What's New in Cardiac MRI? — September 15, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 55 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
September 15, 2026 · 55 articles · 15 research themes · covering September 08, 2026 – September 15, 2026
Overview
This week’s digest is dominated by advances in cardiovascular imaging—especially cardiac MRI/CT and AI-driven methods—to improve diagnosis, risk stratification, and longitudinal monitoring. Multiple studies used CMR tissue characterization (e.g., late gadolinium enhancement, T1/T2 mapping, feature tracking) to uncover “hidden” pathology that standard functional measures can miss: focal fibrosis from coronary vasospasm, myocarditis mimicking acute coronary occlusion, subclinical injury after MIS-C, and delayed anthracycline cardiotoxicity that can resemble other cardiomyopathies. In parallel, methodological work (k-space non-rigid registration) and clinical implementation guidance (position statement on CMR/CCT use) reflect a push toward more reliable, scalable imaging workflows.
A second major theme is refined phenotyping of cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia risk using multimodal data. Several reports connect specific substrates—genetic variants (e.g., RYR2 exon 3 deletion), LGE “corridors” plus high-risk genotypes, HCM hypertrophy patterns/obstruction, and malignant mitral valve prolapse features—to ventricular arrhythmia and conduction outcomes. Complementing this, studies in acute coronary syndromes and embolic stroke emphasize better early predictors (e.g., coronary wedge pressure for microvascular obstruction; LA strain as an atrial cardiomyopathy marker in ESUS). Together, these papers highlight a shift from single-parameter risk models toward integrated imaging + clinical + biomarker/genetic frameworks.
Finally, the digest underscores the breadth of systemic and structural conditions that can be tracked with modern imaging: autoimmune/inflammatory disease (lupus myocarditis, HLA-B27-associated constrictive pericarditis, CMV latency–linked immune mechanisms), amyloidosis (PET/CT detection and CMR predictors of HF/conduction disease), sarcoidosis registries and ICD risk, and right-sided remodeling after pulmonary interventions. Across congenital and pediatric/perinatal settings, long-term CMR surveillance is repeatedly emphasized—from complex fetal anatomy to post-repair tetralogy of Fallot and congenital diaphragmatic hernia—reinforcing CMR’s role in anticipating later cardiopulmonary complications.
Cardiac MRI/Imaging for Myocardial Injury & Inflammation
Traditional left ventricular indices outperform novel cardiovascular magnetic resonance-derived left atrial parameters in predicting adverse left ventricular remodelling after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
This post-hoc analysis of the EURO-ICE trial studied which cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) functional parameters best predict early adverse LV remodelling in 200 patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Traditional LV indices (including LV global longitudinal strain) outperformed novel CMR-derived LA parameters and the left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) for predicting adverse LV remodelling. These findings support prioritizing established LV functional CMR metrics over LA-derived measures for early risk stratification after anterior STEMI.
Yosofi B, Zelis JM, Raafs A et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Septal Myocarditis Mimicking Proximal Left Anterior Descending Artery Occlusion.
This JACC Case Reports article described a 21-year-old woman with acute chest pain and ST-segment elevation who was ultimately diagnosed with focal septal myocarditis rather than proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery occlusion. The key finding was that coronary angiography showed nonobstructive coronary arteries, while cardiac magnetic resonance demonstrated focal septal edema with nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement consistent with acute myocarditis. Clinically, it emphasizes that myocarditis can mimic acute coronary occlusion on ECG and that CMR is crucial to distinguish inflammatory myocarditis from ischemic infarction.
Jeong SY, Jayawardena SV, Seton N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (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 study evaluated long-term myocardial structure and function after multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) using cardiac MRI and 2D echocardiography, alongside serum galectin-3 to probe persistent inflammation/fibrosis. The key finding was that MIS-C survivors can exhibit persistent, subclinical myocardial changes detectable by CMR even after apparent early recovery, with galectin-3 levels correlating with these findings. Scientifically and clinically, it supports CMR-based follow-up and biomarker-informed risk assessment for ongoing myocardial injury after MIS-C.
van den Dolder FW, Nollet EE, Warnaar VAJ et al. · The Journal of physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction & Ischemia Without Obstruction
Pre-perfusion coronary wedge pressure and microvascular obstruction in anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI): An analysis from the EUROICE study.
