What’s New in Cardiac MRI?

October 05, 2026 · 91 articles · 15 research themes · covering September 28, 2026 – October 05, 2026

Overview

Across this week’s set of studies and reviews, a dominant theme is the move from single-modality, single-marker risk prediction toward integrated, physiology- and tissue-informed phenotyping. Multiple CMR-focused works emphasize that prognosis and clinical decision-making improve when imaging biomarkers are combined with other information—genetics and fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy; PET-defined inflammation and CMR strain in cardiac sarcoidosis; and CMR-derived congestion staging, extracellular volume, and hemodynamic metrics in heart failure. Similarly, post-MI studies show that deformation, infarct extent, and inflammation-related measures provide incremental prognostic value beyond traditional ejection fraction or clinical risk alone.

A second major theme is the rapid expansion of quantitative and workflow-optimized cardiac imaging. Methodology papers and clinical studies highlight advances such as MT-aware CMR fingerprinting, contrast-free LGE-like approaches (Cine2LGE), low-contrast or alternative CT strategies for scar and Takotsubo evaluation, and improved motion handling (breath-hold training, free-breathing deep-learning cine). AI is increasingly used not only for interpretation but also for protocol personalization and for assessing readiness/risk of bias in arrhythmia/SCD prediction models—supporting more scalable and reliable deployment.

Finally, several articles underscore the importance of inflammation and arrhythmia mechanisms that may be missed by conventional assessments. Imaging is repeatedly positioned as a way to detect patchy or early disease (e.g., myocarditis with preserved LV function via LA stiffness; eosinophilic and autoimmune/inflammatory myocarditis despite absent peripheral eosinophilia; and cardiac sarcoidosis presenting with high-risk arrhythmias). Together, these findings point toward a future where earlier detection, better phenotyping, and more tailored monitoring—often using CMR plus complementary molecular or hemodynamic data—can guide earlier intervention and reduce downstream cardiovascular events.

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Cardiomyopathy genetics & fibrosis prognostication

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

This study evaluated diffusion tensor cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DTI) metrics—apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA)—to differentiate pediatric dilated versus hypertrophic cardiomyopathies. The key finding was that DTI quantitative measures (ADC/FA) provided discriminatory information between the two cardiomyopathy phenotypes (full statistical results truncated). This is scientifically important because myocardial microstructural assessment via DTI may improve noninvasive diagnosis and characterization beyond conventional CMR in children.

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

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

This cross-sectional study assessed whether cardiac MRI markers of remodeling and fibrosis differ by HIV infection duration in 83 HIV-infected participants (short-duration <5 years vs long-duration ≥5 years) compared with 34 matched HIV-negative controls. Using 1.5T SSFP cine and MOLLI sequences, the study found associations between longer HIV infection duration and greater left ventricular concentric remodeling and myocardial fibrosis (exact marker differences truncated). These findings are clinically significant because MRI biomarkers may help track cardiac injury progression in chronic HIV and guide risk stratification.

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

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

This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) across healthy individuals and in diseases associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), using UK Biobank (n=4020) and a multicohort clinical cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) dataset (n=1655) including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, aortic stenosis, Fabry disease, and amyloidosis. ASH prevalence and the septal-to-lateral wall thickness ratio (SLR) varied systematically with demographic factors and disease context, enabling age-, sex-, and body surface area–adjusted comparisons against a modeled healthy reference. These findings improve CMR-based interpretation of ASH by clarifying when septal asymmetry is expected versus suggestive of specific LVH etiologies, supporting more accurate risk stratification and phenotyping.

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 relate DCM genotype (TTN variants, non-TTN variants, or genotype-negative) and CMR-derived fibrosis markers to long-term prognosis. The key finding was that prognosis in DCM was jointly influenced by the interaction between genetic status and CMR fibrosis characteristics, with genotype and fibrosis markers contributing in a non-redundant way to risk stratification. These results support using combined genetic testing (including TTN status) plus CMR fibrosis assessment to improve prognostic prediction and guide clinical management in DCM.

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

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Cardiac MRI strain & deformation biomarkers

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

This review synthesized the physiological basis and clinical evidence for measuring myocardial deformation (strain) using cardiovascular MRI (CMR) and cardiac CT (CCT). It found that strain provides locally defined, physiology-sensitive markers that can add information beyond global measures across the cardiac cycle. Clinically, this supports broader adoption of strain-based imaging for improved assessment of myocardial function and risk stratification.

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

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

This large CMR prognostic study included 1235 patients after acute myocardial infarction (795 STEMI and 440 non-STEMI) and assessed whether left ventricular deformation (global longitudinal and circumferential strain, GLS/GCS) predicts major adverse cardiac events independent of afterload and ventricular–arterial coupling. The key finding was that LV deformation provided prognostic information beyond hemodynamic load metrics, indicating that strain adds independent risk stratification value post-AMI. This is significant because it supports using CMR-derived deformation biomarkers to refine outcome prediction after myocardial infarction beyond traditional 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 ↗

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Cardiac sarcoidosis & inflammatory cardiomyopathy imaging

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

This retrospective clinical study assessed whether cardiac MRI strain parameters independently predict myocardial inflammation defined by FDG PET/CT in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. Using feature tracking on cine steady-state free precession images, it evaluated peak circumferential strain (PCS), peak longitudinal strain (PLS), and diastolic strain rates against focal FDG uptake. If confirmed, this would support strain-CMR as a noninvasive imaging biomarker for PET-defined inflammatory activity and prognosis in cardiac sarcoidosis.

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

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

This case report describes a 69-year-old man whose first manifestation of probable cardiac sarcoidosis was sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (>200 bpm) with concurrent atrial fibrillation and chronic diastolic heart failure. The key finding is that sustained monomorphic VT occurred as an initial high-risk presentation of cardiac sarcoidosis, prompting escalation from acute antiarrhythmic management (intravenous amiodarone) to further diagnostic evaluation. Clinically, it emphasizes that new sustained monomorphic VT should raise suspicion for cardiac sarcoidosis even before classic conduction disease or cardiomyopathy is established.

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

Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A Practical Guide for Cardiologists.

