What’s New in Cardiac MRI?

October 03, 2026 · 92 articles · 15 research themes · covering September 26, 2026 – October 03, 2026

Overview

Across this week’s set of papers, a dominant theme is the expanding role of multimodality cardiac imaging—especially CMR and CT—in both diagnosis and risk stratification. Multiple studies focus on quantitative tissue characterization (e.g., ECV/LGE surrogates, diffusion/DTI, strain, and advanced mapping) and on improving interpretability through reference values, standardized postprocessing, and contrast-sparing approaches. Together, these works aim to make imaging biomarkers more accurate, reproducible, and clinically actionable for conditions ranging from coronary disease and myocarditis to cardiotoxicity and rare cardiomyopathies.

A second major thread is mechanistic refinement of “who is at risk and why,” particularly after myocardial infarction and in inflammatory/infiltrative disease. Research highlights microvascular dysfunction as a driver of ischemia in cardiac amyloidosis and evaluates early post-STEMI biomarkers for later heart failure. In parallel, studies and reviews on sarcoidosis, autoimmune myocarditis, and lupus-related myocardial involvement emphasize patchy disease detection and the need for earlier, tissue-based phenotyping—often leveraging CMR (and PET where relevant) and, increasingly, AI frameworks to integrate multimodal signals.

Finally, several papers address practical implementation and translation: workflow acceleration for CMR, motion-management strategies, and guidance for structural interventions (e.g., ASD device closure, CRT decision-making, and pulmonary valve timing). Case reports underscore diagnostic pitfalls—such as allergic coronary syndromes mimicking obstruction, arrhythmogenic mitral valve prolapse missed when focusing only on MR severity, and rare tumor/thrombus mimics—reinforcing that imaging strategy and follow-up matter when clinical presentations are atypical.

---

Cardiac MRI/CT Imaging Biomarkers & Quantitative Tissue Characterization

Myocardial strain evaluation from cardiovascular MRI and CT: physiological principles and clinical perspectives.

This review examined the physiological basis and clinical applications of myocardial strain measurement derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT). It concludes that strain—reflecting local deformation driven by myocardial mesostructure (fiber/sheetlet architecture)—offers more specific, locally sensitive information than global function metrics. The clinical significance is that strain-based imaging can improve detection and characterization of myocardial dysfunction across diseases using either CMR or CCT.

Hussein TM, Pourmorteza A, Oshinski JN · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Simultaneous 3-D Adiabatic T1ρ, T2*, and Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping for Characterization of Myocardial Infarction in Ex Vivo Mouse.

This work developed and tested a simultaneous 3-D adiabatic T1ρ-weighted quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) approach to characterize myocardial infarction in ex vivo hearts from C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice (MI n=7, control n=6). The technique enabled concurrent estimation of T1ρ, T2*, and magnetic susceptibility using an adiabatic T1ρ preparation combined with a 3-D multi-echo GRE sequence, with T1ρ maps derived from T1ρ–T2*–QSM. The method could improve noninvasive characterization of infarct-related tissue microstructure and injury mechanisms relevant to translational cardiac MRI.

Räty I, Nykänen O, Kettunen S et al. · NMR in biomedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A Comparison of Tissue Property Values Estimated Using Conventional Cardiac MRF and MT-Cardiac MRF.

This study compared tissue property estimates from conventional cardiac magnetic resonance fingerprinting (cMRF) versus magnetization-transfer–modeled cardiac MRF (MT-cMRF) for T1 and T2 quantification. Explicit MT modeling in the reconstruction (including free-water pool T1f/T2f and bound pool fraction BPF) was assessed in simulations, a phantom, and in 14 healthy subjects to determine whether MT-aware dictionaries improve accuracy and consistency. The work supports more reliable quantitative cardiac T1/T2 mapping by accounting for MT effects during cMRF reconstruction.

Kaplan S, Liu Z, Hamilton J et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Standardized MRI-Based Quantification of Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume: Reproducibility and Agreement With Cardiac Computed Tomography.

This retrospective study developed and tested a standardized MRI-based method to quantify epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) and compared it with the established cardiac CT approach. In 127 aortic stenosis patients with paired CT and MRI (plus 11 volunteers), the standardized MRI method showed reproducibility and agreement with CT measurements of EATV. Standardized MRI EATV quantification could enable radiation-free cardiometabolic risk assessment alongside cardiac imaging.

Gronwald J, Gersch SS, Böttiger Z et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

The feasibility of low contrast dose dual-energy CT for quantifying myocardial focal scar via extracellular volume fraction.

This prospective study evaluated whether low-contrast-dose dual-energy CT (DECT) using late iodine enhancement (DECT-LIE) and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) can quantify myocardial focal scar (MFS) in 33 patients with old myocardial infarction. DECT-LIE-derived ECV measurements were compared segment-by-segment with CMR ECV from native and post-contrast T1 mapping and with CMR late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) as reference for MFS. The approach could enable scar quantification with reduced contrast burden, potentially improving feasibility of CT-based myocardial tissue characterization.

Chen F, Jia T, Luo L et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Predictive value of myocardial extracellular volume fraction for mortality and heart failure in known or suspected coronary artery disease patients.

This retrospective cohort study evaluated whether myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) fraction measured by cardiac MRI predicts mortality and incident heart failure in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Using native and post-contrast T1 mapping with a modified look-locker inversion protocol, higher ECV was analyzed as a prognostic factor for clinical outcomes using Cox proportional hazards modeling. The findings support myocardial ECV as a noninvasive imaging biomarker of interstitial fibrosis with prognostic value in coronary disease populations.

Krittayaphong R, Jirataiporn K, Yindeengam A et al. · European journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Generation of contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI from contrast-free scans: a multi-center, multi-manufacturer study.

The multicenter, multi-manufacturer study developed and validated Cine2LGE, a machine-learning method that generates late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)-like images and estimates enhancement probability from contrast-free cine cardiac MRI. The key finding is that Cine2LGE produced LGE-like image quality and enhancement probability estimates that were trained on a multi-center, multi-disease dataset and externally tested on an independent dataset, supporting contrast-free myocardial tissue characterization. This is significant for patients who cannot receive gadolinium (e.g., renal impairment or contrast allergy) by expanding access to LGE-equivalent diagnostics.

Xie P, Zhang Z, Chen J et al. · European radiology · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Left ventricular deformation predicts major adverse cardiac events following acute myocardial infarction independently of afterload and ventricular-arterial coupling.

This study investigated whether left ventricular (LV) deformation measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)—including global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS)—predicts major adverse cardiac events after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) independent of afterload and ventricular–arterial coupling in 1235 AMI patients (795 STEMI, 440 non-STEMI). LV strain parameters predicted major adverse cardiac events even after accounting for load dependence, with prognostic value independent of afterload and ventricular–arterial coupling. Clinically, this supports using CMR deformation imaging for risk stratification after AMI beyond conventional load-dependent interpretations.

Backhaus SJ, Wolter JS, Stiermaier T et al. · Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Cardiac MRI/CT Perfusion & Ischemia Assessment

FOCUS-ischemia: A real-world comparison of an ischemia-focused analytical strategy and conventional multiparametric stress CMR.

This real-world study compared an ischemia-focused analytical strategy (FOCUS-ischemia) with conventional multiparametric stress CMR for predicting downstream coronary management and clinical outcomes in 717 consecutive patients undergoing stress CMR. The key finding was that the ischemia-focused approach performed comparably to conventional multiparametric stress CMR in real-world prediction of clinically relevant downstream decisions and outcomes. Scientifically and clinically, it supports shorter or more targeted stress CMR interpretation workflows that may improve feasibility without major loss of prognostic information.