This EURO-ICE analysis evaluated whether coronary wedge pressure (CWP) measured during balloon occlusion predicts microvascular obstruction (MVO) and adverse remodeling in anterior STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Pre-perfusion CWP was associated with the presence and extent of CMR-detected MVO, linking intra-occlusion microvascular dysfunction to later remodeling risk. Clinically, CWP could provide a timely invasive marker of microvascular injury that complements post-reperfusion indices like index of microvascular resistance (IMR).
Butt H, van Beek K, Sajjad U et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Focal Myocardial Fibrosis Mimicking Hypertrophy in INOCA and the Energetic Cost of Supranormal Ejection Fraction.
This case report studied a 72-year-old postmenopausal woman with INOCA symptoms to assess the long-term structural and energetic myocardial consequences of coronary vasospasm using acetylcholine provocation testing and cardiac magnetic resonance. Epicardial and microvascular spasm were confirmed, and cardiac MRI showed focal late gadolinium enhancement in the interventricular septum consistent with replacement fibrosis that mimicked hypertrophy, alongside a supranormal ejection fraction (79%). These findings suggest that vasospasm-related focal myocardial fibrosis can produce hypertrophy-like imaging and may carry energetic/functional consequences even when coronary arteries are nonobstructive.
Nguyen TH, Nakamura T, Sato A · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Valvular Heart Disease & Structural Remodeling (incl. TR/MVP)
Effect of empagliflozin with or without carvedilol on tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular remodeling: PROVE trial.
In the PROVE randomized 2×2 factorial trial, 56 patients with significant functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) were assigned to sustained-release carvedilol (carvedilol SR), empagliflozin, their combination, or placebo to assess right ventricular (RV) remodeling. The study tested whether empagliflozin and/or carvedilol SR reduces RV end-systolic volume index and TR severity over 12 months. If effective, these therapies would offer a pharmacologic strategy to interrupt the TR–RV remodeling feedback loop in patients with functional TR.
Kim GY, Lim SM, Yang DH et al. · Journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Mitral valve prolapse: New clinical and scientific insights in 2026.
This 2026 narrative review summarized new clinical and scientific insights into mitral valve prolapse (MVP), distinguishing Barlow’s disease from fibroelastic deficiency and focusing on malignant MVP features. The key finding was that a malignant MVP phenotype—bileaflet prolapse with mitral annular disjunction (MAD) and myocardial fibrosis—has emerged as an important substrate for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The significance is that it supports more targeted risk assessment using imaging (e.g., echocardiography and cardiac imaging for fibrosis) to identify patients who may benefit from closer surveillance or intervention.
Yamaguchi M, Madhyastha R, Furukawa K et al. · Journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Congenital Heart Disease & Pediatric/Perinatal Cardiac Outcomes
Repaired tetralogy of Fallot across adulthood: from right ventricular remodelling to targeted intervention.
This review summarized the adult congenital heart disease trajectory of repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), focusing on mechanisms linking chronic pulmonary regurgitation and/or residual right ventricular outflow tract obstruction to progressive right ventricular (RV) dilatation, dysfunction, dyssynchrony, and fibrosis. It highlights contemporary multimodality imaging surveillance and targeted interventions such as pulmonary valve replacement (PVR), alongside arrhythmia risk stratification and emerging pharmacologic approaches. The clinical significance is improved long-term management of rTOF by aligning imaging-based risk with timely intervention to prevent heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias.
Cienkowski K, Moll M, Cienkowska A et al. · Heart failure reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Optimisation of an Algorithm for Fetal Strain by CMR and its Use in Suspected Coarctation of the Aorta.
This study optimized a fetal cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking strain algorithm using 42 third-trimester fetuses scanned at 1.5 T with Doppler ultrasound gating, aiming to improve detection of suspected coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Left and right ventricular four-chamber strain was quantified using feature tracking and endocardial shortening, and strain analysis was optimized by adjusting contour settings (full diagnostic performance truncated). The clinical significance is improved prenatal identification of true CoA versus false positives, potentially increasing early intervention accuracy.
Fricke K, Piek M, Heiberg E et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
ALCAPA syndrome: a rare cause of sudden cardiac arrest in adulthood?-a case report.
This case report described a 30-year-old white German woman with adult ALCAPA (anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery) who presented with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. After successful defibrillation and stabilization, the report emphasizes that adult ALCAPA can be a sudden-death cause and is often detected using modern cardiac imaging. Clinically, it underscores the need to consider ALCAPA in adult sudden cardiac arrest workups and to pursue prompt coronary anomaly evaluation.
