What's New in Cardiac MRI? — October 14, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 46 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
October 14, 2026 · 46 articles · 15 research themes · covering October 07, 2026 – October 14, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of studies and reviews, a dominant theme is improving cardiovascular risk stratification by extracting more specific, quantitative information from advanced imaging—especially CMR. Multiple papers focus on refining how myocardial injury and remodeling are measured and interpreted: standardized or semi-quantitative LGE approaches for prognosis, feature-tracking strain to detect subtle phenotypes (e.g., early hypertrophic-spectrum disease and malignant MVP), and newer tissue-mapping strategies (ECV, entropy, T1ρ/RAFF2) aimed at capturing diffuse fibrosis and microstructural change beyond “presence/absence” of scar.
A second major thread is translating imaging advances into practical clinical workflows, including both acquisition and interpretation. Several contributions address reproducibility and standardization (strain reporting consensus), patient-centered acquisition optimization (MRI-specific anxiety and breath-hold performance affecting image quality), and method development/validation (e.g., CT late enhancement against CMR LGE, non-contrast 4D flow for longitudinal CHD hemodynamics, and robust contour-based septal curvature in pediatric pulmonary hypertension). Together, these works emphasize that reliable biomarkers require not only better physics/algorithms but also consistent protocols and feasible patient experiences.
Finally, the digest highlights how imaging is being used to uncover less common but high-stakes diagnoses and to guide targeted management. Case reports and reviews cover rare cardiac tumors/embolic sources, inflammatory myocardial syndromes that mimic coronary disease (e.g., lupus myopericarditis, EGPA with Takotsubo-like physiology), and cardiac sarcoidosis where structured FDG PET interpretation links inflammation patterns to outcomes. In parallel, cardio-oncology and other systemic-risk frameworks underscore that imaging biomarkers should be integrated with clinical variables and treatment context to better predict who is at greatest risk.
Pediatric and Adolescent Myocarditis
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance derived myocardial strain: applications, acquisition techniques, analysis, and reporting.
This article reviewed cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)–derived myocardial strain, describing how CMR cine-based strain quantification can be performed across imaging planes with high spatial and contrast resolution. It reported that CMR strain measures add diagnostic and prognostic value beyond conventional clinical parameters across multiple cardiovascular diseases, while noting barriers to routine use including protocol/analysis variability and limited normative reference ranges. The review frames how standardization and better reference data could enable broader clinical adoption of CMR strain.
Gulsin GS, Ambale-Venkatesh B, Axel L et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pediatric acute myocarditis: current evidence and practical recommendations.
This narrative review synthesized evidence from large pediatric cohorts and contemporary guidelines to characterize epidemiology, diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of acute myocarditis in children and adolescents. It reports that pediatric acute myocarditis shows male predominance and a bimodal age distribution, with early mortality around 5.9% and frequent diagnostic difficulty due to non-specific initial presentations and overlap with dilated cardiomyopathy. These findings support earlier recognition and structured risk stratification to prevent fulminant deterioration and improve outcomes in pediatric patients.
Mori S, Veronese G, Bonanomi E et al. · Trends in cardiovascular medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI Strain and Feature-Tracking for Myocardial Mechanics
Quantitative assessment of myocardial dysfunction in mild focal left ventricular hypertrophy using CMR feature tracking.
This retrospective CMR feature-tracking study compared left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) deformation in patients with mild focal left ventricular hypertrophy (MF-LVH) versus hypertrophic cardiomyopathy without late gadolinium enhancement (HCM-non-LGE) and healthy controls. The key finding was that CMR-FT–derived strain parameters detect myocardial and atrial dysfunction in MF-LVH and differentiate it from HCM-non-LGE and normal physiology. Clinically, this supports using CMR feature tracking to characterize early or subtle hypertrophic phenotypes and potentially guide risk assessment when LGE is absent.
Wang X, Yao Y, Yang W et al. · Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Identifying the High-Risk Arrhythmic Mitral Valve Prolapse Phenotype by Imaging.