This practical guide reviewed cardiac sarcoidosis in patients with systemic sarcoidosis, focusing on clinical phenotypes (e.g., atrioventricular block, ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, sudden cardiac death) and on diagnostic and treatment approaches using tools such as cardiac magnetic resonance and ^18F-FDG PET. It emphasizes that myocardial involvement is more common than clinically recognized and that CMR and ^18F-FDG PET improve detection of patchy disease, while immunosuppression and arrhythmia prevention strategies remain central despite limited randomized trial evidence. The review is clinically significant because it consolidates current best practices to improve diagnosis and reduce arrhythmic risk in a high-morbidity condition.

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

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Myocarditis & inflammatory injury phenotyping

Recurrent myocarditis masquerading as acute myocardial infarction: unmasking Behçet’s disease.

This case report described a 27-year-old man with recurrent myocarditis-like episodes that mimicked acute myocardial infarction, with repeated normal coronary angiography and serial cardiac MRI plus 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET showing migratory myocardial inflammation. The pattern of recurrent oral ulcers, folliculitis, arthralgias, and pathergy-like skin reactions led to unmasking Behçet’s disease as the underlying cause of recurrent myocarditis. Clinically, it highlights the need to consider Behçet’s disease and inflammatory myocarditis when young patients have MI-mimicking presentations with non-obstructive coronaries and evolving inflammatory lesions.

Atta M, Alqatati F, Alkhanafsa M et al. · Oxford medical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Eosinophilia and the Heart: Evolving Concepts.

This narrative review summarized evolving concepts in eosinophilia-related cardiac disease, focusing on eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) and its diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. It highlighted that up to 43% of patients with histologically proven EM lack peripheral blood eosinophilia and emphasized central roles for the IL-5 pathway, including genetic susceptibility involving loci such as GPA33 and IRF1/IL5 in ANCA-negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. The review supports broader diagnostic suspicion for EM even without eosinophilia and reinforces IL-5 pathway–targeted therapies as a key treatment direction.

Habasko J, Kuchynka P, Bonatto ME et al. · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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

This retrospective adult study evaluated whether late gadolinium-enhanced CMR tissue parameters and C-reactive protein (CRP) predict clinical prognosis in acute myocarditis. Among 76 patients (41 fulminant myocarditis, including 17 without mechanical circulatory support and 24 with mechanical circulatory support, plus 35 non-fulminant), it analyzed cine, native T1/T2, post-T1 mapping, and LGE features alongside CRP for adverse outcomes. The results aim to identify CMR injury phenotypes and inflammatory biomarkers that stratify prognosis in acute myocarditis, including fulminant presentations.

Shi X, Wang Y, Zhang Z et al. · Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987) · (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 Radiology Case Reports article presents a 62-year-old woman with type 1 Kounis syndrome after Hymenoptera sting–triggered anaphylactic shock who developed myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). The key finding is that delayed dual-energy spectral CT demonstrated myocardial late iodine enhancement consistent with multifocal infarction, after CCTA excluded obstructive coronary disease and cardiac MRI later confirmed the diagnosis. Scientifically and clinically, it supports spectral CT as a useful imaging tool for detecting infarct patterns in MINOCA due to allergic coronary vasospasm/inflammation.

Hamrouni H, Alam W, Brahim LI et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · 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 in Lupus describes a 21-year-old woman with anti-SSA–negative systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who presented with inaugural complete heart block (CHB). The key finding is that cardiac MRI and standard workup excluded myocarditis, infiltrative disease, and common reversible causes, while anti–PM-Scl 100 antibodies provided diagnostic support for CHB attributable to SLE. Clinically, it highlights that anti-PM-Scl 100 antibodies can be diagnostically important in rare CHB presentations of anti-SSA–negative SLE.

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

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

This Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging study used 4D flow cardiac MRI to characterize biventricular intracardiac flow components in marathon athletes and relate them to exercise-induced cardiac remodeling. The key finding is that 4D flow MRI can quantify ventricular flow components that may serve as novel hemodynamic biomarkers for differentiating exercise-induced remodeling from early cardiomyopathy. Scientifically, it advances the use of intracardiac flow metrics as complementary imaging biomarkers alongside conventional structural and functional measures.

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

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

This prospective single-center study evaluated multiparametric cardiac MRI, particularly T1- and T2-mapping, as noninvasive tools for detecting acute cellular rejection (ACR) in 17 adult orthotopic heart transplant recipients undergoing serial scans within 1 month post-transplant. The key approach was to compare quantitative T1/T2 mapping metrics over 5–6 serial MRIs in recipients with control subjects without structural heart disease, aiming to identify MRI signatures of rejection. If effective, T1/T2 mapping could reduce reliance on frequent endomyocardial biopsies by enabling earlier, noninvasive rejection monitoring.

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

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

This retrospective study analyzed 51 children with acute myocarditis diagnosed by cardiac MRI (using updated Lake-Louise criteria) and 40 age-matched healthy controls, focusing on left atrial (LA) stiffness while restricting to preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (>55%). The key finding was that LA stiffness was abnormal in pediatric acute myocarditis despite preserved LV systolic function, enabling identification of myocarditis cases that might be missed by LV-focused measures. This is significant because LA stiffness may serve as a sensitive CMR-derived marker for pediatric myocarditis detection and risk assessment when LVEF is preserved.

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

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, using serial ECGs, emergent coronary angiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance to distinguish vasospasm from myocarditis/atherosclerosis. Angiography showed multivessel coronary vasospasm with apparent stenoses up to 90%, CMR demonstrated ischemic injury without myocarditis, and repeat angiography later showed nonobstructive coronary disease. The findings are significant because they reinforce that allergic coronary vasospasm can mimic obstructive MI and that timely imaging can prevent misclassification and guide appropriate management.

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

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

This case report studied a 45-year-old Black transgender woman receiving long-term estrogen therapy who developed a Takotsubo-like syndrome with ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. Coronary angiography showed no epicardial obstruction and ventriculography with apical akinesia suggested Takotsubo syndrome, while cardiac MRI revealed transmural infarction with extensive microvascular obstruction, implicating microvascular dysfunction. The clinical significance is that it broadens the differential for acute coronary syndrome in patients on gender-affirming hormone therapy and highlights microvascular pathology as a potential driver of Takotsubo-like presentations.

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

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Heart failure risk stratification via CMR hemodynamics & congestion

MRI staging of haemodynamic congestion and clinical outcomes.