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 ECMO-treated (n=31) versus non-ECMO (n=26) patients at 2 and 10 years. The key finding was that ECMO status was associated with differences in cardiac morphological parameters over time, with implications for later pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) development. This supports long-term cardiac MRI surveillance as a way to detect early structural remodeling linked to CDH-related cardiopulmonary outcomes.
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 evaluate associated anatomy and airway risk. Immediately after birth, the newborn developed severe respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation despite prenatal multimodality assessment. The clinical significance is that combined fetal imaging can better characterize complex congenital cardiac rotation/anatomy and anticipate high-risk extracardiac complications that drive early postnatal management.
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 to clarify long-term outcomes using serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging over more than a decade. Across childhood into early adulthood, both patients demonstrated stable ventricular morphology/behavior on follow-up CMR. The scientific significance is that it provides rare long-term CMR-based natural history data for this uncommon congenital anomaly, informing prognosis and surveillance strategies.
Isenia C, Hassing HC, Constantinescu AA et al. · JACC. 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.
This phase 3 EuroNet-PHL-LP1 trial studied children and adolescents (<18 years) with early-stage nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (nLPHL) to determine 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 of CVP was feasible within the trial design, with outcomes compared against historical benchmarks of event-free survival after resection or anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. The study is significant because it tests strategies 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 ↗
Environmental/Metabolic Risk & Pharmacology (Incretins, Biosensors, Light Exposure)
Cardiovascular Effects of Chronic GIPR and GLP-1R Agonism in Lean and Diet-Induced Obese Mice: Sex Differences and Dose-Dependent Remodeling.
This preclinical study in lean and diet-induced obese mice examined sex differences and dose-dependent cardiovascular remodeling after one month of continuous infusion of a GIP receptor agonist (GIPR agonist) or a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1R agonist) at multiple doses. The work aimed to define how chronic incretin receptor stimulation differentially remodels the heart in males versus females under metabolic stress. These findings are scientifically significant for clarifying whether GIPR and GLP-1R agonism produce distinct cardiovascular effects that could inform safer, more tailored obesity/diabetes therapies.
Göktaş SŞ, Francisco A, Duarte JMN et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Machine learning-assisted optimization of a BK7/Ag/As₂S₃/graphene surface plasmon resonance biosensor for high-sensitivity urine glucose detection.
The study theoretically optimized a multilayer surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor for non-invasive urine glucose detection using a BK7 prism/silver/arsenic trisulfide (As2S3)/graphene structure operating at 633 nm, with electromagnetic optimization and a Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR) predictive framework. The key finding was that integrating an ultrathin As2S3 dielectric spacer and a graphene sensing layer, guided by machine-learning-assisted optimization, enabled high-sensitivity glucose detection in urine. This provides a data-driven route to improve optical biosensor performance for continuous, non-invasive glucose monitoring without relying on unstable enzyme-based electrochemical sensors.
Arun Kumar U, Alavudeen Basha A, Elshafie H et al. · Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Nighttime light exposure and cardiac structure and function.
This population-based cohort study in 11,071 UK Biobank participants examined whether nighttime light exposure (wrist accelerometer light sensor; >3 lux) predicts later cardiac structure and function measured by CMR 3 years later. The key finding was that higher nighttime light exposure showed dose-response associations with specific CMR phenotypes and was also linked to incident cardiovascular disease outcomes. These results support environmental light exposure as a potentially modifiable risk factor influencing subclinical cardiac remodeling.
Dai J, Dai W, Heianza Y et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Systemic/Autoimmune/Inflammatory Disease Affecting the Heart
Cytomegalovirus Latency Fuels Inflammation Following Myocardial Infarction.
This experimental study used C57BL/6J mice with latent murine cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection to investigate how CMV latency alters cardiac immune cell dynamics at baseline and after myocardial infarction (MI) repair. Using spectral flow cytometry and bulk and single-cell RNA/T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, the authors assessed inflammation-driven mechanisms linking CMV latency to post-MI pathology. The significance is mechanistic support for the epidemiologic association between CMV seropositivity and worse cardiovascular outcomes, suggesting immune pathways as potential therapeutic targets after MI.