Chati Z, Balaj C, Tissier S · International journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Photon-counting CT of midventricular takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

This radiology case report described a 63-year-old woman with midventricular takotsubo cardiomyopathy presenting with acute chest pain and elevated troponin I after emotional stress. Photon-counting detector coronary CT angiography (PCD-CCTA) excluded obstructive coronary artery disease and multiphase cine reconstructions characterized the midventricular circumferential hypokinesia with basal and apical sparing. The case highlights photon-counting CT as a high-resolution, “one-stop” tool to differentiate takotsubo cardiomyopathy from coronary obstruction.

Chikh Bakri I, Euler A · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Integrating cardiac CT into the diagnostic pathway of Takotsubo syndrome: current evidence and future directions.

This narrative review synthesized current evidence and future directions for integrating cardiac CT into the diagnostic pathway for Takotsubo syndrome (TS). It emphasized that while CMR is the reference standard for TS evaluation (ventricular function and tissue characterization), CT can be valuable when CMR is contraindicated or limited (e.g., device incompatibility, claustrophobia, arrhythmia). The review supports a practical imaging strategy that uses CT to maintain diagnostic accuracy and triage efficiency when CMR cannot be performed.

Cau R, Gatti M, Suri JS et al. · European journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Quantitative myocardial perfusion imaging with MRI and CT: clinical applications and future directions.

This review summarized clinical applications and future directions for quantitative myocardial perfusion imaging using MRI (QP-CMR) and CT (quantitative CT perfusion, CTP) for coronary artery disease (CAD). The key finding is that QP-CMR estimates absolute myocardial blood flow (MBF) without ionizing radiation and often outperforms visual perfusion analysis, while CTP improves diagnostic accuracy and specificity beyond coronary CT angiography alone. The scientific significance is that quantitative perfusion metrics may enable more precise ischemia assessment and better CAD management across imaging modalities.

Nakamura S, Takafuji M, Hashimoto N et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Takotsubo-Like Syndrome Due to Microvascular Dysfunction in a Transgender Woman Under Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.

This case report studied Takotsubo-like syndrome in a 45-year-old Black transgender woman receiving long-term estrogen therapy. Coronary angiography showed no epicardial obstruction with apical akinesia, while cardiac magnetic resonance demonstrated transmural infarction with extensive microvascular obstruction, consistent with microvascular dysfunction as the mechanism. The finding is clinically important because it links hormone therapy–associated presentation with a Takotsubo-like phenotype driven by microvascular injury, which may require management strategies beyond standard Takotsubo assumptions.

Silva PG, García Mejía HP, de Paula Morales KR et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Impact of rate-pressure product correction of myocardial blood flow on the prognostic relevance in patients with heart failure.

This study evaluated whether rate-pressure product (RPP) correction of myocardial blood flow (MBF) alters prognostic relevance in heart failure patients using quantitative perfusion CMR (QP-CMR). In 641 prospectively recruited heart failure patients and 184 healthy volunteers, resting MBF was corrected for RPP and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) was recalculated using corrected stress and corrected resting MBF definitions. The clinical significance is that methodological choices in MBF/RPP correction may change risk prediction performance, affecting how QP-CMR results are used for prognosis in heart failure.

Anderton T, Chambers B, Farooq M et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Stress CMR ischaemic burden and long-term mortality in left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a multicentre registry study.

This multicentre registry study assessed whether stress perfusion CMR ischemic burden adds incremental prognostic value for long-term all-cause mortality in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Among consecutive patients with vasodilator stress perfusion CMR at three French centers (2008–2024) with CMR-derived LVEF <50%, the study tested associations of CMR-derived ischemia and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) beyond clinical factors and LVEF using multivariable Cox models. The scientific significance is that it clarifies whether stress CMR can refine mortality risk stratification in LV systolic dysfunction beyond conventional measures.

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

From Guidelines to Ground Reality: The Underutilization of Stress Cardiac MRI in Ischemic Heart Disease - A Narrative State-of-the-Art Review.

This narrative state-of-the-art review assessed the gap between guideline recommendations and real-world use of stress cardiac MRI in ischemic heart disease. It highlights that stress CMR has Class I support in the 2021 ACC/AHA Chest Pain Guidelines for intermediate-risk stable or acute chest pain (with or without known CAD) but remains underutilized, often accounting for <1% of ischemia testing in many settings. The review is significant because it frames barriers to adoption and underscores the clinical value of stress CMR for perfusion, function, and viability assessment.

Abdelhai OS, AlJaroudi W, Sharkawi MA et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Cardiac MRI/CT Motion, Workflow, and Technical Acceleration

Optimization of Respiratory Training Methods for Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

This prospective study in 93 patients undergoing 3T cardiac MRI tested different respiratory training and breath-holding methods to reduce respiratory motion artifacts across multiple sequences (including single-shot fast spin-echo, bSSFP cine, first-pass perfusion, and late gadolinium enhancement). The key finding was that respiratory training with specific breath-hold strategies measurably improved image quality by mitigating motion-related artifacts. Optimizing breath-hold training can therefore enhance diagnostic image quality and robustness of cardiac MRI workflows.

Ma Z, Zhang X, Li G et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Performance of Free-Running Cardiac and Respiratory Motion-Resolved Whole-Heart 5D MRI in Congenital Heart Disease Patients Using a Gadolinium Enhanced Fast-Interrupted Steady-State Sequence.

This retrospective study evaluated free-running cardiac and respiratory motion-resolved whole-heart 5D MRI using a gadolinium enhanced fast-interrupted steady-state sequence in 45 consecutive congenital heart disease (CHD) patients. Compared with conventional 2D and 3D bSSFP approaches, the 5D method provided competitive ventricular volume and ejection fraction quantification with acceptable image quality while assessing scan-time feasibility. The results support gadolinium-enhanced 5D MRI as a practical option for comprehensive motion-resolved assessment in CHD.

Roy CW, Vogeli E, Megalo A et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Semiautomatic method for peak velocity quantification using 4D flow imaging in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

This single-center prospective study developed and tested a semiautomatic postprocessing method for quantifying left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) peak velocity on 4D flow cardiac MRI in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and LV outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). The new semiautomatic approach was evaluated for reliability and reproducibility against conventional peak velocity measurement workflows at 1.5T during initial HCM assessment. A faster, more reproducible LVOT velocity method could streamline imaging workflows and improve consistency of LVOTO severity assessment for clinical decision-making.

Desdoit X, Bouzerar R, Dantoing C et al. · European journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Enhancing patient-specific computational modeling of cardiac mechanics by leveraging high spatiotemporal resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

The study evaluated whether high spatiotemporal resolution free-breathing 4D cardiac MRI (AutoCMR; 30 frames/cardiac cycle at 1.6 mm isotropic) plus cuff systolic/diastolic blood pressures improves non-invasive calibration and internal consistency of patient-specific 0D lumped-parameter and 3D finite-element cardiac mechanics models. Using the enhanced imaging inputs, the authors report improved model calibration/consistency compared with approaches relying on routine-quality imaging, indicating more reliable mechanics estimation. This supports using advanced 4D CMR acquisition to strengthen computational cardiac modeling for diagnosis, surgical planning, and device design.

Darayi M, Kara D, Le H et al. · Computer methods and programs in biomedicine · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Optimization and technological advances in cardiovascular magnetic resonance to improve access and screening.

This article reviewed optimization and technological advances in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) aimed at improving access and screening by reducing preparation and acquisition time. The key finding is that workflow streamlining (patient preparation, rapid protocols), sequence development, and deep learning-based image acceleration/reconstruction plus automated analysis/report generation can make CMR more feasible for broader clinical use. The significance is that these innovations may expand CMR availability for population-level screening and routine care.

Li X, Sprinkart AM, Isaak A et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Implementation of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in everyday cardiology practice.