This imaging-focused study aimed to identify the high-risk arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse (AMVP) phenotype—malignant MVP—using multimodal imaging features. The key finding is that malignant MVP is characterized by myxomatous (often bileaflet) mitral valve prolapse with mitral annular disjunction, abnormal valvular–myocardial mechanics, complex ventricular ectopy, and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, with an over-representation in young women with unexplained sudden cardiac death. Scientifically, defining this imaging phenotype can enable earlier recognition of patients at high risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
Thamman R, Haugaa KH, Hung J et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Ventricular Fibrillation in PRKAG2 Cardiomyopathy: A Genetic Arrhythmia Substrate Beyond Wolff-Parkinson-White.
This JACC Case Reports report described a 25-year-old woman with genetically confirmed PRKAG2 cardiomyopathy who presented with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed anterolateral trabecular hypertrophy without myocardial fibrosis, and electrophysiological testing excluded Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome as the primary mechanism. The case illustrates that PRKAG2-related arrhythmia substrate can extend beyond classic pre-excitation and underscores the role of CMR and genetic diagnosis in guiding arrhythmia evaluation.
Visch J, Hopman LHGA, Holtus D et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Regional strain patterns in patients with mitral valve prolapse.
This study used cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking (FT) strain analysis to quantify regional contraction patterns in 132 patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) compared with 50 controls without cardiac disease. The abstract indicates that CMR-FT strain was applied across 1.5-T and 3-T scanners to characterize regional myocardial mechanics differences associated with MVP. Clinically, defining MVP-specific regional strain patterns may improve noninvasive assessment of subtle myocardial dysfunction and risk stratification.
Li JJ, Ching S, Aigner A et al. · Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac CT for Myocardial Tissue Characterization
The Effect of Different Gadolinium Delivery Rates on Objective and Subjective Image Quality in Cardiac Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
This retrospective study evaluated 90 patients with suspected ischemic heart disease undergoing stress perfusion cardiac MRI to test whether different gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) injection rates affect objective and subjective image quality. The key finding was that GBCA delivery rate meaningfully influences perfusion image quality metrics, indicating that contrast injection parameters are important for optimizing cardiac perfusion MRI. This is clinically significant because tailoring GBCA injection rate could improve diagnostic reliability of stress perfusion CMR for myocardial ischemia detection.
Mihl C, Pernot JC, Winkens B et al. · Investigative radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Diagnostic performance of shuttle-mode myocardial CT late enhancement: Comparison with late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular MR.
This prospective multicenter diagnostic study evaluated shuttle-mode dual-source cardiac CT myocardial late enhancement (CT-LE) in 56 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease, using late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular MRI (LGE-CMR) as the reference standard for detecting myocardial infarction (MI) and transmural extent. It specifically aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of CT-LE against LGE-CMR for MI detection and transmural characterization. If validated, shuttle-mode myocardial CT-LE could enable more accurate CT-based assessment of MI extent in patients undergoing cardiac CT.
Kokawa T, Nakamura S, Nakamori S et al. · Journal of cardiovascular computed tomography · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Right Ventricular Dysfunction and Pulmonary Hypertension Imaging
Right Ventricular Function Assessed by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement.
This prospective clinical study used speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) to quantify right ventricular (RV) systolic strain and right atrial (RA) strain before pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) and after transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) in 50 pediatric patients. The investigators assessed changes in RV free-wall longitudinal strain and regional RV strain (basal, mid-ventricular, apical) as well as RA reservoir and contraction strain at pre-op, post-operative day 1, and 6-month follow-up. The results aim to establish STE as a feasible alternative to cardiac MRI for monitoring RV functional response after TPVR.
Kucuk M, de Alba CG, Zablah J et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
The Prognostic Value of Entropy from T1 Mapping in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
This prospective study enrolled patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) within 72 hours of right heart catheterization (RHC) to test whether myocardial native T1, extracellular volume fraction (ECV), and entropy predict outcomes. Higher myocardial entropy derived from mid-ventricular short-axis T1 mapping was associated with the primary endpoint of all-cause mortality or lung transplantation. If validated, entropy-based CMR biomarkers could refine prognostication in PAH alongside RHC and support earlier identification of patients at greatest risk.
Zhao J, Guo J, He J et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Robust Approach to Measure Time-Resolved Septal Curvature in Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Patients Using Standard Short-Axis Ventricular Volume Contours: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study.
