which CMR confirmed as nonobstructive CTS. This is clinically significant because it demonstrates how atrial arrhythmias can unmask rare congenital left atrial anomalies and supports TEE-guided cardioversion with anticoagulation in such patients.
Panjiyar B, Herrera AJ, Hermann J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 publication is a correction to a prior 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. The correction does not introduce new clinical findings but amends the record for the referenced DOI (10.1093/radadv/umag009). Scientifically, it ensures accurate attribution and technical details for researchers using or building on the cardiac MRI myocardial-injury imaging method.
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 studied current clinical indications for cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiac computed tomography in a broad range of cardiovascular diseases, authored by the Cardiovascular Imaging Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology. It summarizes how CMR and CCT provide anatomical and functional information for decision-making, prognostic stratification, and therapy planning, while noting uneven accessibility and implementation across healthcare settings. The statement is significant for standardizing referral criteria and optimizing appropriate use of advanced cardiac imaging in routine practice.
Antonio Parada-Barcia J, Rodríguez-Pérez Á, Eiros-Bachiller R et al. · Revista espanola de cardiologia (English ed.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CPU-based fast cardiac cine MRI segmentation using lightweight CNNs and knowledge distillation.
This engineering and validation study developed CPU-deployable cardiac cine MRI segmentation using lightweight convolutional neural networks (MobileUNetV2, MobileUNetV3 with squeeze-and-excitation, and EfficientLiteUNet) trained via knowledge distillation from a residual-encoder U-Net teacher. The key finding was that distillation-enabled lightweight models achieved fast, accurate segmentation on CPU devices (including web-browser deployment) without requiring GPU inference. This is significant because it enables broader clinical deployment of automated cine segmentation in settings with limited computational resources.
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 ↗
Congenital/Structural Heart Disease and Longitudinal Imaging
Optimisation of an Algorithm for Fetal Strain by CMR and its Use in Suspected Coarctation of the Aorta.
This fetal cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) study optimized an algorithm for fetal ventricular strain and tested its diagnostic utility in suspected coarctation of the aorta (CoA) among 42 third-trimester fetuses. Using 1.5 T fetal CMR with Doppler ultrasound gating and feature tracking (left ventricular four-chamber strain) plus endocardial shortening (right ventricular strain), the authors adjusted contour settings to improve strain estimation. Optimized fetal strain assessment may reduce false positives and improve prenatal detection of true CoA.
Fricke K, Piek M, Heiberg E et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (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 evaluated cardiac morphology in 57 children after congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) repair, comparing those treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO; n=31) versus non-ECMO patients (n=26) at 2 and 10 years of age. The study assessed whether ECMO status was associated with differences in cardiac morphological parameters and how these differences related temporally to later development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The clinical significance is that it uses longitudinal cardiac MRI to clarify which post-CDH repair patients (ECMO vs non-ECMO) are at higher risk for persistent cardiac remodeling linked to PAH.
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 prenatal and postnatal multimodality imaging in a fetus/newborn diagnosed with the extremely rare congenital “topsy-turvy heart” along with an aortopulmonary window, with suspected associated airway abnormalities. Combined fetal echocardiography and fetal cardiac magnetic resonance characterized the complex intracardiac anatomy, but the newborn immediately developed severe respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. The report highlights how integrated fetal cardiac MRI and echocardiography can guide perinatal clinical management in rare congenital heart disease with high-risk extracardiac (airway) involvement.
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 case report studied two patients with isolated left ventricular apical hypoplasia using serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance over more than a decade from childhood into early adulthood. Over long-term follow-up, both patients showed stable ventricular morphology/function on repeated CMR assessments. The extended imaging follow-up helps clarify the natural history of this rare congenital anomaly and supports CMR as a tool for longitudinal risk and structural monitoring.
Isenia C, Hassing HC, Constantinescu AA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Environmental/Anthropometric Risk, and Post-Stroke Monitoring
Nighttime light exposure and cardiac structure and function.
This population-based cohort study in 11,071 UK Biobank participants used wrist-worn accelerometers with integrated light sensors to estimate nighttime light exposure (>3 lux) and then performed cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging 3 years later. Nighttime light exposure showed dose-response associations with CMR-defined cardiac structure and function phenotypes and was also evaluated for relationships with incident cardiovascular disease outcomes. The significance is that it provides evidence linking an environmental exposure measurable in daily life 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 ↗
Sex Differences in Cardiac Rhythm and Conduction Abnormalities After Noncardioembolic Ischemic Stroke.