Dapergola E, Šustić M, Ashour D et al. · Circulation research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 physiology using serial imaging and clinical workup. He progressed from acute pericarditis to constrictive pericarditis with bilateral pleural effusions, and after failure of medical therapy he underwent radical pericardiectomy with symptom resolution. The report is significant because it suggests a potential association between HLA-B27 positivity and constrictive pericarditis, which may influence diagnostic consideration in similar patients.
Villalonga M, Al-Dalakta A, El Roumi J 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) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by analyzing LM cases from the AQUILES tertiary-care SLE registry (n=534) and by conducting a systematic literature review (1990–Feb 2026). It found LM occurred in 15/534 patients (2.8%) with 19 episodes in AQUILES, with a pooled descriptive LM frequency of ~1.7% (and ~1.8% including the cohort), and it mapped a spectrum from clinical to subclinical involvement with associated diagnostic findings and outcomes. The results are significant because they quantify LM frequency and broaden recognition of subclinical cardiac involvement in SLE, informing diagnostic vigilance and risk assessment.
Narváez J, de Daniel-Bisbe L, Capdevila O et al. · Autoimmunity reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiomyopathies & Genetic/Inherited Arrhythmia Risk
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: state of the art on diagnosis and current therapeutic approach.
This state-of-the-art review focused on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), emphasizing how modern cardiovascular imaging and genetic testing improve diagnosis, phenotypic characterization, and prognostic assessment across diverse patient presentations. It synthesizes current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for HCM’s clinical heterogeneity, including risk stratification for progression to heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. The significance is updated clinical guidance for integrating imaging and genetics to personalize management in the most common genetic cardiomyopathy.
La Franca E, Parisi F, Lucchino A et al. · Cardiovascular ultrasound · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Left Atrium Myocardial Remodeling and Prognostic Marker Derived from CMR Feature Tracking in Pediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
This retrospective pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) study assessed left atrial (LA) myocardial remodeling and prognostic value using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (CMR-FT) with multi-parametric CMR. The key finding was that LA strain parameters derived from CMR-FT were associated with adverse outcomes in children with HCM. This is significant because it extends the prognostic utility of LA strain from adult HCM to pediatric patients, potentially enabling earlier risk stratification using noninvasive CMR metrics.
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 ↗
CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF INCRETIN RECEPTOR AGONISTS: BEYOND GLYCEMIC CONTROL.
This narrative review synthesized evidence on cardiovascular effects of incretin receptor agonists across three pharmacologic tiers: GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual GLP-1/GIP agonists, and triple GLP-1/GIP/glucagon receptor agonists. 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 additional contributions from weight loss, lipid remodeling, blood pressure reduction, systemic inflammation changes, and direct myocardial protection. The review highlights mechanistic pathways that may explain cardiovascular benefit beyond glucose lowering, supporting broader therapeutic rationale for incretin-based drugs.
Ravic M, Srejovic IM, Milosavljevic I et al. · Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 used cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking to assess how hypertrophic pattern and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction affect myocardial strain and left atrioventricular (LA-V) coupling in 199 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. The key finding was that different LV hypertrophy distribution patterns and the presence of obstruction were associated with distinct CMR-derived strain metrics and LA-V coupling behavior. This helps refine CMR phenotyping in HCM by connecting anatomy (hypertrophy pattern/obstruction) to functional coupling markers relevant to prognosis.
Li Y, Li Z, Chen S et al. · Open heart · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pleiotropic Phenotype of RYR2 Exon 3 Deletion: Biventricular Noncompaction and Malignant Arrhythmias.
This case report studied a 33-year-old woman with an RYR2 exon 3 deletion (E3DS) who was incidentally found to have premature ventricular contractions during pregnancy and later developed postpartum conduction disease. She had biventricular noncompaction, sinus node dysfunction, and nonsustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and electrophysiology testing demonstrated complete supranodal atrioventricular block with extensive right atrial low-voltage areas. The findings emphasize that RYR2 E3DS can produce a pleiotropic phenotype combining structural cardiomyopathy and malignant arrhythmias/conduction system failure, supporting early genetic and electrophysiologic risk stratification.
Faucher L, Cardi T, Fitouchi S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (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 evaluated a multitask deep learning pipeline to classify hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) versus hypertensive heart disease (HHD) using native T1 mapping. In 174 patients (121 HCM, 53 HHD) with 3.0-T MOLLI native T1 maps, the multitask model was trained and validated using 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 measures overlap.