This retrospective cross-sectional study in pediatric pulmonary hypertension patients assessed a robust, contour-based method to measure time-resolved septal curvature (SC) from standard short-axis ventricular volume contours on CMR, and quantified interobserver variability and measurement performance. The key finding was that the proposed automated/robust contour-based SC computation reduces observer dependence compared with manual septal wall measurements such as interventricular septal angle or eccentricity index. Scientifically and clinically, this supports more reproducible noninvasive CMR surveillance of pediatric PH severity when right heart catheterization is not feasible for routine monitoring.
Fujiwara T, Lu VI, Frank BS et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Multimodality Molecular Profiling Nominates Targetable Mechanisms in Progressive RV Dysfunction.
This preclinical study performed multiomic profiling in pulmonary artery banded pigs stratified by right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction into mild (38±4%) versus severe (20±8%) RV dysfunction to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms linked to RVD severity. It found that multimodality molecular profiling can nominate targetable mechanisms that differ across degrees of RV compromise. Scientifically, these data provide a rationale for developing mechanism-based therapies aimed at specific pathways driving progressive RV dysfunction.
Blake MJ, Mendelson JB, Sternbach JD et al. · Circulation research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Tricuspid Regurgitation and RV-PA Coupling Metrics
Uncovering right ventricular impairment in severe TR: Insights from novel volumetric indices.
This multicentre study evaluated right ventricular (RV) function in 289 patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), comparing conventional RV ejection fraction (RVEF) with two novel volumetric indices: a volumetric RV–pulmonary artery (PA) coupling surrogate and effective RVEF that accounts for regurgitant volume. The key finding was that conventional RVEF can overestimate RV systolic function in severe TR, whereas the novel CMR-derived volumetric indices better reflect true RV performance and have prognostic value. Clinically, these indices may improve risk stratification and outcome prediction in severe TR by more accurately quantifying the impact of regurgitant volume on RV function.
Hinojar R, Fernández-Golfín C, Palomares JR et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) Quantification and Prognostic Cutoffs
Impact of the Extent, Pattern, and Location of Replacement Myocardial Fibrosis on Clinical Outcomes in Aortic Regurgitation.
This clinical study assessed how the extent, pattern, and anatomical location of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) replacement myocardial fibrosis on contrast-enhanced CMR relates to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR). In a cohort of consecutive moderate-to-severe AR patients without significant coronary stenosis undergoing CMR (2010–2024), the investigators tested whether specific LGE characteristics predict cardiovascular mortality, heart transplantation, or heart-failure rehospitalization. If confirmed, the work would refine risk stratification in AR by using not just the presence of LGE but its spatial and morphological distribution.
Li B, Dai L, Liu Y et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Left ventricular ejection fraction recovery under contemporary quadruple guideline-directed therapy and the need for ICD/CRT-D implantation in HFrEF: a retrospective single-center cohort study.
This retrospective single-center cohort study evaluated real-world left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery under contemporary “quadruple” guideline-directed medical therapy in 65 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and assessed implications for timing of ICD/CRT-D implantation. The investigators examined how many patients achieved sufficient LVEF improvement after at least three months of therapy and whether this affected the need for primary-prevention device implantation. The findings are intended to inform practical decision-making on deferring ICD/CRT-D in the era of modern quadruple therapy.
Ajmi I, Frings MP, Forkmann M et al. · Expert review of cardiovascular therapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Regional fat distribution as a determinant of mortality in populations with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: challenging the obesity paradox.
This study evaluated whether regional fat distribution measured in community participants with left ventricular systolic impairment (left ventricular ejection fraction <50%) in the UK Biobank Imaging Enhancement Programme predicts mortality, addressing limitations of BMI in the “obesity paradox.” Key findings (from CMR-based phenotyping) indicate that specific adiposity patterns—beyond overall BMI—are associated with higher mortality risk in this heart failure population. These results suggest that CMR-informed assessment of metabolically adverse fat distribution could improve risk stratification and challenge BMI-based interpretations of prognosis in left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
Khanna S, Ho W, Takeuchi F et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · 8 citations · View on PubMed ↗
A Visual LGE Extent Cutoff for Mortality Risk Stratification in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.