This educational/practice document studied how to implement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in everyday cardiology across common disease categories (ischemic heart disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathies, valvular disease, aortopathies, cardiac masses, pericardial conditions, and adult congenital heart disease). The key finding was a structured, indication-based framework describing the prognostic value, limitations, and practical use of different CMR sequences to support clinical decision-making. Its significance is that it aims to improve real-world adoption and appropriate utilization of CMR by general cardiologists, potentially standardizing imaging workflows and interpretation.

Moharem-Elgamal S, Baritussio A, Christodorescu R et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Dual-phase systolic and diastolic cardiac diffusion tensor imaging using higher order motion compensation spin echo sequences at 300 mT/m gradient strength.

This MRI study tested whether higher-order motion-compensated spin-echo diffusion gradients (up to 6th order) improve cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (cDTI) for both systolic and diastolic acquisitions on a 300 mT/m system. In ten healthy volunteers, it assessed the feasibility and performance of dual-phase systolic/diastolic cDTI beyond standard second-order motion compensation. The work is significant because it targets a key technical limitation (motion sensitivity) that has restricted cDTI to narrow low-motion windows.

Afzali M, Teh I, Coveney S et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Cardiac MRI/CMR Reference Values & Normative Modeling

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Reference Values for Left Ventricular Diastolic Function and Left Atrial Sphericity Index in Healthy Adults.

This retrospective study established age- and sex-specific cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) reference values for left ventricular (LV) diastolic volumetric parameters and the left atrial sphericity index (LASI) in healthy adults. Using 503 rigorously screened healthy Chinese participants, it generated normative CMR ranges for diastolic function metrics and LASI to support interpretation of patient studies. These reference values are clinically important because they enable more accurate assessment of diastolic dysfunction and left atrial remodeling in routine CMR practice.

Gao Y, Li W, Liu W et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Cardiomyopathy Genetics, Remodeling, and Microstructure

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 tested sex differences and dose-dependent cardiovascular remodeling after 1-month continuous infusion of GIPR agonist or GLP-1R agonist in lean and diet-induced obese mice. The key finding was that chronic GIPR versus GLP-1R stimulation produced distinct cardiac remodeling patterns that differed by sex and by agonist dose. This is significant because it clarifies how targeting GIPR and GLP-1R may yield different cardiovascular outcomes relevant to obesity and type 2 diabetes therapies.

Göktaş SŞ, Francisco A, Duarte JMN et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Investigating Biventricular Intracardiac Flow Remodeling in Marathon Athletes With 4D Flow Cardiac MRI.

This study used 4D flow cardiac MRI to characterize biventricular intracardiac flow remodeling in marathon athletes and to explore associations with exercise-induced cardiac remodeling (EICR). The authors aimed to quantify ventricular flow components with 4D Flow MRI as potential imaging biomarkers that may distinguish EICR from early cardiomyopathy. If confirmed, flow-based biomarkers could improve noninvasive differentiation of physiologic athletic remodeling from pathological disease.

Tang M, Ren W, Liu G et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Diffusion tensor cardiovascular magnetic resonance differentiates pediatric dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies.

This study evaluated diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics—apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA)—in pediatric patients with dilated versus hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). DTI-derived microstructural measures (ADC/FA) differentiated dilated and hypertrophic phenotypes. These findings support DTI as a noninvasive CMR technique to improve tissue microstructure characterization and diagnostic stratification in pediatric cardiomyopathy.

Juárez JT, Tobón SH, Patrón Chi SA et al. · European journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Prevalence and determinants of asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) in diseases of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

This study examined the prevalence and determinants of asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) across health and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) conditions, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), using two datasets: UK Biobank (n=4020) and a multi-cohort clinical cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) dataset (n=1655). It modeled demographic determinants of the septal-to-lateral wall thickness ratio (SLR) in healthy participants and compared age-, sex-, and body surface area–adjusted ASH prevalence across multiple LVH etiologies. Scientifically, it aims to clarify how often ASH occurs outside classic HCM and which patient factors shape ASH expression, improving interpretation of CMR-based septal morphology.

Shiwani H, Augusto J, Topriceanu CC et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Interaction Between Genotype, Phenotype, and Prognosis in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

This prospective study enrolled patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) who underwent whole-genome sequencing and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to evaluate how genetic status and CMR-derived fibrosis markers interact to influence long-term prognosis. It stratified DCM-associated genetics into TTN variants, non-TTN variants, and genotype-negative groups and assessed their combined relationship with CMR fibrosis features and outcomes. The findings are clinically important because they support more precise risk prediction in DCM by integrating genotype with imaging biomarkers of myocardial remodeling.

Li Y, Xu Y, Guo Y et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

---

Inflammatory & Infiltrative Cardiomyopathies (Sarcoidosis/Amyloidosis/Autoimmune)

Myocardial injury in systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis: a silent threat.

This narrative review discusses myocardial injury in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN), emphasizing that myocardial involvement is often subclinical and underrecognized. The authors highlight that advances in cardiovascular imaging enable earlier detection of myocardial injury and may improve diagnostic accuracy and timely intervention in SLE/LN patients (specific imaging modalities and outcomes are truncated). Scientifically and clinically, recognizing and imaging myocardial injury could reduce cardiovascular morbidity in this high-risk autoimmune population.

Moysidou E, Bazmpani MA, Kallifatidis A et al. · Clinical kidney journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Not Only the Left Ventricle: The Impact of Potentially Cardiotoxic Oncological Treatment on the Left Atrium and Right Ventricle.

This systematic review evaluated echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) studies in patients receiving potentially cardiotoxic oncological treatments, focusing on left atrial (LA), right atrial (RA), and right ventricular (RV) function in addition to LV measures. The review highlighted that standard surveillance using LVEF and global longitudinal strain (GLS) may change late and can miss injury to non-LV chambers. Clinically, the work supports broader multi-chamber imaging endpoints for earlier detection of cardiotoxicity during cancer therapy.

Żak M, Suchodolski A, Niklewski T et al. · Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac MRI Strain for Prediction of PET-defined Myocardial Inflammation in Patients with Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

This retrospective study assessed whether cardiac MRI myocardial strain parameters can independently predict PET/CT-defined myocardial inflammation in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. Using feature tracking on cine steady-state free precession images to derive peak circumferential strain (PCS), peak longitudinal strain (PLS), and diastolic strain rates, it found that strain metrics can predict FDG-PET inflammation within a 90-day window. The clinical significance is that CMR strain could serve as a noninvasive imaging biomarker to identify active inflammatory cardiac sarcoidosis.

Firoozeh N, Shafiei M, Gulhane A et al. · Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Late gadolinium-enhanced cardiac MRI and C-reactive protein for predicting clinical prognosis of acute myocarditis in adults.

This retrospective study assessed whether CMR myocardial injury parameters (cine, native T1/T2, post-T1 mapping, and late gadolinium enhancement [LGE]) and C-reactive protein (CRP) predict clinical prognosis in adults with acute myocarditis, including 41 fulminant myocarditis patients (17 without mechanical circulatory support [MCS], 24 with MCS) and 35 non-fulminant cases. Myocardial injury features on CMR together with CRP were evaluated for their association with adverse outcomes. If validated, combining CMR tissue characterization with CRP could improve early risk stratification and management decisions in acute myocarditis.

Shi X, Wang Y, Zhang Z et al. · Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Association Between HIV Infection Duration and Left Ventricular Concentric Remodeling and Myocardial Fibrosis: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Cardiac MRI.

This cross-sectional cardiac MRI study assessed whether HIV infection duration is associated with left ventricular concentric remodeling and myocardial fibrosis in 83 HIV-infected participants (short-duration <5 years vs long-duration ≥5 years) and 34 matched HIV-negative controls. Using 1.5T SSFP cine and MOLLI T1 mapping, longer HIV duration was linked to worse left ventricular remodeling and increased myocardial fibrosis markers compared with short-duration infection and controls. These data suggest cardiac MRI measures could help identify HIV-related cardiac injury risk and disease progression across infection duration.