This single-center screening study of 673 patients (39% women) with first noncardioembolic acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and no prior cardiac disease evaluated sex-specific differences in newly diagnosed cardiac rhythm and conduction abnormalities within 1 year after AIS. Using standardized post-stroke cardiologic evaluation including 24-hour in-hospital telemetry, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, and echocardiography (with additional testing as described), the study identified sex-dependent patterns in the incidence of new cardiac pathologies. This matters clinically because it supports sex-tailored post-stroke cardiac monitoring strategies to detect occult arrhythmias and conduction disease early.
Schmick A, Rohner MH, Gebhard C et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · 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 (WD) feeding or ageing acts as a “second hit” to trigger or worsen hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Dutch heterozygous Mybpc3 c.2373insG knock-in mice (Mybpc3 encoding cardiac myosin-binding protein C). In heterozygous Mybpc3 c.2373insG mice, early-stage myocardial changes were not aggravated by either Western diet or ageing across 3, 8.5, and 18 months. The significance is that it refines the genotype–phenotype model for HCM by suggesting that, at least for early disease features in this model, metabolic and ageing stressors are not sufficient to amplify pathology.
van den Dolder FW, Nollet EE, Warnaar VAJ et al. · The Journal of physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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.
This cross-sectional analysis of 2412 Korean adults aged 40–64 years using KNHANES 2024 compared cardiometabolic risk discrimination of body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (PBF), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). The key finding was that these anthropometric measures differed in their ability to identify cardiometabolic risk (defined as ≥2 of elevated blood pressure, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL cholesterol), with one measure showing superior discriminatory performance. This is significant for selecting the most informative, practical obesity-related metric for cardiometabolic risk screening in Korean adults.
Park E · Biological research for nursing · (2026) · 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 methodology and PRISMA-ScR reporting, the authors synthesized findings from a large literature search (29,536 studies initially identified) to characterize what is known about post-operative mental health challenges. The review is significant because it identifies evidence gaps and helps guide future research to improve perioperative mental health screening and interventions.
Akwa GM, Tiemah NC, Chabeja A et al. · Cureus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Constrictive Pericarditis Etiologies and Multimodality Imaging
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 in whom constrictive pericarditis and bilateral pleural effusions were ultimately diagnosed after initial presentation as acute pericarditis. Despite an extensive negative workup aside from HLA-B27 positivity, the disease progressed to constrictive physiology, and the patient failed medical therapy but improved after radical pericardiectomy. The report suggests that HLA-B27–associated inflammatory disease may rarely manifest as constrictive pericarditis, informing diagnostic consideration and treatment planning.
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 described 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 MRI supported constrictive pericarditis. The report highlights that invasive meningococcal disease can present with extra-meningeal complications even when meningitis is absent, which is important for early diagnosis and management.
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 presenting as constrictive pericarditis. Multimodality imaging—transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging—demonstrated diffuse epicardial fat, and conservative management with optimization of heart failure therapy and dialysis strategy led to clinical improvement. The findings emphasize that epicardial lipomatosis is a potentially underrecognized cause of constrictive physiology and can be identified with multimodality imaging to guide non-surgical management.
Raval PA, Odhiambo JO, Ombati K et al. · Case reports in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI Radiomics, Texture, and Machine Learning for Diagnosis
A Multitask Deep Learning Pipeline for Classifying Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Hypertensive Heart Disease Based on Native T1 Mapping.
This retrospective single-center study evaluated a multitask deep learning pipeline to classify hypertrophic cardiomyopathy versus hypertensive heart disease using native T1 mapping from 3.0-T cardiac MRI (modified Look-Locker inversion recovery, MOLLI) in 174 patients (121 HCM, 53 HHD). Using a two-stage protocol with patient-level stratified fivefold cross-validation, the multitask model improved discrimination beyond global T1 values alone for the overlapping morphologic phenotypes. The work supports an AI-assisted CMR approach that could improve noninvasive differential diagnosis between HCM and HHD using native T1 maps.
Zhu H, Qian Y, Yang X et al. · Journal of imaging informatics in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac MRI radiomics and texture analysis for differentiating the causes of left ventricular hypertrophy: a systematic review.
This systematic review evaluated whether cardiac MRI radiomics and texture analysis can differentiate the etiologies of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) across patient populations with different LVH causes, using PRISMA-DTA and QUADAS-2/QUADAS-AI for bias assessment. The review found that the available evidence supports clinically credible differentiation only to a limited extent, with accuracy performance and verifiability constrained by radiomics methodological quality and reporting gaps. Clinically, this suggests MRI radiomics/texture features may help distinguish cardiac amyloidosis versus hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but stronger, standardized, externally validated studies are needed before routine decision-making.
Martínez Safar IE, De La Ossa Díaz JP, Martínez D DA et al. · European journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on September 12, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published September 05, 2026 – September 12, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.