This bicentric retrospective French study evaluated ischemic cardiomyopathy patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <50% to determine whether a semi-quantitative late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) extent cutoff improves mortality risk stratification. The key finding was that an optimal LGE segments cutoff can stratify mortality risk in a large cohort of 3,591 patients, supporting the clinical utility of a standardized visual/semi-quantitative approach. If implemented, this could simplify LGE interpretation in routine practice while maintaining prognostic performance comparable to more quantitative methods.
Unger A, Garot J, Duhamel S et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Amyloidosis: Imaging, Phenotyping, and Interventional Context
Myocardial work in light-chain and transthyretin-related amyloidosis with preserved ejection fraction: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.
This prospective CMR study analyzed pressure–volume loop (PV-loop) changes derived from CMR cine images and brachial blood pressure in 100 consecutive patients with cardiac amyloidosis (14 transthyretin-related [ATTR-CA] and 86 light-chain [AL-CA]) with preserved ejection fraction, compared with 40 matched healthy controls. PV-loop parameters differed between amyloidosis patients and healthy controls and were evaluated as potential subtype-differential diagnostic markers between ATTR-CA and AL-CA. If validated, CMR-derived myocardial work/PV-loop metrics could improve noninvasive subtype discrimination and phenotyping in preserved-EF cardiac amyloidosis.
Liang S, Chen J, Deng Q et al. · Insights into imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac amyloidosis: what every interventional cardiologist should know.
This review studied cardiac amyloidosis (CA) in the context of interventional cardiology practice, focusing on clinical scenarios where CA may be missed because it coexists with common coronary, valvular, and arrhythmic diseases. The key finding is that “discordance”—where the degree of coronary/valvular/hemodynamic abnormalities does not fully explain symptoms, low-flow physiology, myocardial phenotype, or persistent high-sensitivity troponin elevation—should prompt suspicion of CA. This is significant because earlier recognition can improve diagnostic pathways and management decisions for patients undergoing interventional evaluation.
Izumiya Y, Kuyama N, Hirakawa K et al. · Cardiovascular intervention and therapeutics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Sarcoidosis: FDG PET Interpretation and Risk Stratification
PET in Cardiac Sarcoidosis.
This review studied the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET in diagnosing and risk-stratifying cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), emphasizing interpretation using myocardial perfusion imaging and the need for rigorous patient preparation to suppress physiologic uptake. The key finding is that abnormal FDG uptake patterns relative to perfusion defects distinguish inflammation without fibrosis, inflammation with fibrosis, and fibrosis alone, and that abnormal uptake—especially with perfusion defects—predicts major adverse cardiac events such as death and ventricular arrhythmias. Scientifically and clinically, it supports structured PET interpretation and the use of serial 18F-FDG PET to monitor disease activity and prognosis in CS.
Patel CD, Tilak A, Shiva C · PET clinics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardio-Oncology Biomarkers and Imaging Risk Integration
Toward Precision Cardio-Oncology: Integrating Biomarkers and Cardiac Imaging for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Patients With Cancer.
This narrative review synthesized evidence on integrating circulating biomarkers (including high-sensitivity cardiac troponins and natriuretic peptides) with multimodality cardiac imaging to refine cardiovascular risk assessment in patients receiving cancer therapy. It emphasized that conventional cardiovascular risk scores underperform in oncology because they do not capture treatment-related myocardial injury and hemodynamic stress. The review supports a precision cardio-oncology framework that can guide monitoring and risk stratification before, during, and after cancer treatment.
Sabouret A, Giamundo DM, Mamas M et al. · Oncology research and treatment · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cytomegalovirus Latency Fuels Inflammation Following Myocardial Infarction.
This experimental study investigated how latent murine cytomegalovirus infection affects cardiac immune cell dynamics at baseline and after myocardial infarction (MI) in C57BL/6J mice. Using spectral flow cytometry plus bulk and single-cell RNA/T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, the authors found that latency promotes inflammatory responses during post-MI repair. The work provides mechanistic support for epidemiologic links between CMV seropositivity and worse cardiovascular outcomes by implicating sustained post-injury inflammation.