Deng C, Sun W, Gao T et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Clinical significance of incidental pericardial late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance.

This retrospective single-center study investigated the clinical significance of incidental pericardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) detected on clinically indicated cardiac MRI in patients without a primary pericarditis indication. Incidental pericardial LGE was compared with a control group lacking pericardial LGE to determine whether it reflects persistent subclinical inflammation associated with adverse long-term outcomes. If confirmed, incidental pericardial LGE could serve as a prognostic biomarker beyond its usual interpretation as active inflammation.

Lepre V, Moretto N, De Martino M et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Multimodal artificial intelligence for early detection and precision management of inflammatory and infiltrative cardiomyopathies.

The article reviewed and proposed a multimodal artificial intelligence framework for early detection and precision management of inflammatory and infiltrative cardiomyopathies (including cardiac sarcoidosis, transthyretin amyloidosis, and autoimmune myocarditis) by integrating ECG, echocardiography, CMR, PET/scintigraphy, biomarkers, and electronic health record (EHR) features. The central finding is that AI can improve diagnostic suspicion, tissue phenotyping, and risk-directed triage by learning patterns across these modalities rather than relying on delayed, complex manual interpretation. Scientifically and clinically, this approach aims to shorten time to diagnosis and better stratify patients for targeted management.

Adrejiya P, Alkhatib DA, Aljaroudi W · Current problems in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Left Atrial Stiffness Identifies Children with Magnetic-Resonance-Imaging-Proven Acute Myocarditis Despite Preserved Left Ventricular Systolic Function.

This retrospective pediatric study tested whether left atrial (LA) stiffness measured by cardiac MRI identifies children with acute myocarditis despite preserved left ventricular systolic function. Among 51 children with MRI-diagnosed acute myocarditis (using updated Lake-Louise criteria) and 40 age-matched healthy controls, the key finding was that LA stiffness was abnormal in the myocarditis group even when LVEF was preserved (>55%). This suggests LA stiffness as a sensitive MRI-derived marker for myocardial inflammation/diastolic involvement in pediatric myocarditis.

Numata R, Calderon-Anyosa R, Vaiyani D et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A Practical Guide for Cardiologists.

This practical guide reviewed cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) in terms of diagnosis, immunosuppression, and prevention of arrhythmic events in cardiology practice, focusing on populations with systemic sarcoidosis and suspected myocardial involvement. It found that CS is clinically recognized in about 5–10% of sarcoidosis patients but is more frequent on imaging and autopsy, and it emphasized the central role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and ^18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET for detecting patchy myocardial disease. The significance lies in translating evolving diagnostic and treatment evidence into actionable guidance to reduce atrioventricular block, ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death risk.

Imazio M, Venturelli F, Collini V · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Heart Failure Monitoring & Hemodynamics (including Congestion)

PET Imaging in Pulmonary Hypertension.

This review summarizes how positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is being applied across pulmonary hypertension, with emphasis on pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular (RV) remodeling. The authors argue that PET can detect early molecular alterations that precede overt RV dysfunction, complementing echocardiography and cardiac MRI which are more focused on structure/function and fibrosis. Clinically, PET-based molecular phenotyping could improve early diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment targeting in pulmonary hypertension.

van Leent MMT, St Hillaire T, Sivalokanathan S et al. · Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

From snapshot to trajectory: A multimodality right-heart monitoring framework across the heart failure spectrum.

This narrative review proposed a multimodality, trajectory-based framework for serial right-heart monitoring across the heart failure spectrum (HFrEF, HFmrEF, HFpEF), using SGLT2 inhibition/dapagliflozin as an example rather than a drug-specific algorithm. It emphasizes that RV dysfunction, pulmonary vascular load, tricuspid regurgitation, and venous congestion should be tracked longitudinally with integrated clinical, biomarker, echocardiographic, and cardiac magnetic resonance components. The clinical significance is a more comprehensive, right-heart–focused monitoring strategy to better capture disease progression and treatment response.

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

MRI staging of haemodynamic congestion and clinical outcomes.

This study assessed the prognostic value of CMR-derived hemodynamic congestion metrics—MRI-wedge pressure (from left atrial volume and left ventricular mass) and pulmonary blood volume index (PBVi, from first-pass transit)—and their association with noninvasive myocardial fibrosis markers. Patients were categorized into four MRI hemodynamic stages based on normal versus elevated MRI-wedge and PBVi profiles, and these stages were evaluated for outcome prediction. The work supports CMR-based staging of pressure/volume overload as a clinically meaningful framework for risk stratification and fibrosis-related disease severity.

Mantini C, Sorella A, Falco D et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Reduced right/left ventricular blood pool T2-ratio predicts congestive heart failure after STEMI.

This prognostic cohort study investigated whether the reduced right/left ventricular blood pool T2 ratio (RV/LV T2-ratio) measured by cardiac MRI within 4 days after revascularized first-time ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) predicts newly diagnosed congestive heart failure (CHF). The key finding was that a lower RV/LV T2-ratio was associated with higher risk of developing CHF during follow-up. Clinically, this provides a potential early, noninvasive CMR biomarker for post-STEMI risk stratification.

Troger F, Pamminger M, Tiller C et al. · Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Pectus Excavatum-Induced Preload Insufficiency Presenting as Long-Standing Sinus Tachycardia.

This case report studied pectus excavatum–induced preload insufficiency presenting as long-standing sinus tachycardia in a 65-year-old woman. Despite high-dose beta-blockade, she had persistent sinus tachycardia with marked heart rate variability, and right heart catheterization showed very low filling pressures (mean right atrial pressure 1 mmHg) with preserved cardiac output, while cardiac MRI demonstrated severe pectus excavatum with anterior cardiac compression (Haller index 8.1). The clinical significance is that structural chest deformity can cause hemodynamic preload failure and should be considered in unexplained tachycardia when invasive hemodynamics and imaging confirm compression physiology.

Alkhatib R, Zghyer F, Hatab T et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Arrhythmias & Sudden Cardiac Death Risk (including Conduction Disease)

Cutaneous ultrastructure reveals potential biomarkers of ventricular arrhythmias in inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

This single-center pilot study examined cutaneous abnormalities in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy complicated by ventricular arrhythmias, using skin tissue ultrastructural analysis to look for desmosomal/intercalated disc alterations. The authors report that cutaneous ultrastructure can reveal potential desmosomal biomarkers that may overlap with arrhythmogenic mechanisms underlying ventricular arrhythmia risk in inflammatory cardiomyopathy (details are truncated). If validated, skin ultrastructure could become a noninvasive adjunct for identifying patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy who are at higher risk for ventricular arrhythmias.

Villatore A, Paolino G, Sergianni E et al. · Ultrastructural pathology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Ventricular Arrhythmias in Marfan Syndrome: Prevalence and Clinical Correlates in a Multicenter Cohort.

This retrospective multicenter cohort study analyzed 783 adults with confirmed Marfan syndrome from three Mayo Clinic sites, using chart review of clinical, arrhythmic, echocardiographic, cardiac magnetic resonance, surgical, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator data to identify correlates of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). The study found clinical and structural correlates associated with sustained VT/VF in Marfan syndrome (the specific predictors and effect sizes are truncated). These results help refine risk stratification for ventricular arrhythmias in Marfan syndrome and may inform decisions about closer monitoring and ICD consideration.

Dreher L, Abdul Nabi H, Kanaan C et al. · Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia as the first manifestation of probable cardiac sarcoidosis: A case report.