This study assessed whether cardiovascular MRI–derived left ventricular filling pressure (MRI-wedge) and pulmonary blood volume index (PBVi), used to define four MRI hemodynamic congestion stages, predict clinical outcomes in patients undergoing CMR. Patients were stratified into stage 1 (normal), stage 2 (isolated volume overload), stage 3 (isolated pressure overload), or stage 4 (combined overload), and these MRI stages were evaluated for prognostic value and association with non-invasive markers of myocardial fibrosis. Clinically, MRI-based hemodynamic staging could improve risk stratification in congestion syndromes and help link congestion physiology to underlying fibrotic remodeling.

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

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

This retrospective single-center study examined the clinical significance of incidentally detected pericardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac MRI in patients undergoing clinically indicated CMR, compared with controls without pericardial LGE. The key question was whether incidental pericardial LGE reflects persistent subclinical pericardial inflammation associated with adverse long-term outcomes rather than only active inflammation. If incidentally detected pericardial LGE predicts worse outcomes, it could change how radiologists and clinicians interpret and follow these incidental CMR findings.

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

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 fraction (ECV) 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 the modified look-locker inversion protocol, the investigators applied Cox proportional hazards modeling to test ECV as a prognostic marker. If confirmed, CMR-derived ECV could support risk-directed management by identifying patients with interstitial fibrosis who are at higher risk for death and heart failure.

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

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Coronary artery disease risk & perfusion imaging (CMR/CT)

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

This real-world comparative study evaluated whether an ischemia-focused analytical strategy (FOCUS-ischemia) preserves clinically relevant information compared with conventional multiparametric stress CMR for predicting downstream coronary management and clinical outcomes. In 717 consecutive patients undergoing clinically indicated stress CMR, it compared performance of the two analysis approaches for outcome prediction. The findings inform whether shorter, ischemia-targeted CMR workflows can maintain prognostic utility in routine practice.

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

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

This study examined whether coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) add cardiovascular risk prediction in people with HIV as they age, compared with Q-risk scores. In 779 individuals with HIV who underwent CACS scanning (median age 55), CACS predicted adverse outcomes such as MACE, death, and heart failure better than Q-risk. This supports using coronary calcium imaging to improve cardiovascular risk stratification in aging populations with HIV.

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

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 open-label trial (INaMICRON) studied whether early inhibition of the late sodium current with ranolazine, added to guideline-directed medical therapy, can prevent coronary microvascular dysfunction in adults with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent successful primary PCI and had at least one significant non-culprit lesion. The trial design targets favorable modulation of microvascular function during the early post-infarction phase by blocking late INa, with participants randomized 1:1 to ranolazine versus standard therapy. If effective, this strategy could provide a pharmacologic adjunct to PCI to improve early coronary microvascular recovery and reduce residual ischemia after STEMI.

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

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

This review article assessed the clinical applications and future directions of quantitative myocardial perfusion imaging using MRI (QP-CMR for absolute myocardial blood flow) and CT (quantitative CT perfusion, CTP) for coronary artery disease evaluation. The key finding was that quantitative perfusion approaches improve diagnostic performance over visual interpretation—particularly in multi-vessel disease for QP-CMR—and that CTP adds functional accuracy beyond coronary CT angiography alone. Scientifically and clinically, these data support broader adoption of radiation-aware, quantitative perfusion biomarkers to better guide ischemia-focused CAD management.

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

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

This study evaluated whether correcting resting myocardial blood flow (MBF) for rate-pressure product (RPP) changes the prognostic value of quantitative perfusion CMR (QP-CMR) in patients with heart failure, analyzing 641 prospectively recruited HF patients and 184 healthy volunteers. After RPP correction (MBFcorr), the derived myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) and its prognostic associations differed from uncorrected metrics, affecting how QP-CMR relates to outcomes including heart failure hospitalization. The results support standardization of QP-CMR processing (RPP correction) to improve prognostic accuracy in HF clinical risk assessment.

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 examined whether stress perfusion CMR–derived ischemic burden and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) add incremental prognostic value for all-cause mortality in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (CMR-derived LVEF <50%) undergoing vasodilator stress perfusion CMR at three French centers (2008–2024). Ischemia and LGE on stress CMR were associated with long-term mortality, and their prognostic contribution was assessed beyond clinical factors and LVEF using multivariable Cox models. Clinically, the work supports using stress CMR ischemia/scar phenotyping to refine mortality risk in LV systolic dysfunction beyond ejection fraction alone.

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

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Post-MI remodeling, infarct characterization & outcomes

Inflammation, Infarct Size and 10-Year Mortality in STEMI Patients Stratified by the ORBI Risk Score: A DANAMI-3 Sub-study.

This DANAMI-3 sub-study analyzed 1,574 STEMI patients without cardiogenic shock, stratifying them by ORBI Risk Score (high ORBI ≥8 vs low) to test whether higher risk corresponds to greater inflammation, larger infarct size, and worse 10-year outcomes. High ORBI risk was associated with higher systemic inflammation markers (including CRP, leukocyte count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and MR-proADM) and greater infarct size, translating into higher long-term mortality over 10 years. The study links early post-PCI inflammatory burden and infarct severity to durable prognosis in STEMI, supporting risk refinement beyond cardiogenic shock prediction.

Kunkel JB, Lønborg J, Frydland M et al. · European heart journal. Acute cardiovascular care · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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

This randomized, placebo-controlled swine study investigated cardioprotective effects of CDP-choline in a closed-chest ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after 60 minutes of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. CDP-choline administered intravenously 30 minutes after occlusion reduced I/R injury compared with placebo (n=8 per group). The significance is that CDP-choline may be a translational cardioprotective therapy for STEMI by limiting infarct size and improving outcomes after reperfusion.

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 longitudinal CMR study compared left ventricular (LV) remodeling after permanent left anterior descending (LAD) ligation in young versus aged C57BL/6 mice at 2, 7, and 28 days post–myocardial infarction (MI). The key finding was that young mice exhibited increased relative ventricular remodeling compared with aged mice, despite baseline differences in volumes and deformation capacity. The significance is that age-dependent remodeling patterns in this CMR model can inform preclinical study design and interpretation of therapeutic effects after MI.