Zhu H, Qian Y, Yang X et al. · Journal of imaging informatics in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Arrhythmic Risk Stratification According to LGE Corridors and Genetics in Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
This multicenter European study assessed major ventricular arrhythmic events in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy by combining cardiac MRI late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) “corridors” with high-risk genotypes (HRGs) identified through genetic testing. It found that arrhythmic risk stratification improved when LGE corridor presence was considered together with HRGs, supporting a combined imaging-genetics approach rather than either factor alone. The findings are significant because they refine risk prediction for ventricular arrhythmias and could guide more personalized management in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
Ramos-López N, Mora-Ayestarán N, Ochoa JP et al. · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cancer-Related Cardiac Involvement & Cardiotoxicity
The changing therapeutic landscape of small-cell lung cancer.
This narrative review summarized the evolving therapeutic landscape of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), focusing on how advances in SCLC biology and identification of cell-surface targets have expanded treatment options beyond standard cytotoxic chemotherapy. It highlights that while initial chemotherapy responses are often transient and recurrence is frequently refractory, preclinical discoveries are now driving multiple novel targeted and emerging approaches. The clinical significance is improved understanding of where new therapies may overcome resistance in this aggressive, heterogeneous malignancy.
Ross JS, Hockemeyer KG, Redin E et al. · Lancet (London, England) · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Late Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity Mimicking Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy in a Young Adult.
This JACC Case Reports article presented a 26-year-old man with childhood Burkitt lymphoma previously treated with doxorubicin (cumulative 120 mg/m2) who developed delayed cardiotoxicity mimicking arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. The key finding was that echocardiography showed preserved ejection fraction (55%-60%) but reduced global longitudinal strain (-15%), while cardiac magnetic resonance demonstrated low-normal biventricular function with nonischemic abnormalities consistent with late doxorubicin cardiotoxicity. The significance is that delayed anthracycline cardiomyopathy can present years later with subtle strain changes and mimic other cardiomyopathies, supporting the use of advanced imaging to avoid misdiagnosis.
Chedid M, Barrett C, Sun M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Disseminated HIV-Associated Burkitt Lymphoma With Cardiac and Presumed Central Nervous System Involvement.
This JACC Case Reports article reported a 52-year-old man with HIV who developed disseminated HIV-associated Burkitt lymphoma with cardiac involvement and presumed central nervous system involvement. The key finding was that contrast echocardiography showed a vascular right atrial mass invading the crux, and cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed atrial and ventricular septal involvement. The significance is that it highlights the diagnostic value of contrast echocardiography in resource-limited settings and the importance of multimodal imaging for detecting cardiac lymphoma involvement.
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 of 90 women with histologically confirmed invasive ductal breast cancer evaluated whether baseline FDG PET/CT tumor burden and host metabolic activity predict complete metabolic response (CMR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Metrics including metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), brain-to-liver ratio (Brain/LR), bone marrow-to-liver ratio (BM/LR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and body composition parameters were assessed for prognostic association with CMR (full statistical outcomes truncated). If validated, PET/CT-derived burden and host metabolic/inflammatory markers could help personalize NAC response prediction and treatment planning.
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 ↗
Atrial Disease, Atrial Cardiomyopathy & Left Atrial Strain
Imaging features of right atrial lipoma on multimodality imaging: A case report.
This case report described multimodality imaging findings of a right atrial lipoma in a 53-year-old asymptomatic woman, initially detected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at the junction of the superior vena cava and right atrium. Further characterization with additional imaging modalities (including transesophageal echocardiography) was used to address the diagnostic challenge posed by variable lipoma morphology. The significance is that multimodality imaging can improve diagnostic confidence for rare benign cardiac tumors like right atrial lipoma.
Xie Q, Fang A, Chen X et al. · Medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Paradoxical Stroke via Persistent Levoatriocardinal Vein and Evaluation and Management Recommendations.
This JACC Case Reports article described an 80-year-old man with paradoxical stroke due to a persistent levoatriocardinal vein (LACV) causing a right-to-left shunt. The key finding was that multimodal evaluation—including computed tomography angiography, endovascular thrombectomy, and echocardiography with agitated contrast—identified an embolic mechanism consistent with the LACV anomaly. Scientifically and clinically, it provides evaluation and management recommendations in the absence of formal guidelines for LACV-related paradoxical embolism.