This case report described sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia as the first presentation of probable cardiac sarcoidosis in a 69-year-old man with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and chronic diastolic heart failure. He presented with palpitations and was found to have frequent sustained monomorphic VT (>200 bpm), prompting treatment with intravenous amiodarone, with subsequent evaluation supporting cardiac sarcoidosis. Early recognition of high-risk ventricular arrhythmias as a potential initial sign of cardiac sarcoidosis can accelerate diagnosis and improve outcomes.

Sanusi M, Haddad F, Mohammed F et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Inaugural complete heart block in anti-SSA negative systemic lupus erythematosus: the diagnostic role of anti-PM-Scl 100 antibodies.

This case report described inaugural complete heart block (CHB) in a 21-year-old woman with anti-SSA-negative systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), emphasizing the diagnostic role of anti-PM-Scl 100 antibodies. Cardiac MRI and standard evaluation ruled out myocarditis, infiltrative disease, and common reversible causes, and the patient’s serology supported an autoimmune etiology. The findings suggest that in anti-SSA-negative SLE, testing for anti-PM-Scl 100 antibodies may help explain rare cardiac conduction disease presentations.

Dammene Debbih N, Laouar L, Dekdouk N et al. · Lupus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Incremental Diagnostic Value of Right Atrial Strain in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: A Cardiac MRI Study.

This cardiac MRI study evaluated right atrial (RA) phasic strain (reservoir and conduit) and passive emptying fraction in 38 arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patients with preserved right ventricular (RV) function, 38 ARVC patients with reduced RV function, and 38 healthy controls. ARVC patients with preserved RV function had impaired RA reservoir and conduit strain and reduced RA passive emptying fraction despite preserved RA strain indices, indicating incremental diagnostic value of RA phasic dysfunction. These findings suggest RA strain on CMR can improve early ARVC detection even before RV functional decline is evident.

Xu W, Zhao J, Song Y et al. · Academic radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Left Atrial Strain and History of Life-Threatening Arrhythmia in Adults with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: A Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Study.

This CMR study examined the relationship between left atrial reservoir strain (LAS) and history of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia (h-LTA) in 39 adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (r-ToF). The key finding was that LAS measured from four-chamber cine images was associated with prior h-LTA, indicating that impaired left atrial function may reflect higher arrhythmic risk. This is significant for improving risk stratification for ventricular arrhythmias in adults with r-ToF using a noninvasive CMR biomarker.

Missana A, Nunes LF, Foulon T et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The Lazarus Protocol: Rescue Catheter Ablation of Incessant Ventricular Fibrillation by Purkinje Substrate Denetworking in Critically Ill Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

This JACC Clinical Electrophysiology case series studied three critically ill patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and refractory incessant ventricular fibrillation (VF) undergoing catheter ablation using high-density Purkinje system mapping during ongoing VF plus targeted Purkinje denetworking and myocardial substrate modification. The key finding was that Purkinje potentials/abnormal electrograms in infarcted and border-zone myocardium could be targeted to achieve procedural success in patients supported with advanced mechanical circulatory support (VA-ECMO and/or VA-ECMO with Impella). Scientifically and clinically, it suggests a potential rescue strategy for otherwise refractory VF by focusing ablation on Purkinje substrate in critically ill ischemic cardiomyopathy patients.

Chahal CAA, Galanti K, AlKhayat M et al. · JACC. Clinical electrophysiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Arrhythmogenic Mitral Valve Prolapse: Looking Beyond Mitral Regurgitation.

This case report studied arrhythmogenic mitral valve prolapse in a 70-year-old woman with Barlow disease undergoing reassessment of mitral regurgitation (MR). Despite echocardiographic findings of bileaflet prolapse, mitral annular disjunction, and left-sided remodeling, ambulatory monitoring showed frequent polymorphic premature ventricular complexes and she rapidly developed out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation with cardiac arrest. The report highlights that an arrhythmogenic phenotype in mitral valve prolapse can be missed when evaluation focuses only on MR severity, supporting broader rhythm-focused assessment and risk stratification.

Ribeyrolles S, Zannis K, Berrebi A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Clinical readiness and methodological rigor of AI models for ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death prediction: A systematic review with PROBAST+AI appraisal.

This systematic review studied the clinical readiness and methodological rigor of artificial intelligence (AI) models for predicting ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD) using a PROBAST+AI appraisal framework. It searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and Scopus through 3 October 2025 and evaluated model performance using prespecified anchor subgroup reporting focused on AUROC with 95% confidence intervals. The significance is that it provides an evidence-based assessment of whether current AI approaches for arrhythmic risk are sufficiently rigorous and transferable for clinical deployment.

Puljevic M, Petrovic M, Ivandic H et al. · Revista portuguesa de cardiologia : orgao oficial da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia = Portuguese journal of cardiology : an official journal of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Valvular Heart Disease & Structural Interventions (including ASD/Pulmonary Valve/CRT)

Absence of Fibrosis Influences Prognosis of Cardiac Resynchronization in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated whether absence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)—a marker of myocardial fibrosis—predicts CRT response and ventricular arrhythmia outcomes in nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), comparing CRT-D versus CRT-P contexts. The key finding is that lack of LGE is associated with better CRT response and lower ventricular arrhythmia risk (exact pooled estimates are truncated). This supports using LGE status to personalize device selection and potentially favor CRT-P over CRT-D in selected NICM patients with low arrhythmic risk.

Sánchez-Vega J, Anguera I, Leyva F et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

The grey zone before pulmonary valve replacement in repaired tetralogy of Fallot: a paediatric perspective on the 2024 American Heart Association scientific statement.

This commentary discusses the “grey zone” for timing pulmonary valve replacement in repaired tetralogy of Fallot from a pediatric perspective, referencing the 2024 American Heart Association scientific statement. The authors define borderline RV volume ranges (indexed end-diastolic volume ~140–160 mL/m² and indexed end-systolic volume ~70–80 mL/m²) where no single threshold clearly dictates intervention, emphasizing trends over time. This helps clinicians interpret RV measurements in patients who fall between guideline cutoffs and supports individualized decision-making for pulmonary valve replacement timing.

Ulug Murt N, Ramcharan T · Cardiology in the young · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Imaging the Adult With Secundum Atrial Septal Defect: A Practical Echocardiographic Approach From Diagnosis to Device Closure.

This narrative review synthesized a practical adult echocardiography workflow for diagnosing hemodynamic significance, defining anatomy, planning transcatheter device closure, and performing follow-up in secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). It emphasizes that secundum ASD often has non-circular geometry, making multiplanar 2D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and complementary transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) approaches important for accurate assessment beyond single-plane measurements. The review is significant for improving procedural planning and reducing measurement error in adult ASD device closure.

Poyraz E, Asarcikli LD · Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac Imaging in Structural Valve Clinical Trials: Secondary Mitral Regurgitation.

This review studied how cardiac imaging is used in structural valve clinical trials specifically for secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR). It delineated roles of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance in patient selection, procedural guidance, and outcome assessment for transcatheter mitral interventions such as transcatheter edge-to-edge repair and transcatheter mitral valve replacement. The clinical significance is that it consolidates the imaging criteria that trials rely on, helping standardize selection and endpoints across SMR studies.

Chehab O, Capasso R, Delgado V et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

---

Congenital Heart Disease & Rare Congenital Anomalies

Incidentally detected double-chambered right ventricle in an adult.

This case report described an incidentally detected double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) in a 55-year-old asymptomatic woman. DCRV is a rare congenital anomaly caused by hypertrophy of right ventricular muscular structures (often the moderator band) that divides the right ventricle into high- and low-pressure chambers, and it is typically diagnosed in childhood but can present in adulthood. Awareness of adult DCRV on cardiac imaging can prompt appropriate evaluation for associated congenital anomalies and guide management even when symptoms are absent.

Saliba T, Rotzinger D, Fahrni G et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Left ventricular rehabilitation after Ross operation for critical aortic stenosis with endocardial fibroelastosis.