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 evaluated infarct-related and remote myocardial tissue properties in 224 acute myocardial infarction patients with multivessel disease (MVD) versus single-vessel disease (SVD), including subgrouping by complete revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention. The key finding is that MVD is associated with broader myocardial injury characteristics beyond the infarct zone, with differences further modulated by whether revascularization was complete. Scientifically and clinically, it supports using cardiac MRI to detect diffuse post-AMI myocardial damage and to risk-stratify patients based on angiographic disease extent and revascularization completeness.

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

Photon-counting CT of midventricular takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

This Radiology Case Reports article presents a 63-year-old woman with midventricular takotsubo cardiomyopathy after emotional stress, with elevated troponin I and acute chest pain. The key finding is that photon-counting detector coronary CT angiography (PCD-CCTA) excluded obstructive coronary artery disease and, using multiphase cine reconstructions, accurately characterized the midventricular wall-motion abnormality pattern with basal and apical sparing. Clinically, it supports photon-counting CT as a high-resolution, rapid “one-stop” approach for diagnosing atypical takotsubo variants and differentiating them from acute coronary syndromes.

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 review synthesized current evidence and future directions on integrating cardiac CT into the diagnostic pathway for Takotsubo syndrome (TS), focusing on how CT can complement or substitute for cardiac MRI when CMR is contraindicated or limited. The key conclusion is that while CMR remains the reference standard for TS tissue characterization and ventricular function assessment, cardiac CT can play a role in broader diagnostic work-up using multimodality imaging. Scientifically and clinically, clarifying CT’s place could reduce diagnostic delays and improve access to TS evaluation in patients who cannot undergo CMR.

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

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

This prognostic study enrolled 604 patients after revascularized first-time ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and used cardiac MRI within 4 days to measure blood-pool T2 mapping and compute the right/left ventricular (RV/LV) T2-ratio. The key finding was that a reduced RV/LV blood pool T2-ratio predicted the development of newly diagnosed congestive heart failure (CHF) during follow-up. This is significant because RV/LV T2-ratio provides an early, noninvasive CMR biomarker for post-STEMI CHF 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 ↗

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

This JACC Case Reports report described a 25-year-old man with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) who was also diagnosed with saw-tooth cardiomyopathy using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The key finding was the coexistence of SCAD and the distinctive myocardial “saw-tooth” pattern on CMR, representing a novel dual diagnosis. This is clinically significant because it broadens the differential diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy presentations and underscores the value of CMR for identifying rare underlying myocardial disorders in SCAD patients.

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

Implementation of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in everyday cardiology practice.

This article studied how to implement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in everyday cardiology practice, targeting general cardiologists and covering indications, prognostic value, limitations, and practical use of common CMR sequences across ischemic heart disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathies, valvular disease, aortopathies, masses, pericardial conditions, and adult congenital heart disease. It provides a structured, sequence-informed approach to integrating CMR into routine diagnostic and follow-up workflows. The scientific/clinical significance is that it aims to improve real-world adoption and appropriate utilization of CMR to enhance diagnosis and risk stratification.

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

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

This multicentre prospective observational study tested whether peak apical rotation predicts left ventricular (LV) thrombus after anterior myocardial infarction, quantifying peak apical rotation post-hoc in 270 anterior MI patients using speckle tracking echocardiography. LV thrombus occurred in 33% of patients, and peak apical rotation was significantly lower in those who developed thrombus, with discrimination and association evaluated using multivariable regression and receiver-operating characteristic analysis. The results suggest that a specific echocardiographic motion metric (peak apical rotation) can improve identification of patients at higher risk for post-MI LV thrombus, potentially guiding intensified surveillance or anticoagulation decisions.

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

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Cardiac amyloidosis & microvascular ischemia

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

This review discussed the clinical intersection between cardiac amyloidosis and coronary artery disease, emphasizing that elderly patients often have both and that ischemia in amyloid hearts is frequently driven by coronary microvascular dysfunction rather than flow-limiting epicardial stenosis. It notes that epicardial atherosclerosis is present in roughly 30–40% of cardiac amyloidosis patients, but the dominant ischemic mechanism is typically microvascular impairment from amyloid infiltration and related structural changes. Recognizing this mechanism is important for selecting appropriate diagnostic strategies and avoiding misattribution of symptoms to obstructive coronary disease alone.

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

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Valvular heart disease imaging & procedural planning

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

This systematic review assessed echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) studies measuring left atrial (LA), right atrial (RA), and right ventricular (RV) function in patients receiving potentially cardiotoxic oncologic treatments. It found that standard left ventricular metrics such as ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) may change late and miss injury to other chambers, while available studies demonstrate measurable atrial and RV involvement. Clinically, incorporating LA/RA/RV assessment could improve cardiotoxicity surveillance beyond LV-only monitoring during cancer therapy.

Żak M, Suchodolski A, Niklewski T et al. · Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) · (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 studied a practical echocardiographic workflow for adults with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD), emphasizing diagnosis, hemodynamic assessment, anatomical characterization, transcatheter closure planning, and follow-up. The key finding was that because secundum ASD geometry is often non-circular, accurate assessment requires a complementary multiplanar approach—typically combining transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with multiplanar two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The significance is improved procedural planning and device sizing accuracy for transcatheter ASD closure using an evidence-based echocardiographic strategy.

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

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 for quantifying epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) and evaluated its reproducibility and agreement with cardiac CT in 127 patients with aortic stenosis and 11 volunteers. The key finding was that the standardized MRI EATV quantification showed good reproducibility and agreement with CT measurements (exact agreement metrics truncated). Standardization and CT concordance are clinically important because EATV is a cardiometabolic risk marker and MRI could provide a radiation-free alternative for longitudinal risk assessment.

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

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

This review summarized how cardiac imaging modalities are used in structural valve clinical trials for secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR), focusing on transcatheter edge-to-edge repair and transcatheter mitral valve replacement. It delineated the roles and trial-relevant imaging criteria for transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance in patient selection, procedural guidance, and outcome assessment. The review supports harmonized multimodality imaging strategies to improve trial enrollment consistency and interpretability of SMR intervention outcomes.

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

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Congenital heart disease imaging & longitudinal trajectories

A Knowledge Graph Framework for Longitudinal Congenital Heart Disease Modeling: Methodology Corner.