Dapergola E, Šustić M, Ashour D et al. · Circulation research · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
CMR Biomarkers of Diffuse Fibrosis and T1ρ/Mapping
Rotating Frame Spin-Lock Cardiac MRI Method at 9.4 T Can Characterize Diffuse Fibrosis in Progressing Hypertensive Heart Disease in Mice.
This preclinical study evaluated rotating-frame spin-lock continuous-wave (CW) T1ρ and relaxation along a fictitious field with Rank 2 (RAFF2) cardiac MRI methods for characterizing diffuse myocardial fibrosis in mice with advancing hypertensive heart disease induced by angiotensin II infusion. The CW-T1ρ/RAFF2 measures were compared against native T1 and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) across disease progression assessed by echocardiography, showing the rotating-frame approach can characterize diffuse fibrosis complementary to conventional fibrosis imaging. These findings support noninvasive, quantitative CMR biomarkers for tracking diffuse fibrotic remodeling in hypertensive heart disease before overt replacement fibrosis becomes detectable.
Kiviluoto R, Törmä D, Tawfek A et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Comparison of Septal Region-of-Interest and Whole-Myocardium Contouring Methods for Myocardial T1 Measurement in Metabolic Syndrome.
This study compared septal region-of-interest (ROI) versus whole-myocardium contouring approaches for cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 mapping in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), including cases with focal late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Septal-ROI T1 quantification that avoids LGE lesions produced different myocardial T1 values and predictive performance compared with conventional whole-myocardium contouring. The findings support a practical CMR T1 analysis strategy for MetS when focal scar/LGE is present, potentially improving detection of diffuse myocardial remodeling and risk prediction.
Zhao Y, Yang H, Zhang M et al. · Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CMR Methodology Standardization and Reproducibility (Strain/Acquisition/Analysis)
BHSMS: a new software for searching the most stable structure of clusters based on the improved basin hopping algorithm.
This software-development paper introduced BHSMS, a new global-minimum search package for identifying the most stable structures of atomic and molecular clusters using an improved basin-hopping algorithm. The method integrates structure relaxation (SR), structure similarity recognition (SSR), planarity recognition (PR), and constraints for molecular rotation (CMR) and interfaces with quantum chemistry tools such as xTB. Scientifically, BHSMS is intended to improve efficiency and robustness of cluster global-minimum searches, accelerating structure–property studies in cluster science.
Zhang YY, Cheng Y, Zhang SW et al. · Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pattern and texton-based feature descriptors for diabetic foot ulcer detection.
This review/technical paper proposed a deep learning strategy for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) detection using a pipeline that includes wavelet-transform-based Wiener filtering (WT-WF) for preprocessing, segmentation, feature extraction, and classification. The key contribution is the DLS-DFUD framework’s use of wavelet denoising to improve image quality before automated DFU identification. If validated, this approach could enable more accurate and earlier DFU screening to reduce infection and amputation risk.
Mastanvali, Rajini NH, Laxmaiah M · Expert review of medical devices · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Sociodemographic, Criminological and Clinical Determinants in Suicide After Release From Prison: A 23-Year National Cohort Study.
This 23-year national cohort study used linked Norwegian registry data (Norwegian Prison Release Study, 2000–2022) to identify sociodemographic, criminological, and clinical determinants of suicide after prison release and to compare suicide mortality with the general population. The key finding was that suicide risk is elevated after release and varies over time, with identifiable individual-level factors associated with increased risk. These results have public-health significance by informing targeted post-release suicide prevention strategies and monitoring during high-risk periods.
Bukten A, Mehlum L, Fazel S et al. · Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance derived myocardial strain: applications, acquisition techniques, analysis, and reporting. A Scientific Statement of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Radiological Society of North America, and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging of the ESC.
This scientific statement reviewed and standardized cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)–derived myocardial strain, focusing on applications, acquisition techniques, analysis, and reporting across clinical and research settings. It concluded that CMR strain has incremental diagnostic and prognostic value beyond conventional imaging but that clinical adoption is limited by lack of protocol/analysis consensus, noise sensitivity, and insufficient robust normative reference ranges by age, sex, and ethnicity. The statement’s recommendations aim to improve reproducibility and comparability of CMR strain measurements for broader clinical implementation.