Tejan-Sie A, Rodriguez RT, Padgett L et al. · JACC. Case reports · (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 studies (through July 2026) evaluating left atrial (LA) strain in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), focusing on LA strain phases measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography or cardiac MRI. The key finding was that ESUS patients show impaired LA strain across reported phases, consistent with atrial cardiomyopathy as an embolic substrate independent of known paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Clinically, LA strain could serve as a sensitive, noninvasive biomarker to better phenotype ESUS and potentially guide risk stratification.
Thapa S, Shah S, Fnu P et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Atypical Atrial Flutter Unveiling Cor Triatriatum Sinister in a Stable Adult.
This case report studied a 64-year-old man with asymptomatic atrial flutter to determine the cause of the arrhythmia using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. TEE excluded intracardiac thrombus and incidentally revealed a left atrial membrane, with cardiac MRI confirming nonobstructive cor triatriatriatum sinister (CTS). The report highlights that CTS can present in stable adults with atrial arrhythmias and that TEE-guided cardioversion with anticoagulation can be effective once CTS is identified.
Panjiyar B, Herrera AJ, Hermann J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI/CT Imaging Methods & AI/Segmentation
The Exciting Future of Cardiovascular Imaging.
This editorial/review discussed the future of cardiovascular imaging, emphasizing accelerated innovation driven by advances in hardware, reconstruction algorithms, and artificial intelligence across echocardiography, computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and nuclear imaging. It argues that these developments improve diagnostic accuracy, refine risk stratification, optimize therapy planning, and enable monitoring of treatment response. The significance is a roadmap for how AI-enabled imaging workflows may transform cardiovascular care from acquisition through segmentation and interpretation.
Gräni C, Bucciarelli-Ducci C, Dweck MR et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CORE: Suppressing Spurious Similarity via Confidence-Aware Prototypes for Few-Shot Medical Image Segmentation.
This paper proposed CORE, a confidence-aware prototype learning framework for few-shot medical image segmentation (FSMIS) designed to suppress spurious similarity and reduce false positives. CORE improves prototype discriminability by weighting foreground pixels by reliability and refines prototype-query matching using confidence-aware mechanisms to avoid background-to-foreground prototype misassignment (full experimental results truncated). The work is significant for clinical segmentation tasks where only a few labeled examples are available and false-positive regions can compromise downstream decisions.
Xu C, Li S, Wang H et al. · IEEE transactions on medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Learning efficient non-rigid registration in k-space for accelerated Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
This methodological study investigated learning efficient non-rigid registration directly in k-space for accelerated dynamic MRI, focusing on motion estimation under spatio-temporal sampling constraints. The key finding is that k-space-based non-rigid registration can avoid reconstruction-dependent artifacts that otherwise corrupt spatial structures needed for reliable feature matching in highly undersampled acquisitions. This is significant for real-time and dynamic MRI applications where accurate motion estimation is required but conventional image-reconstruction-first pipelines degrade performance.
Ghoul A, Hammernik K, Lingg A et al. · Medical image analysis · (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 is a correction notice for a prior Radiology Advances article describing a 20-minute free-running whole-heart cardiac MRI protocol to image myocardial injury after reperfused myocardial infarction in a large animal model. The correction indicates that the original publication required amendment to its DOI-linked content. The significance is ensuring accurate citation and technical record for researchers using or referencing the free-running whole-heart cardiac MRI approach.
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 (CMR) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT) in patients across a broad range of cardiovascular diseases, addressing implementation in healthcare settings in Spain. It found that while CMR and CCT have expanded substantially for anatomical and functional assessment, access and real-world uptake remain uneven. The statement is significant because it provides structured guidance to improve appropriate use and equitable access to these imaging modalities for diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and therapy planning.
Antonio Parada-Barcia J, Rodríguez-Pérez Á, Eiros-Bachiller R et al. · Revista espanola de cardiologia (English ed.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac Amyloidosis & Related Tissue Characterization
VALVE DISEASES IN CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS: WHAT WE HAVE TO KNOW.
This review article examined valvular disease—especially aortic stenosis—in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) caused by immunoglobulin light chains (AL) or transthyretin (ATTR), focusing on what clinicians should know about mechanisms and clinical overlap. The key finding was that aortic stenosis is the most prevalent CA-associated valvular manifestation, particularly in wild-type ATTR, and that concomitant CA and aortic stenosis can interact synergistically to produce disproportionate ventricular effects. Clinically, it highlights the need to recognize and appropriately evaluate combined CA and valvular pathology because it meaningfully affects prognosis and management decisions.