This study evaluated long-term clinical and functional outcomes after the Ross operation performed before 1 year of age in neonates/infants with critical aortic stenosis with or without endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE). The key finding was that left ventricular rehabilitation outcomes differed by EFE presence, with the authors characterizing how EFE affects long-term LV function and clinical status after early Ross surgery (with or without EFE resection). This informs surgical planning and long-term follow-up strategies for infants with EFE-associated diastolic impairment.

Jacob KA, Korsuize NA, van Wijk A et al. · The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Cardiac Masses, Tumors, and Thromboembolic Mimics

Inferior vena cava hyperechoic structure in a patient with cardiac myxoma: a surgical case report and literature review.

This surgical case report and literature review describes a 62-year-old woman with cardiac myxoma in whom echocardiography detected an inferior vena cava (IVC) hyperechoic structure that was not confirmed by multimodality imaging (CT/MRI details are truncated). The clinical presentation included sudden left hemiplegia and right homonymous hemianopsia, with CT showing a left atrial mass, left subclavian artery occlusion, and splenic infarction. The report highlights that IVC echogenic findings—typically attributed to thrombosis or malignancy—may occasionally reflect alternative pathology such as cardiac myxoma.

Yasumura H, Matsuba T, Ibi R et al. · General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery cases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A rare case of primary intracranial myxoma in a 10-year-old male: Case report and literature review.

This case report and literature review described a 10-year-old male with a primary intracranial myxoma (PIM), a rare benign CNS mesenchymal tumor distinct from cardiac myxoma with CNS embolization. The child presented with a first-time generalized tonic-clonic seizure and neuroimaging identified an extra-axial dura-based lesion in the left frontal region. Recognizing PIM in pediatric seizure presentations and correlating imaging with pathology can prevent misdiagnosis and guide appropriate surgical and follow-up planning.

Mansour MA, Malaeb RW, Morad A et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

An integrated approach for assessing intracardiac mass using multi-imaging modalities: A case report.

This integrated multi-modality case report evaluated an ~83-year-old woman with chest pain and shortness of breath who had a left atrial mass on transthoracic echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography improved mass visualization, coronary angiography showed a tumor blush, and cardiac MRI demonstrated increased gadolinium uptake within the mass. The combined imaging approach supported ongoing cardiology management without change in mass characteristics or symptom development.

Mahdy T, Doos G, Mansour M et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Composite Hemangioendothelioma of the Right Atrium Presenting With Cardiac Tamponade in an Adolescent.

This case report studied a 14-year-old girl with composite hemangioendothelioma of the right atrium presenting with hemorrhagic pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, using echocardiography, CT, cardiac magnetic resonance, surgical excision, and histopathology/immunohistochemistry. The key finding was that complete surgical resection under cardiopulmonary bypass with autologous pericardial patch reconstruction led to no residual or metastatic disease on postoperative FDG PET-CT, and pathology supported low malignant potential composite hemangioendothelioma. The clinical significance is that it documents a feasible diagnostic and therapeutic pathway for rare pediatric cardiac vascular tumors causing tamponade, including the role of multimodality imaging and (reported) gemcitabine/docetaxel-based adjuvant therapy.

Chandran R, Srimurugan B, Pandey AK et al. · World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Bilateral Renal Infarction as the Initial Manifestation of Left Atrial Myxoma During Early Pregnancy: A Case Report.

This case report described a 25-year-old woman in early pregnancy (6 weeks 5 days) who presented with bilateral renal infarction as the initial manifestation of left atrial myxoma. Transthoracic echocardiography identified a large, mobile, pedunculated left atrial mass and cardiovascular magnetic resonance characterized an atypical attachment near the Coumadin ridge. The report is significant because it highlights a rare but important cause of systemic embolization in pregnancy and demonstrates the diagnostic value of multimodality imaging.

Min SD, Savjonoks S · Cureus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Clinical Realities of Multimodal Imaging in Papillary Fibroelastoma in 385 Pathology-Proven Cases.

This retrospective multicenter analysis evaluated the diagnostic performance of CT and CMR versus transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for detecting cardiac papillary fibroelastomas (PFE) using 385 pathology-proven cases. Across these surgical cases, it compared lesion detection and modality-specific imaging characteristics to quantify real-world multimodal imaging utility. The large pathology-confirmed dataset is clinically significant because it informs which imaging tests best identify PFE and how imaging findings vary by modality.

Aboukhatwa O, Abbasi M, Botezatu S et al. · Mayo Clinic proceedings · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Congenital muscular ventricular septal aneurysm coexisting with a pericardial cyst, a case report.

This case report studied congenital muscular ventricular septal aneurysm (VSA) in a 32-year-old man, with concurrent pericardial cyst, using echocardiography and coronary computed tomography angiography for diagnosis. The key finding was an asymptomatic midventricular septal aneurysm with regional hypokinesis, left ventricular dilation, and mildly reduced LVEF (46%), alongside the pericardial cyst. Clinically, it highlights that congenital muscular VSA can mimic post-infarction causes and that multimodality imaging is important for defining anatomy and guiding uncertain management and prognosis.

Mou Q, Li JJ, Li X et al. · The Egyptian heart journal : (EHJ) : official bulletin of the Egyptian Society of Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Coronary Syndromes, MINOCA, Vasospasm, and Microvascular Dysfunction

The additive value of coronary calcium in identifying cardiovascular risk in ageing people with HIV.

This study evaluated whether coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) add predictive value for cardiovascular outcomes in 779 people with HIV (median age 55) undergoing coronary calcium scanning. CACS predicted adverse outcomes such as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), death, and heart failure better than Q-risk scores. These findings support using advanced coronary calcium imaging to improve cardiovascular risk stratification in ageing people with HIV beyond traditional risk scores.

Varadarajan M, Byrne R, Al-Hussaini A et al. · AIDS (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Spectral cardiac CT in type 1 Kounis syndrome presenting as myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries following anaphylactic shock.

This case report investigated type 1 Kounis syndrome presenting as myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) after anaphylactic shock in a 62-year-old woman. Coronary CT angiography excluded obstructive coronary disease, while delayed dual-energy spectral CT showed myocardial late iodine enhancement consistent with multifocal infarction, later confirmed by cardiac MRI. The report highlights spectral CT myocardial iodine enhancement as a useful diagnostic tool for MINOCA in complex anaphylaxis-related presentations.

Hamrouni H, Alam W, Brahim LI et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Inhibition of late sodium current (INa) to prevent coronary MICROvascular dysfunction in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease: A phase IIb multicenter, randomized, controlled and open label study (INaMICRON).

This phase IIb multicenter randomized controlled open-label trial (INaMICRON) tested whether early inhibition of the late sodium current with ranolazine, added to guideline-directed medical therapy, improves coronary microvascular dysfunction in adults with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease after successful primary PCI. The trial design randomizes patients 1:1 to standard therapy plus ranolazine versus standard therapy alone to evaluate microvascular function during the early post-infarction phase. If effective, ranolazine-mediated INa inhibition could become a targeted strategy to reduce residual microvascular dysfunction and improve recovery after STEMI.

Di Serafino L, Ciaramella L, De Rosa S et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Type 1 Kounis Syndrome Presenting as Coronary Pseudostenosis During Status Asthmaticus.

This case report studied a 46-year-old atopic man with status asthmaticus who developed type 1 Kounis syndrome presenting as coronary pseudostenosis, using serial angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The key finding was that emergent angiography showed multivessel vasospasm mimicking obstructive coronary disease, while repeat angiography later demonstrated nonobstructive coronary arteries, supporting vasospasm rather than fixed atherosclerotic stenosis. Clinically, it highlights that allergic coronary syndromes can present with apparent stenoses during acute asthma and that follow-up imaging plus CMR can clarify the mechanism and guide management.