Gulsin GS, Ambale-Venkatesh B, Axel L et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Age-specific reference values for pulse wave velocity in paediatric populations: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis compiled observational studies to generate age-specific reference values for pulse wave velocity (PWV) in healthy pediatric populations. Pooled estimates provided age-stratified (and partially sex-stratified) PWV reference ranges, highlighting age as the dominant determinant of arterial stiffness in children. These reference values can support pediatric cardiovascular risk research and improve interpretation of PWV measurements in clinical and epidemiologic studies.
Martínez-Cifuentes Ó, Nilsson PM, Saz-Lara A et al. · Journal of hypertension · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
From Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention to Performance Optimization: A Conceptual Framework for Cardiovascular Assessment in Elite Athletes.
This conceptual article studied how cardiovascular pre-participation screening in elite athletes can be optimized beyond standard sudden cardiac death prevention approaches, focusing on athletes undergoing history, physical exam, and resting 12-lead ECG. It proposes a hypothesis-generating framework that integrates structural, electrical, and functional assessment with sports cardiology, cardiovascular imaging, and exercise physiology to link risk evaluation with performance optimization. The framework is significant because it could guide more individualized, performance-relevant cardiovascular surveillance strategies in elite athletes while maintaining sudden cardiac death prevention goals.
Torun A · Anatolian journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Artificial intelligence in paediatric cardiac critical care: from predictive analytics to continuous physiologic intelligence.
This narrative review studied the use of artificial intelligence (AI)—including machine learning and deep learning—in pediatric cardiac critical care, covering applications from predictive analytics to continuous physiologic intelligence across pediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) and postoperative monitoring. The key finding is that AI is being applied to cardiac imaging, electrocardiography, waveform intelligence, and postoperative outcome prediction, leveraging the complex, high-frequency data generated in pediatric cardiac ICUs. The scientific significance is that these approaches may enable earlier detection of deterioration and more precise risk prediction in children with CHD, potentially improving outcomes in the cardiac ICU.
Savorgnan F, Pilla P, Loomba R et al. · Cardiology in the young · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
CMR Acquisition Optimization and Patient Experience (Anxiety/Breath-hold)
Acute Pancreatitis Presenting With ST-Segment Elevation and Marked Troponin Elevation: A Diagnostic Dilemma in a Resource-Limited Setting-A Case Report.
This mixed-methods study examined how MRI-specific anxiety, patient experience, and beta-blocker therapy affect breath-hold performance and image quality during cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in early post-infarction patients. The key finding was that emotional distress/anxiety measures and perceived distress relate to breath-hold effort and performance, which in turn influence CMR image quality, with relationships potentially modified by prior MRI experience, sex, and beta-blocker use. Practically, addressing MRI-specific anxiety and optimizing medication/experience factors may improve CMR feasibility and diagnostic image quality in post-infarction care.
Aweke SK, Assale NM, Mengistu AG et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
MRI-specific anxiety, patient experience, beta-blocker therapy, and image quality during cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
This study investigated how MRI-specific anxiety, state anxiety changes, and perceived distress influence breath-hold performance and CMR image quality, and whether these associations differ by previous MRI experience, sex, or beta-blocker therapy. The key finding was that higher distress/anxiety and poorer breath-hold effort/performance were linked to worse image quality during CMR. Clinically, it supports incorporating anxiety assessment and tailored coaching (and considering beta-blocker context) to improve CMR acquisition quality.
Wahlström S, Rosendahl L, Lundvall LL et al. · Radiography (London, England : 1995) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Multimodal Imaging for Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Hemodynamics
Concentric macular rings: ultrawide-field biomarker in pediatric albinism.
This retrospective study evaluated the prevalence and clinical relevance of “concentric macular rings” (CMR) on ultrawide-field (UWF) retinal imaging as a noninvasive biomarker of foveal hypoplasia (FH) in pediatric albinism, comparing UWF modalities (green-filter and red-filter) with optical coherence tomography (OCT). The key finding was that the CMR sign’s presence, morphology, and size on UWF imaging can be assessed even when OCT is limited by nystagmus and poor fixation, enabling FH-related phenotyping. This supports UWF imaging as a practical, imaging-based alternative for evaluating foveal development in children with albinism.