Lisi DD, Salvo FD, Castro F et al. · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Regional Myocardial Tissue Characterization by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Is Associated With Heart Failure Development in Asymptomatic Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy.
This study followed 113 patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), including 14 asymptomatic individuals (mean age 75 years, 79% male), using echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to identify myocardial tissue features linked to subsequent heart failure (HF). Over a median 770-day follow-up, 6 developed HF and those patients had higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) on echocardiography, with CMR native T1 differences reported as part of the tissue characterization. These findings suggest that CMR-derived myocardial tissue metrics (e.g., native T1) combined with LV mass can help risk-stratify asymptomatic ATTR-CM patients for impending 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 study evaluated 50 patients with wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) who underwent baseline CMR and then started tafamidis, assessing clinical factors associated with atrioventricular conduction disturbance (AVCD) and intraventricular conduction disturbance (IVCD). The key finding was that specific clinical and CMR parameters were associated with the presence or progression of AVCD/IVCD during tafamidis treatment (details truncated in the abstract). Clinically, identifying CMR-linked predictors of conduction disturbance could improve monitoring and management of conduction system disease in wild-type ATTR-CM patients treated with tafamidis.
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 (F-PET) for detecting cardiac involvement in treatment-naive AL (light-chain) amyloidosis patients, integrating multimodality imaging with cardiac and clonal disease biomarkers. It found that F-PET could detect cardiac amyloid involvement and provided sensitivity estimates and correlations with established markers used to predict survival and assess response to therapy. The study is significant because it supports F-PET as a potentially useful tool for earlier and more accurate identification of cardiac involvement in AL amyloidosis, which is critical for prognosis and treatment selection.
Milani P, Sanna GD, Pepe G et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Sarcoidosis & Device/ICD Risk
Life-threatening Ventricular Arrhythmias in Cardiac Sarcoidosis with Implantable Devices: Incidence and Predictors in a UK Cohort.
This UK cohort study analyzed consecutive patients with cardiac sarcoidosis who received a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) between 2006 and 2024, stratifying them by the 2014 Heart Rhythm Society ICD indication categories (Class I, Class IIa, or Neither). The key finding was the incidence and predictors of device-detected sustained life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias across these guideline-based ICD indication groups. Scientifically and clinically, it clarifies which patients with cardiac sarcoidosis are at highest risk for sustained ventricular arrhythmias after device implantation, informing ICD risk stratification.
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 studied management and outcomes of cardiac sarcoidosis in 1852 newly diagnosed patients (2012–2021) stratified into definite CS, probable CS, presumed systemic sarcoidosis, and presumed isolated CS. The key finding was that real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes—including recurrence—differed across diagnostic strata, highlighting heterogeneity in how CS is managed and how patients fare. These large-scale data improve risk stratification and inform evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for a rare, diagnostically uncertain cardiomyopathy.
Izumi C, Yoshikawa Y, Komuro I et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Arrhythmias, Conduction Disorders & Electrophysiology
Unmasking the Connection: Cardiac Arrest in Stiff Person Syndrome.
This case report described a man in his 30s with stiff person syndrome (SPS) who developed whole-body spasms, severe hypoxemic respiratory failure, and pulseless ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation during extubation. The key finding was that the acute presentation included hyperthermia, shock, markedly elevated troponin, and transient severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction with cardiopulmonary causes excluded by coronary angiography and computed tomography pulmonary angiography. Clinically, it underscores that SPS can precipitate life-threatening cardiac arrest and that clinicians should rapidly evaluate for reversible cardiac dysfunction and other triggers during critical events.
Sujanyal S, Alaws H, Helgeson SA · Therapeutic advances in pulmonary and critical care medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Speckle tracking echocardiography predicts electroanatomical scar in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia.
This prospective study enrolled consecutive patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing catheter ablation for recurrent ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and tested whether speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) segment- and layer-specific longitudinal strain (LS) can predict electroanatomical scar. STE-derived LS patterns were matched to electroanatomical mapping (18-segment model) to identify strain features associated with scar presence (full performance metrics truncated). If confirmed, STE could provide a practical, non-CMR alternative for substrate assessment and procedural planning when CMR fibrosis imaging is not feasible.