Yu AM, Mohmand B, Li AZ et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac amyloidosis and coronary artery disease: an overlooked clinical intersection.

This review examined the clinical intersection between cardiac amyloidosis and coronary artery disease in elderly patients, focusing on mechanisms of ischemia and implications for diagnosis and therapy. It found that while epicardial atherosclerosis occurs in roughly 30–40% of cardiac amyloidosis patients, ischemia is often driven by coronary microvascular dysfunction from amyloid infiltration rather than flow-limiting epicardial obstruction. Recognizing this mechanism is significant because it can change how clinicians interpret ischemic symptoms and select diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in amyloid heart disease.

Kancerek J, Suchodolski A, Wojnicz R et al. · Coronary artery disease · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Post-Myocardial Infarction Remodeling & Scar/Remote Injury

Cardioprotective effects of CDP-choline in ischemia/reperfusion injury using a swine model of acute myocardial infarction.

This randomized, placebo-controlled swine study tested the cardioprotective effects of intravenous CDP-choline in a closed-chest model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Yorkshire pigs underwent 60 minutes of left anterior descending coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion and received CDP-choline (1,000 mg after 30 minutes of occlusion; dosing details truncated) versus placebo, with CDP-choline showing cardioprotective effects on I/R injury outcomes (exact endpoints are truncated). The translational significance is that CDP-choline may be a candidate therapeutic strategy to reduce infarct size and improve outcomes in acute myocardial infarction settings.

González-Pacheco H, Massó F, Amezcua-Guerra LM et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Young Mice Exhibit Increased Relative Ventricular Remodeling After AMI-A Longitudinal CMR Study.

This study compared left-ventricular (LV) remodeling after permanent left anterior descending (LAD) ligation in young versus aged C57BL/6 mice using longitudinal cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at 2, 7, and 28 days post–myocardial infarction (AMI). Aged mice showed higher baseline end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and tended to have reduced deformation capacity, with young mice exhibiting increased relative ventricular remodeling over time. These findings support age-dependent differences in post-AMI remodeling that can guide the design and interpretation of preclinical CMR studies and therapeutic testing.

Lemcke H, Wörner P, Dalmer A et al. · Aging cell · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac MR Characterization of Infarct-Related and Remote Myocardial Injury in Multivessel Disease After Acute Myocardial Infarction.

This retrospective cardiac MRI study compared infarct-related and remote myocardial injury in 224 post–acute myocardial infarction patients with multivessel disease (MVD) versus single-vessel disease (SVD), with subgrouping by revascularization completeness (90 SVD; 42 MVD with complete revascularization). The goal was to determine whether MVD is associated with diffuse myocardial injury beyond the infarct zone (IZ) and how this differs by revascularization completeness. Clarifying MRI markers of remote injury in MVD could refine prognosis and help tailor post-AMI management strategies.

Luo C, Jiang W, Mo C et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Saw-Tooth Cardiomyopathy: A Novel Dual Diagnosis.

This case report described a 25-year-old man with concurrent spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and saw-tooth cardiomyopathy, a rare left ventricular dysplasia, using coronary angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for diagnosis. The key finding was that SCAD and saw-tooth cardiomyopathy can coexist, with angiography confirming SCAD and CMR demonstrating extensive ischemic injury consistent with the dual diagnosis. The report is significant because it expands the differential diagnosis of ischemic presentations with distinctive cardiomyopathy morphology and underscores the value of multimodality imaging in rare combined conditions.

Young D, Mok D, Wilson S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Peak apical rotation independently predicts left ventricular thrombus following anterior myocardial infarction.

This multicentre prospective observational study evaluated whether peak apical rotation predicts left ventricular (LV) thrombus after anterior myocardial infarction using speckle tracking echocardiography. Among 270 anterior MI patients, LV thrombus occurred in 33% and peak apical rotation was lower in those who developed thrombus, with discrimination assessed by receiver-operating characteristic analysis and associations tested in multivariable models. The clinical significance is that a simple CMR/echo-derived mechanical marker (peak apical rotation) may improve identification of patients at higher risk for LV thrombus after anterior MI.

Jones J, Coldea B, Butt H et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Multiscale four-dimensional imaging of cardiac remodelling after myocardial infarction.

This study investigated multiscale four-dimensional (4D) cardiac imaging approaches to characterize post–myocardial infarction remodeling as a coupled spatiotemporal process across mechanical, hemodynamic, and molecular scales. It argues that integrating temporal dynamics with 3D ventricular geometry enables a more unified description of infarcted-heart remodeling than conventional single-modality or single-scale imaging. Scientifically, this supports improved mechanistic understanding of how infarction drives heterogeneous remodeling over time.

Lei H, Martinac B, Guo Y · The Journal of physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Transplantation Surveillance

A new Dawn: Advances and innovation in heart transplantation part I - cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in heart transplantation.

This review article summarizes advances in heart transplantation surveillance, focusing on the role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging alongside echocardiography and endomyocardial biopsy for detecting graft dysfunction from cellular rejection, antibody-mediated rejection, and coronary allograft vasculopathy. The key message is that CMR is increasingly used as a complementary noninvasive tool to improve monitoring of transplant recipients over time (specific quantitative outcomes are not provided in the truncated abstract). Clinically, broader CMR integration could enhance early detection of graft complications while potentially reducing reliance on invasive surveillance strategies.

Sormani P, Ammirati E, Villaschi A et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Multiparametric cardiac MRI in the diagnosis of transplant rejection in patients after orthotopic heart transplantation.

This prospective single-center study assessed whether quantitative cardiac MRI—specifically T1 and T2 mapping—can noninvasively diagnose acute cellular rejection (ACR) in 17 adult orthotopic heart transplant recipients undergoing serial scans within 1 month post-transplant, compared with 10 controls. The key finding was that transplant recipients showed measurable T1/T2 mapping changes consistent with rejection status, enabling rejection monitoring without relying solely on endomyocardial biopsy. Clinically, this could reduce biopsy burden and improve early, tissue-based surveillance for ACR after heart transplantation.

Sokolska JM, Sokolski M, Nożyński J et al. · European radiology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

---

Non-cardiac Clinical Contexts & Cross-disciplinary Care (e.g., oncology nursing, pregnancy, dialysis, neurology)

Severe maternal morbidity in pregnancies complicated by maternal seizure disorder.

This retrospective cohort study used the US National Inpatient Sample (HCUP/AHRQ) from 2017–2021 to evaluate pregnant patients with seizure disorders (identified by ICD-10 codes) and their risk of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Seizure disorder pregnancies were associated with increased SMM and higher rates of hypertensive disorders compared with pregnancies without seizure disorder (exact effect sizes were not visible in the truncated abstract). These findings support closer maternal surveillance and risk stratification for women with seizure disorders during contemporary delivery hospitalizations.

Amin J, Lau B, Taylor BD et al. · Pregnancy (Hoboken, N.J.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Deep Learning Predicts Hematopoietic Stem Cell Aging From 3D Chromatin Images.

This study developed ChromAgeNet, an interpretable convolutional neural network, to predict hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) aging from 3D chromatin architecture images (DAPI-stained) in the context of age-associated chromatin remodeling. The key finding is that spatial features learned from 3D chromatin images enable quantitative prediction of HSC aging state. Scientifically, it provides a data-driven, imaging-based biomarker approach for hematopoietic aging that could accelerate aging research and potential translational risk stratification.

Picazo PI, Mejía-Ramírez E, Di Bari D et al. · Aging cell · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Disposition of Imrecoxib.