This methodology paper developed a knowledge graph framework to model longitudinal congenital heart disease (CHD) trajectories using EHR data, integrating patients, encounters, diagnoses, and procedures to preserve temporal clinical context. The key contribution was a trajectory-aware representation that better reflects evolving disease progression and staged interventions than static feature approaches. Scientifically, it provides a foundation for more accurate longitudinal CHD prediction and analytics using graph-based machine learning.

Xu H, Cunge L, Ming Z 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 narrative pediatric perspective discussed the “grey zone” for timing pulmonary valve replacement in repaired tetralogy of Fallot, contextualizing the 2024 American Heart Association scientific statement’s risk framework. The key finding was that patients with borderline right ventricular indexed volumes—approximately 140–160 mL/m² end-diastolic and 70–80 mL/m² end-systolic—lack a single threshold value that clearly determines intervention timing. Clinically, defining this grey zone supports more nuanced longitudinal decision-making for pulmonary valve replacement in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Ulug Murt N, Ramcharan T · Cardiology in the young · (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 assessed gadolinium-enhanced free-running whole-heart 5D MRI using a fast-interrupted steady-state (FISS) sequence in 45 consecutive congenital heart disease (CHD) patients, comparing it with 2D and 3D bSSFP-based acquisitions. The study found that the gadolinium-enhanced 5D approach provided performance in scan time, ventricular volume/ejection fraction estimation, and image quality relative to conventional 2D/3D MRI (specific quantitative outcomes truncated). The findings support the use of gadolinium-enhanced 5D motion-resolved MRI as a practical option for comprehensive CHD assessment.

Roy CW, Vogeli E, Megalo A et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · 2 citations · 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 echocardiographic/functional outcomes in neonates and infants (<1 year) who underwent a Ross operation for critical aortic stenosis, comparing those with and without endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE), with or without concomitant EFE resection. The key finding was that left ventricular rehabilitation after the Ross procedure was associated with restoration and sustained long-term LV functional performance, with outcomes differing by EFE presence and management. These results support early surgical intervention and inform long-term surveillance strategies for infants with EFE-associated diastolic impairment after Ross repair.

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

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Cardiac imaging methodology, workflow, and AI automation

Personalized Cine Cardiac MRI Protocol Optimization Using a Retrieval-Augmented Large Language Model: A Prospective Comparison With Technologist-Optimized Protocol.

This prospective intra-individual comparison study evaluated a retrieval-augmented large language model (LLM-RAG) framework to personalize cine cardiac MRI protocols versus technologist-optimized protocols in 68 patients undergoing clinical cardiac MRI. The AI-generated personalized protocols were equivalent or noninferior to technologist-optimized protocols for cine cardiac MRI performance despite patient-specific constraints such as arrhythmia or limited breath-hold capacity. This supports using LLM-RAG to automate individualized cardiac MRI planning, potentially improving image quality and workflow efficiency.

Dehghani S, Farashahi A, Hammood IR · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Comparison of Deep Learning-Based Free Breathing with Conventional Breath Holding CMR for Quantifying Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation.

This prospective study compared deep learning-based free-breathing CMR (Sonic DL Cine, GE HealthCare; accelerated 2D SSFP with 1-heartbeat free-breathing) against conventional breath-hold CMR for quantifying degenerative mitral regurgitation in patients with degenerative MR. Free-breathing Sonic DL Cine and associated free-breathing phase-contrast imaging produced accurate mitral regurgitation quantification comparable to standard breath-hold methods. The findings suggest a practical alternative for patients who cannot reliably breath-hold, improving feasibility of CMR-based MR assessment.

Chamay S, Horgan SJ, Animashaun IB et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Optimization of Respiratory Training Methods for Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

This prospective study evaluated respiratory training methods with different breath-holding strategies in 93 patients undergoing cardiac MRI at 3T using sequences including single-shot fast spin-echo, SSFP-based cine, first-pass perfusion, and late gadolinium enhancement. The key finding was that specific respiratory training/breath-hold approaches reduced respiratory motion artifacts and improved cardiac MRI image quality (details truncated). Clinically, optimizing breath-holding training can improve diagnostic reliability of cardiac MRI in patients who struggle with breath-holding.

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

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

This article reviewed how multimodal artificial intelligence can enable early detection and precision management of inflammatory and infiltrative cardiomyopathies, including cardiac sarcoidosis, transthyretin amyloidosis, and autoimmune myocarditis. The key proposition is that AI can integrate ECG, echocardiography, CMR, PET/scintigraphy, biomarkers, and electronic health record features to improve diagnostic suspicion, tissue-based phenotyping, and risk-directed triage. Clinically, such AI-driven multimodality workflows could shorten time to diagnosis and guide more targeted treatment before irreversible myocardial dysfunction develops.

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

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

This review summarized optimization strategies and technological advances in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) aimed at improving access and screening by reducing patient preparation and total acquisition time. The key finding was that workflow streamlining (rapid protocols), sequence development, deep learning–based image acceleration/reconstruction, and automated image analysis/report generation collectively improve feasibility for broader clinical deployment. This is clinically significant because it addresses the practical barriers that limit CMR availability and could enable more widespread screening and earlier diagnosis.

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

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 evaluated the clinical readiness and methodological rigor of artificial intelligence (AI) models for predicting ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD), using PROBAST+AI appraisal and prespecified anchor subgroup reporting (no pooling) focused on AUROC with 95% confidence intervals. Across included studies, the review characterized performance reporting and risk of bias/concerns relevant to real-world deployment of AI-based SCD/ventricular arrhythmia prediction models. The findings guide researchers and clinicians toward more transparent, bias-aware AI development and evaluation for arrhythmic risk stratification beyond LVEF.

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 ↗

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Quantitative CMR tissue mapping & advanced MRI physics

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

This ex vivo imaging study developed a simultaneous 3D adiabatic T1ρ, T2*, and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) approach to characterize myocardial infarction in mouse hearts. In C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice with C75Bl/6JOlaHsd MI (nMI=7) versus controls (nCTRL=6), it used a 3D multi-echo GRE sequence with adiabatic T1ρ preparation to generate T1ρ-weighted QSM alongside T2* and susceptibility maps, with comparisons to reference T1ρ mapping and QSM without preparation. The technique advances quantitative, multi-parameter MRI characterization of infarct tissue that could improve mechanistic assessment of MI pathology.