Gabrielli FA, Bencardino G, Ballacci F et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Sex Differences in Cardiac Rhythm and Conduction Abnormalities After Noncardioembolic Ischemic Stroke.
This single-center observational study screened 7113 patients after a first noncardioembolic acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and analyzed 673 patients (39% women) without prior cardiac disease to determine sex differences in newly diagnosed cardiac rhythm and conduction abnormalities within 1 year. The key finding was that the incidence and/or types of post-AIS cardiac rhythm/conduction abnormalities differed between women and men despite standardized cardiologic evaluation (including 24-hour telemetry and echocardiography). Clinically, it suggests sex-specific surveillance strategies for arrhythmia and conduction disease after noncardioembolic stroke.
Schmick A, Rohner MH, Gebhard C et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 with left bundle branch block morphology to determine whether the rhythm was ventricular or supraventricular. Despite initial features consistent with ventricular tachycardia (including lateral ST depression, troponin elevation, and a Duke Treadmill Score of -25.3), electrophysiology study unmasked orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia mediated by a concealed left posterior accessory pathway. The clinical significance is that electrophysiology can resolve diagnostic ambiguity in exercise-induced wide-complex tachycardia, changing management away from presumed ventricular tachycardia.
Ray N, Petty A, Money D et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Heart Failure Phenotyping & Right Ventricular Dysfunction
Carbohydrate antigen 125 for predicting right ventricular dysfunction and right ventricular to pulmonary artery uncoupling in acute heart failure: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.
In a retrospective single-center cohort of 479 acute heart failure (AHF) patients undergoing CMR, investigators tested whether serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) predicts CMR-defined right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and right ventricular–pulmonary artery (RV-PA) uncoupling. CA125 showed discriminatory ability for identifying CMR-derived RVD and RV-PA uncoupling, supported by ROC analysis and multivariable logistic regression (full effect sizes truncated). If validated, CA125 could serve as an accessible biomarker to flag patients likely to have RV impairment and RV-PA uncoupling, potentially guiding intensity of evaluation and management in AHF.
Valero E, de la Espriella R, Miñana G et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
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 compared Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) patients with and without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) who underwent CMR within 5 days of echocardiographic assessment (249 total; 226 women; mean age 70.6 years). Patients with LVOTO had greater myocardial involvement on CMR, including higher left ventricular mass and greater myocardial edema burden (exact quantitative results truncated). The study supports CMR characterization of edema and remodeling as clinically relevant for prognosis in TTS with LVOTO, informing risk stratification beyond echocardiography.
Cau R, Santoro F, Pontone G et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
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 CKD stages 1–5 using comprehensive cardiac MRI (CMR) in 84 sex-matched CKD patients plus 28 healthy sex-matched controls from the LGECKD study. Using MANCOVA with confounder adjustments, the authors aimed to identify how cardiac remodeling trajectories differ between females and males across CKD severity (quantitative results truncated). The findings are important for tailoring HFpEF risk assessment and management strategies by sex in patients with chronic kidney disease.
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 cardiac MRI study evaluated long-term cardiovascular remodeling after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement in patients with cirrhosis-induced portal hypertension, comparing combined hepatic and cardiac MRI before and at 1 year. The key finding was that TIPS was associated with measurable changes in cardiac structure and function on MRI, including strain and tissue characterization (T1/T2 mapping, edema, and late gadolinium enhancement). Scientifically, it links portal hypertension intervention to longer-term myocardial remodeling, supporting MRI as a tool to monitor cardiotoxicity risk in cirrhosis.
Vollbrecht TM, Mesropyan N, Chang J et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pulmonary Hypertension & Right-Sided Remodeling After Revascularization
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 chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) using cardiac MRI-based measures alongside right heart catheterization, exercise testing, and biomarkers. It found differential RV reverse-remodeling and functional/hemodynamic responses between PEA and BPA groups over follow-up, reflecting how each intervention impacts RV afterload and structural recovery. The results are significant because they clarify which RV changes accompany each revascularization strategy, supporting evidence-based selection and monitoring of therapies in CTEPH.
Rodenburg TC, Higuchi S, Andersen S et al. · The European respiratory journal · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗
Generated automatically on September 15, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published September 08, 2026 – September 15, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.