Caminal-Caramés M, Català Mora J, Díaz-Cascajosa J et al. · Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Establishing the reliability of non-contrast 4D flow in congenital heart disease at 1.5T.
This prospective reliability study tested whether non-contrast 4D flow cardiac MRI at 1.5T (NC 4D Flow) correlates with and agrees with standard 2D phase-contrast (2D PC) flow and ventricular stroke volumes in pediatric and young adult patients with suspected or confirmed congenital heart disease (CHD). The key finding was that NC 4D Flow measurements showed strong correlation and acceptable agreement with reference flow metrics derived from 2D PC and ventricular stroke volume quantification. This supports NC 4D flow as a more practical, radiation-free option for longitudinal CHD hemodynamic assessment when contrast administration is undesirable.
Brown NK, Romberg EK, Schmitt C et al. · Pediatric radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Papillary fibroelastoma of the coumadin ridge as an unusual cause of recurrent ischemic stroke: a case report.
This case report described a 51-year-old woman with palpitations and recurrent ischemic stroke (including left medulla oblongata infarction and multiple posterior fossa infarcts) in whom cardiac papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) was identified. Multimodal imaging with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) revealed a highly mobile pedunculated mass attached to the coumadin ridge near the left atrial appendage ostium, providing the embolic source after negative thrombophilia/autoimmune workup and exclusion of patent foramen ovale. The report highlights that PFE can mimic other stroke etiologies and that TEE/CMR are crucial for diagnosis of rare cardiac embolic causes.
Suchodolski A, Ogrodzka A, Kemona-Kałwa R et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Coronary artery imaging in Kawasaki disease: recent updates in imaging techniques and clinical indications.
This narrative review summarized how coronary artery involvement in Kawasaki disease should be evaluated across acute and chronic stages using multimodality imaging, focusing on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging updates. The key message is that echocardiography remains first-line throughout disease stages, while advances in coronary CT angiography and CMR improve visualization of coronary lesions when needed for diagnosis and follow-up. Scientifically and clinically, the review supports stage-appropriate imaging selection to better detect coronary abnormalities and guide management in Kawasaki disease.
Patharateeranart K, Goo HW, Kotoku A et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Native Spleen T1 Mapping for the Assessment of Hepatic Congestion in Children With Congenital Heart Disease.
This study evaluated native spleen T1 relaxation time (ST1) as a marker of hepatic congestion in 120 children with congenital heart disease (CHD), including biventricular repair, bidirectional Glenn, and Fontan circulation, relating ST1 to hemodynamics from cardiac catheterization and liver-injury biomarkers. ST1 was associated with measures of elevated central venous pressure and with biomarkers reflecting liver injury, with particular relevance to the Fontan population. These results suggest that noninvasive native spleen T1 mapping could help monitor hepatic congestion/portal hypertension risk in pediatric CHD.
Tao K, Yamamura K, Sato M et al. · Circulation reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The fetal heart-brain axis as a new frontier for long-term outcomes in children with congenital heart disease.
This review studied the fetal heart–brain axis as a determinant of long-term outcomes in children with congenital heart disease (CHD), integrating evidence from fetal MRI, fetal cardiovascular MRI (CMR), Doppler hemodynamics, and placental studies. The key finding is that CHD-related alterations in brain development may begin before birth rather than only after postnatal surgery or intensive care. This is significant because it reframes neurodevelopmental risk assessment and could motivate earlier, prenatal-informed strategies to improve long-term outcomes in CHD.
Hou S, Wang J, Mao B et al. · Early human development · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Imaging-Guided Risk Prediction Using ECV/ML After MI/PCI
Development and Prospective Validation of an Interpretable Machine Learning Model Integrating Cardiac MRI Extracellular Volume for 1-Year MACE Prediction Post-STEMI.
This prospective validation study developed an interpretable machine learning model that integrates cardiac MRI extracellular volume (ECV) with clinical variables to predict 1-year MACE after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The model used Boruta-based feature selection and was trained and validated in a prospective cohort to determine whether ECV improves prediction of cardiovascular events. Clinically, an interpretable ECV-informed model could help identify high-risk post-STEMI patients for closer follow-up or targeted therapies.