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 work compared tissue property estimates from conventional cardiac magnetic resonance fingerprinting (cMRF) versus magnetization-transfer–modeled cMRF (MT-cMRF) in simulations, phantom experiments, and 14 healthy human subjects. Explicitly modeling magnetization transfer during reconstruction improved quantification of free-water T1/T2 (T1f, T2f) and bound pool fraction (BPF) compared with a conventional dictionary that ignored MT processes. The results support more accurate, MT-aware cMRF for quantitative cardiac tissue characterization, potentially improving clinical mapping of myocardial microstructure.

Kaplan S, Liu Z, Hamilton J et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · 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 low-contrast-dose dual-energy CT (DECT) using extracellular volume fraction (ECV) from DECT late iodine enhancement (LIE) to quantify myocardial focal scar (MFS) in 33 patients with old myocardial infarction. DECT-LIE-derived ECV was compared segmentally (1–16 LV segments) and for MFS versus remote myocardium against cardiac MRI ECV from late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T1 mapping. If DECT-LIE-ECV performs comparably to CMR, it could enable scar quantification with reduced contrast dose for patients who cannot or should not undergo CMR.

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

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

This study investigated whether leveraging high spatiotemporal resolution free-breathing 4D cardiac MRI (AutoCMR; 30 volumetric frames per cardiac cycle at 1.6 mm isotropic resolution) plus cuff systolic and diastolic blood pressures improves non-invasive calibration and internal consistency of patient-specific cardiac mechanics models. The key finding was that higher-resolution imaging data can enhance the calibration and consistency of both 0D lumped-parameter and 3D finite element models. This could improve the accuracy of computational cardiac mechanics for diagnosis, surgical planning, and device design using routine-care-compatible imaging.

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

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

This multi-center, multi-manufacturer study developed and validated Cine2LGE, a contrast-free cine MRI–based method that generates late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)-like images and estimates enhancement probability for myocardial tissue characterization. The key finding was that Cine2LGE produced LGE-like image quality and enhancement probability estimates that performed robustly across multiple scanners and diseases and generalized to an external dataset. This is clinically significant because it could expand LGE-equivalent myocardial assessment to patients who cannot receive gadolinium contrast (e.g., renal impairment or contrast allergy).

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

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Right-heart failure & pulmonary hypertension imaging (CMR/PET)

PET Imaging in Pulmonary Hypertension.

This 2026 review studied how positron emission tomography (PET) imaging can be applied across pulmonary hypertension, with emphasis on pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular (RV) remodeling. It found that while echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) assess RV structure/function and fibrosis well, PET can detect earlier molecular alterations preceding overt dysfunction. Scientifically, PET could enable earlier diagnosis, better phenotyping, and more targeted monitoring of disease activity in pulmonary hypertension.

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

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

This narrative review proposed a multimodality, therapy-agnostic right-heart monitoring “trajectory” framework across the heart failure spectrum (HFrEF, HFmrEF, HFpEF), using SGLT2 inhibition with dapagliflozin as an example. It found that serial right-heart assessment integrating clinical status, biomarkers, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI can better capture evolving RV dysfunction, pulmonary vascular load, tricuspid regurgitation, and venous congestion than left-ventricle–centric follow-up alone. Scientifically and clinically, this framework aims to improve longitudinal phenotyping and monitoring of right-sided 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 ↗

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Arrhythmia risk stratification & electrophysiology imaging

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

This single-center pilot study investigated cutaneous ultrastructural abnormalities as potential biomarkers of ventricular arrhythmias in inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM) complicated by ventricular arrhythmias, focusing on desmosomal alterations in skin tissue. The study found evidence of desmosomal/intercalated-disc–related structural changes in patients with ICM-VA, suggesting a mechanistic overlap with desmosomal disease pathways. These findings raise the possibility of skin-based biomarkers to identify arrhythmia risk in ICM, warranting larger validation studies.

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

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

This review studied how cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging can complement echocardiography and endomyocardial biopsy surveillance in heart transplant (HTx) recipients for graft dysfunction due to cellular rejection and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), as well as coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV). It found that CMR’s expanding role is driven by its ability to non-invasively assess graft status beyond what standard surveillance alone provides. Clinically, integrating CMR into HTx follow-up could enable earlier detection and more timely management of rejection-related injury and CAV risk.

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

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

This retrospective multicenter cohort study evaluated ventricular arrhythmias in 783 adults with confirmed Marfan syndrome across three Mayo Clinic sites using chart-reviewed clinical data, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), surgical history, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) data. The key finding was that sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) were associated with specific clinical/structural correlates captured in the cohort, with exploratory analyses including CMR variables. Scientifically and clinically, defining these correlates can improve risk stratification and guide surveillance and ICD decision-making in Marfan syndrome.

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

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

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) to determine whether absence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) predicts CRT response and ventricular arrhythmia (VA) outcomes. The key finding was that lack of LGE (i.e., no myocardial fibrosis signal) is associated with better CRT response and lower VA risk, supporting selection of CRT-P over CRT-D in lower arrhythmic-risk phenotypes. Clinically, using CMR LGE status could refine device choice and avoid unnecessary defibrillator implantation in appropriate NICM patients.

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

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

This Academic Radiology cardiac MRI study evaluated right atrial (RA) phasic strain in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patients with preserved versus reduced right ventricular function and compared them with healthy controls. The key finding is that ARVC patients with preserved RV function already show impaired RA reservoir and conduit strain and reduced RA passive emptying fraction despite preserved RA systolic indices. Clinically, it suggests RA strain may provide incremental diagnostic discrimination for ARVC before overt RV dysfunction becomes apparent.

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

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 new semiautomatic postprocessing method for quantifying left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) peak velocity on 4D flow cardiac MRI in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with LV outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). The key finding was that the semiautomatic approach was designed to improve reliability and reproducibility compared with labor-intensive current methods for LVOT peak velocity measurement. A more reproducible LVOT velocity workflow could streamline imaging-based severity assessment and improve consistency of management decisions in HCM-LVOTO.

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

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

This CMR retrospective study evaluated 39 adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (r-ToF) to determine whether left atrial reservoir strain (LAS) measured from four-chamber cine images is associated with a history of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia (h-LTA). The key finding was that impaired left atrial reservoir strain correlated with prior h-LTA in this population, supporting LAS as a potential arrhythmia risk marker. This is clinically significant because it may improve risk stratification for ventricular arrhythmia in adults with r-ToF using a noninvasive CMR metric.