This narrative review summarized the clinical pharmacokinetics and disposition of imrecoxib, a COX-2–preferential nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug approved in China for osteoarthritis. It reports that after oral dosing imrecoxib reaches peak plasma concentrations in 2–3 hours, that food increases systemic exposure, and that metabolism proceeds sequentially from imrecoxib (M0) to 4’-hydroxymethylimrecoxib (M1), 4’-formylimrecoxib (M-CHO), and 4’-carboxyimrecoxib (M2). The significance is improved dosing and safety understanding for imrecoxib across populations and in the presence of drug–drug interactions.

Zhao S, Li C, Mallillin MC et al. · Clinical pharmacokinetics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Demographic and regional disparities in co-occurring diabetes and cerebrovascular disease mortality: A 24-year national retrospective analysis.

This 24-year retrospective national analysis used CDC WONDER death records to examine U.S. mortality trends and geographic/population disparities for co-occurring diabetes mellitus (DM) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) from 1999 to 2023. The study identified temporal patterns and high-risk demographic and regional groups with elevated DM+CVD mortality. The results support targeted public health interventions to reduce preventable cerebrovascular deaths among people with diabetes.

Faheem MSB, Hassan ST, Asghar T et al. · Journal of the National Medical Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Elevated hydrostatic pressure promotes organic carbon mineralization in reservoir sediments.

This experimental study investigated how increased hydrostatic pressure affects organic carbon mineralization in reservoir sediment using a custom hydrostatic pressure simulation system (0.1–2.1 MPa) with non-sterilized sediment-water incubations. Higher pressure significantly accelerated sediment organic carbon mineralization, with the apparent mineralization rate at 2.1 MPa substantially higher than at lower pressures. These results improve mechanistic understanding of how reservoir impoundment alters carbon cycling and could inform predictions of greenhouse-gas-relevant biogeochemical changes.

Zhang Y, Xiao S, Liu D et al. · Water research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Protective effect of coumarin on diabetes-induced sciatic nerve damage in rats via TRPV1 modulation.

This experimental neurology study tested whether coumarin (CMR) protects against diabetes-induced sciatic nerve damage in Wistar rats and whether this involves TRPV1 modulation. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (45 mg/kg i.p.), and coumarin (100 mg/kg/day by gavage) given for 14 days reduced pathological features of sciatic nerve injury while modulating TRPV1 signaling. The findings suggest coumarin may be a TRPV1-targeted therapeutic candidate for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Yıldızhan K, Altındağ F, Bayir MH et al. · Experimental neurology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Nurses’ Clinical Decision-Making During Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Dressing Application and Removal: A Qualitative Study.

This qualitative study used a Think Aloud method to examine how registered nurses in adult and pediatric cancer wards in Brisbane, Australia make clinical decisions when applying and removing peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) dressings and securement devices. Nurses’ reasoning reflected structured decision-making processes that varied by dressing/securement combination and by the task phase (application vs removal). The results highlight actionable targets for training and standardization to improve PICC care safety and consistency in oncology settings.

Larsen EN, Wickins J, Marsh N et al. · Seminars in oncology nursing · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Reviewing the Effectiveness of Machine Learning Algorithm for Detecting Risk Behaviours Through Speech Patterns.

This review evaluated how machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms use speech-pattern data to detect risk behaviours and report diagnostic characteristics and treatment outcomes in clinical contexts. It found that ML/DL approaches can extract biological and speech signatures to support earlier identification of risk behaviours and potentially enable more individualized interventions, though the evidence base and implementation details vary across studies. The work is significant because it consolidates emerging AI methods that could improve risk detection and guide targeted clinical management, but it also highlights the need for rigorous validation before routine use.

Nagasubramanian H, T S S · Annals of neurosciences · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Beyond Kt/V: Redefining Dialysis Adequacy as Targeted Cardiovascular Risk Reduction.

This narrative review studied how to redefine dialysis adequacy beyond Kt/V by targeting cardiovascular risk reduction in maintenance dialysis patients, synthesizing evidence from randomized trials and individual-patient-data meta-analyses. It found that dialysis strategies should address cardiovascular stressors such as cyclic volume loading, rapid ultrafiltration, electrolyte shifts, myocardial stunning, vascular stiffness, inflammation/anemia, middle-molecule toxicity, loss of residual kidney function, and the long interdialytic interval. The significance is that it reframes dialysis quality metrics toward cardiovascular outcomes, which may better align treatment goals with the leading cause of death in this population.

Zoccali C, Strippoli G, Locatelli F et al. · Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma achieving complete remission with epcoritamab after pseudoprogression.

This case report studied a 58-year-old man with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) who developed suspected pseudoprogression after epcoritamab treatment. The key finding was that despite imaging/histologic concern for progression after epcoritamab, the patient ultimately achieved complete remission (CR), indicating pseudoprogression rather than true refractory disease. Clinically, it is significant because it cautions against premature discontinuation of epcoritamab when pseudoprogression is possible and supports careful reassessment to avoid overtreatment or unnecessary therapy changes.

Takahara A, Yagi Y, Kanemasa Y et al. · Journal of clinical and experimental hematopathology : JCEH · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Radiation-Associated Mesothelioma With Mixed Constrictive-Restrictive Physiology After Mantle-Field Radiotherapy.

This case report studied radiation-associated mesothelioma presenting with mixed constrictive–restrictive physiology in a 60-year-old woman previously treated for Hodgkin lymphoma with mantle-field radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After more than 40 years, she developed recurrent pleuropericarditis, heart failure symptoms, and recurrent pleural/pericardial effusions, with PET-CT showing hypermetabolic pleural, mediastinal, and pericardial lesions despite nondiagnostic cardiac MRI for constriction. The clinical significance is that late thoracic malignancy can drive complex cardiothoracic hemodynamics, and PET-CT may be pivotal when standard imaging is inconclusive.

Bensaber R, Serratrice J, Poku NK · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

From Hippocrates to Biologics, The Evolving History of Pericarditis: A Review.

This review traced the evolution of pericarditis diagnosis and management from early clinical descriptions (e.g., Hippocrates) through modern cardiology, highlighting key contributions by Laennec, Spodick, and Hatle. It emphasizes that diagnostic characterization and treatment strategies progressed from largely symptomatic and surgical approaches (including pericardiectomy for advanced constrictive disease) toward contemporary, more refined clinical frameworks and emerging therapies. The historical synthesis provides context for current practice and helps clinicians interpret how modern pericarditis evaluation and treatment paradigms developed.

Al-Dalakta A, Tabaja C, Alqahtani M et al. · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

2026 AHA/ACC/ACS/ASNC/HRS/SCA/SCCT/SCMR/SVM Guideline for Perioperative Cardiovascular Management for Noncardiac Surgery: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines.

This guideline development report synthesized evidence to provide perioperative cardiovascular evaluation and management recommendations for adult patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, based on a literature search (Aug 2022–Mar 2023) for human studies. It delivers structured, consensus recommendations across perioperative risk assessment and management domains, building on prior guideline frameworks (e.g., 2014 guidance). Clinically, it standardizes how clinicians should assess and manage cardiovascular risk around noncardiac operations to improve safety and outcomes.

Thompson A, Fleischmann KE, Smilowitz NR et al. · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Pattern and texton-based feature descriptors for Diabetic foot ulcer detection.

This study investigated a deep learning framework for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) detection in medical images, proposing the DLS-DFUD pipeline that uses wavelet transform–based Wiener filtering (WT-WF), segmentation, pattern/texton-based feature descriptors, and classification. The key finding was that combining WT-WF preprocessing with pattern and texton feature descriptors within a deep learning strategy improves DFU detection performance for timely, accurate identification. Scientifically and clinically, it supports an image-processing approach that could reduce delays in DFU diagnosis and thereby lower risks of infection and amputation.

Vali M, Rajini NH, Laxmaiah M · Expert review of medical devices · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

---

---

Generated automatically on October 03, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published September 26, 2026 – October 03, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.