Zhao Z, Zhang Z, Yang Y et al. · Academic radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac Tumors and Embolic Sources (Case Reports)
Cardiac Manifestations of EGPA: An Overlap Phenotype of Inflammatory Myocardial Injury and Takotsubo-Like Syndrome.
This JACC Case Reports report described a 42-year-old woman with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) who presented with acute left ventricular dysfunction consistent with a Takotsubo-like syndrome and lymphocyte-predominant myocardial inflammation, complicated by left ventricular thrombus. The case highlights an overlap phenotype of inflammatory myocardial injury and Takotsubo-like physiology in EGPA, supported by clinical features (asthma, eosinophilia, vasculitis, mononeuritis multiplex) and cardiac findings. The report emphasizes that EGPA can mimic acute coronary/Takotsubo presentations and may require careful evaluation for thrombus and inflammatory myocarditis.
Shalit B, Buonomo G, Shaw DG et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Coronary Vasculitis and Myocarditis in Acute Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Flares With Macrophage Activating Syndrome.
This case report described two patients with acute systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares with macrophage activating syndrome who developed coronary vasculitis and myocarditis. Cardiac magnetic resonance demonstrated lupus myopericarditis patterns (including subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement and pericardial enhancement) alongside vascular-appearing myocardial injury (transmural and subendocard involvement). The cases highlight CMR’s value in detecting atypical inflammatory and vascular-pattern myocardial injury in severe SLE flares.
Qamar S, Luo M, Ijaz N et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Giant Aneurysm of a Classic Blalock-Taussig Shunt in Adult Tetralogy of Fallot.
This JACC Case Reports article studied an adult case of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with a rare late complication: giant aneurysmal degeneration of a classic Blalock–Taussig (BT) shunt. The key finding was that a 47-year-old woman had a giant (72×66 mm) true aneurysm of a right BT shunt causing severe right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, confirmed by computed tomography and cardiac MRI. The clinical significance is that recognizing this life-threatening shunt complication can guide successful surgical management in adults with prior TOF palliation.
Borjian S, Hosseinsabet A, Aslfallah S et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Mitral Papillary Muscle Papillary Fibroelastoma in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Surgically Treated Embolic Source.
This JACC Case Reports article studied a 71-year-old woman with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and a history of unilateral retinal artery occlusion (RAO) who was being evaluated for mavacamten therapy. The key finding was that an incidental mitral chordal mass was surgically excised and histopathology confirmed papillary fibroelastoma, which served as an embolic source in the setting of HCM. Clinically, the case highlights the importance of identifying treatable embolic cardiac tumors before or during HCM-directed therapy to reduce recurrent embolic risk.
Rashidi N, Montazeri M, Cao C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pericardial Hemangioma: An 8-Year Diagnostic Odyssey of Recurrent Pleural Effusion.
This JACC Case Reports article describes a 54-year-old woman with an 8-year history of recurrent pleural/pericardial effusions initially misattributed to amyloidosis, ultimately diagnosed with pericardial hemangioma. Cardiac MRI identified a transverse pericardial sinus mass with characteristic T2 hyperintensity and centripetal enhancement, which was confirmed histologically after surgical excision. The case highlights the clinical importance of considering rare pericardial tumors to avoid prolonged diagnostic delay in patients with recurrent effusions.
Castillo M, Ibáñez A, Cuevas O et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Giant Thrombosed Coronary Aneurysm Causing Recurrent Ischemic Events: Insights From Multimodality Imaging and Surgical Management.
This case report describes a 56-year-old man with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to giant thrombosed coronary aneurysms causing recurrent ischemic events, with management guided by multimodality imaging and surgery after failed percutaneous revascularization. Coronary angiography showed diffuse coronary ectasia/aneurysms and chronic right coronary artery occlusion, and later recurrent angina prompted further imaging that demonstrated myocardial involvement (including inferior wall akinesia and transmural findings). The report underscores the need for individualized, imaging-driven management strategies for giant coronary aneurysms complicated by thrombosis and embolization.
di Mario R, Esposito A, Bernardi M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on October 14, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published October 07, 2026 – October 14, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.