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 case series studied rescue catheter ablation of refractory incessant ventricular fibrillation in 3 critically ill patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, using high-density Purkinje system mapping during ongoing VF plus targeted Purkinje denetworking and myocardial substrate modification. The procedures identified and ablated Purkinje potentials/abnormal electrograms in infarcted and border-zone myocardium, enabling VF control in these mechanically supported patients (VA-ECMO and/or VA-ECMO with Impella) guided by electroanatomic mapping with multimodality imaging. The report suggests that Purkinje substrate denetworking, delivered with real-time high-density mapping during VF, may be a feasible strategy to terminate otherwise untreatable VF in critically ill ischemic 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 JACC case report studied an older woman with arrhythmogenic mitral valve prolapse (Barlow disease) in whom risk assessment extended beyond mitral regurgitation severity to an arrhythmogenic phenotype. Despite being asymptomatic at referral, she had bileaflet prolapse with mitral annular disjunction and frequent polymorphic premature ventricular complexes on ambulatory monitoring, and she suffered out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation with cardiac arrest before full work-up completion. The clinical significance is that it underscores the need to evaluate arrhythmic markers (e.g., polymorphic PVCs and mitral annular disjunction) in MVP to identify patients at risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

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

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Non-cardiac/biomedical translational & clinical care (non-imaging or non-cardiac focus)

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 how maternal seizure disorder (identified by ICD-10 codes) affects severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in delivery hospitalizations. The study found that pregnancies complicated by maternal seizure disorder were associated with increased severe maternal morbidity and higher rates of hypertensive disorders compared with pregnancies without seizure disorder. These findings support closer obstetric and neurologic risk stratification and monitoring for women with seizure disorders to reduce preventable maternal complications.

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

Semaglutide, independent of weight loss, attenuates cardiac and hepatic remodelling in experimental heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

This preclinical study tested whether semaglutide (a GLP-1 receptor agonist) produces weight loss-independent benefits in experimental heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using ZSF1 obese rats and Göttingen HFpEF minipigs with a two-hit model. Semaglutide attenuated cardiac and hepatic remodeling in both models even when effects were not explained by weight loss. The results suggest a weight-independent therapeutic mechanism for semaglutide in HFpEF, supporting further translational evaluation beyond glycemic and weight effects.

Elbatreek MH, Li Z, Yu X et al. · European heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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

This surgical case report described a 62-year-old woman with sudden neurologic deficits in whom echocardiography showed an inferior vena cava (IVC) hyperechoic structure that was not confirmed by multimodality imaging. Further evaluation identified a left atrial mass consistent with cardiac myxoma along with left subclavian artery occlusion and splenic infarction, explaining the unusual IVC finding. The report emphasizes that rare causes such as cardiac myxoma can underlie atypical echocardiographic IVC abnormalities, guiding clinicians to pursue comprehensive imaging when initial workup is discordant.

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

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

This article reviewed myocardial injury in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN), focusing on subclinical cardiac involvement and the role of cardiovascular imaging for early detection. It found that modern imaging techniques can identify myocardial injury earlier than clinical recognition, linking persistent immune activation in SLE/LN to increased cardiovascular risk. The significance is that earlier diagnosis of myocardial injury may enable timely intervention to reduce downstream cardiac morbidity in SLE patients, particularly those with LN.

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

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

This study developed and trained ChromAgeNet, an interpretable convolutional neural network, to predict hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) aging from 3D DAPI-stained chromatin architecture images. The model learned spatial chromatin features that change with aging and produced quantitative predictions of HSC aging state. This provides a scalable, image-based biomarker approach for measuring hematopoietic aging and could support earlier identification of age-related hematopoietic decline.

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 evaluated the clinical pharmacokinetics and disposition of imrecoxib, a COX-2–preferential NSAID, including effects of food, protein binding, metabolism, special populations, and drug–drug interactions. It reported that after oral dosing imrecoxib peaks at 2–3 hours, food increases systemic exposure, and metabolism proceeds sequentially from imrecoxib (M0) to 4’-hydroxymethylimrecoxib (M1), then to 4’-formylimrecoxib (M-CHO), and finally to 4’-carboxyimrecoxib (M2). These findings support rational dosing and safety considerations for imrecoxib use in osteoarthritis, particularly regarding exposure changes and interaction potential.

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

Cardiovascular effects of chronic GIPR and GLP-1R agonism in lean and diet-induced obese mice: sex differences and dose-dependent remodeling.

This preclinical mouse study tested the short-term cardiovascular effects of continuous GIPR or GLP-1R agonism in lean and diet-induced obese mice, explicitly examining sex differences and dose-dependent cardiac remodeling. It found that GIPR versus GLP-1R stimulation produced distinct, sex-specific remodeling patterns across multiple agonist doses during 1 month of infusion. These results clarify how targeting GIPR and GLP-1R may differentially influence cardiovascular outcomes in obesity and inform translational expectations for incretin-based therapies.

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

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

This article reports a primary intracranial myxoma (PIM) case in a previously healthy 10-year-old male presenting with a first-time generalized tonic-clonic seizure and left frontal extra-axial, dura-based lesion on neuroimaging. The key finding is identification of a rare de novo benign mesenchymal intracranial myxoma (distinct from cardiac myxoma with CNS embolization) based on imaging and clinical course. Clinically, it highlights that PIM should be included in the differential diagnosis of pediatric dura-based lesions presenting with seizures, despite its exceptional rarity.

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

Incidentally detected double-chambered right ventricle in an adult.

This Radiology Case Reports article describes an incidentally detected double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) in a 55-year-old asymptomatic woman. The key finding is identification of DCRV—caused by hypertrophy of right ventricular muscular structures (classically the moderator band)—on cardiac imaging in an adult with no symptoms. Clinically, it underscores that DCRV, though usually diagnosed in childhood, can present later and may be discovered during imaging for unrelated concerns.

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

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

This 24-year retrospective analysis used the CDC WONDER database 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 key finding is that mortality associated with DM plus CVD varies over time and differs across demographic and regional groups. Public-health significance lies in identifying high-risk populations and regions to target prevention and management strategies for diabetic patients at risk of cerebrovascular death.

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

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

This case report studied an 83-year-old woman with an intracardiac (left atrial) mass using multimodal imaging including transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, coronary angiography, and cardiac MRI with gadolinium. The integrated imaging approach characterized the mass with features such as a tumor blush on angiography and increased gadolinium uptake on cardiac MRI, with no change in mass characteristics or symptom development during cardiology follow-up. The report highlights how combining echo, angiography, and gadolinium-enhanced cardiac MRI can improve differential diagnosis and risk stratification of intracardiac masses in older patients.

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

Elevated hydrostatic pressure promotes organic carbon mineralization in reservoir sediments.

This study examined how elevated hydrostatic pressure (0.1–2.1 MPa) affects sediment organic carbon mineralization in reservoir sediment incubations using a custom-built hydrostatic pressure simulation system. Increasing hydrostatic pressure significantly accelerated organic carbon mineralization, with the apparent organic carbon mineralization rate at 2.1 MPa reported as 1.45–2.01-fold higher than at lower pressures (exact comparisons truncated). These findings are scientifically significant for predicting carbon cycling and greenhouse-relevant biogeochemical processes under reservoir-induced pressure 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 study investigated whether coumarin (CMR) protects against diabetes-induced sciatic nerve damage in Wistar rats and whether this protection involves TRPV1 modulation. Rats induced with streptozotocin (45 mg/kg i.p.) and treated with coumarin (100 mg/kg/day i.g.) showed neuroprotective effects associated with altered TRPV1 signaling pathways (outcomes truncated). The work is significant because it suggests a potential TRPV1-targeted therapeutic mechanism for preventing 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 Think Aloud study examined nurses’ clinical decision-making during PICC dressing application and removal in cancer care wards (one adult and one pediatric) in Brisbane, Australia. The key finding was that nurses used structured reasoning patterns during dressing/securement tasks, which could be mapped to Dual Process Theory (specific themes truncated). Understanding these decision processes is significant for improving PICC care training, standardization, and potentially reducing catheter-related complications.

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 narrative review examined how machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms use speech patterns to detect risk behaviors and reported diagnostic characteristics and clinical impact. The key finding was that ML/DL approaches can extract behavioral risk signatures from speech features and may support individualized interventions, though performance depends on data and model design. Scientifically and clinically, the review highlights speech-based ML as a promising, scalable tool for risk detection, while emphasizing the need for rigorous validation.

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

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

This report studied a 14-year-old girl with a right atrial composite hemangioendothelioma presenting with hemorrhagic pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, using echocardiography, CT/cardiac MRI, surgical excision under cardiopulmonary bypass, and histopathology/immunohistochemistry. The tumor was excised with reconstruction using an autologous pericardial patch, and postoperative FDG PET-CT showed no residual or metastatic disease; the immunophenotype supported composite hemangioendothelioma of low malignant potential. The case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway for rare pediatric cardiac vascular tumors causing tamponade and supports the potential for favorable outcomes with complete resection and appropriate adjuvant therapy.

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

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

This narrative review studied dialysis adequacy beyond Kt/V in maintenance dialysis patients, aiming to redefine adequacy as targeted cardiovascular risk reduction rather than small-solute clearance alone. It synthesizes evidence from randomized trials and individual-patient-data meta-analyses evaluating dialysis strategies intended to reduce cardiovascular stressors such as cyclic volume loading, rapid ultrafiltration, electrolyte shifts, myocardial stunning, vascular stiffness, inflammation, anemia, loss of residual kidney function, and the long interdialytic interval. The significance is that it reframes dialysis targets toward cardiovascular outcomes, potentially guiding future practice and trial endpoints in high-risk dialysis populations.

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 who developed pseudoprogression after lisocabtagene maraleucel and later achieved complete remission with the bispecific antibody epcoritamab. After relapse was confirmed histologically and the disease was refractory to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, epcoritamab was given as seventh-line therapy, with the clinical course including fever after the second step-up dose consistent with low-grade cytokine release syndrome. The report is significant because it documents pseudoprogression dynamics with CAR-T therapy and supports epcoritamab as an effective subsequent option in DLBCL.

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 a 60-year-old woman with radiation-associated mesothelioma who developed mixed constrictive–restrictive cardiac physiology decades after mantle-field radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma. Imaging and hemodynamic assessment suggested constrictive physiology (with echocardiography/cardiac catheterization), cardiac MRI was nondiagnostic, and PET-CT demonstrated hypermetabolic pleural, mediastinal, and pericardial lesions consistent with late radiation-related malignancy and cardiothoracic involvement. The significance lies in illustrating a rare but important mechanism of late post-radiation cardiothoracic disease that can produce complex physiology and may require multimodality evaluation.

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

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

This case report described a 65-year-old woman with long-standing sinus tachycardia and palpitations despite high-dose beta-blockade, ultimately attributed to severe pectus excavatum causing anterior cardiac compression and preload insufficiency. Right heart catheterization showed markedly low filling pressures (mean right atrial pressure 1 mmHg) with preserved cardiac output, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance demonstrated severe pectus excavatum (Haller index 8.1) with anterior cardiac compression. The report highlights an uncommon but important hemodynamic mechanism for refractory sinus tachycardia, emphasizing the role of CMR and invasive hemodynamics in diagnosing preload-compromising thoracic deformities.

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

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

This narrative review traced the historical evolution of pericarditis understanding and management from early descriptions (e.g., Hippocrates) through later advances in diagnostic characterization and treatment approaches. It highlights how diagnostic refinement and therapeutic strategies progressed over time, culminating in modern clinical relevance and emerging therapeutic directions. The historical synthesis provides context for current diagnostic frameworks and future biologic or targeted treatment development in pericarditis.

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 report compiled evidence and issued recommendations for perioperative cardiovascular evaluation and management in adult patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, as part of the 2026 AHA/ACC/ACS/ASNC/HRS/SCA/SCCT/SCMR/SVM guideline. Using a comprehensive literature search (Aug 2022–Mar 2023) across major databases, it provides structured, evidence-based guidance for perioperative risk assessment and management. The guideline is clinically significant because it standardizes cardiovascular perioperative care to reduce adverse events in noncardiac surgical patients.

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

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Generated automatically on October 05, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published September 28, 2026 – October 05, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.