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Background: This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) variables and compare them with biological and echocardiographic markers in patients with AL cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Methods: We conducted a prospective study across three tertiary centres, where patients underwent clinical examination, blood tests, echocardiography, and CMR. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Results: A total of 176 patients with AL CA were included, with a median age of 68 years (IQR 58-75). According to the 2004 Mayo Clinic staging, 121 patients (69%) were in stage 3. During a median follow-up of 22 months (IQR 8–48), 45 patients died, and 55 were hospitalized for heart failure. Patients who died had higher NT-proBNP and troponin levels, and lower LVEF, cardiac output, and longitudinal strain. Among CMR variables, extracellular volume (ECV) was most strongly associated with all-cause mortality. In multivariate Cox models, including Mayo Clinic staging, ECV ≥ 0.45 was independently associated with mortality (HR 2.36, CI 95% 1.47–5.60) and also with heart failure hospitalizations (HR 4.10, 95%CI 2.15–8.8). Conclusion: ECV is a powerful predictor of outcomes in AL CA, providing additional prognostic value on top of Mayo Clinic staging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well appreciated that the Fontan circulation perturbs central venous hemodynamics, with elevated pressure being the clearest change associated with Fontan comorbidities, such as Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). Our group has better quantity of these venous perturbations through single- and multi-location analyses of flow waveforms obtained from magnetic resonance imaging of Fontan patients. Here, we determine if such analyses, which yield principal components (PC) that describe flow features, are associated with Fontan survival. Patients with a Fontan circulation (N = 140) that underwent free-breathing and mechanically ventilated cardiac MRI were included in this study. Standard volumetric and functional hemodynamics, as well as flow analysis principal components, were subjected to univariate and bivariate Cox regression analyses to determine composite clinical outcome, including plastic bronchitis, PLE, and referral and receipt of transplant. Unsurprisingly, ventricular function measures of ejection fraction (EF; HR = 0.88, p < 0.0001), indexed end-systolic volume (ESVi; HR 1.02, p < 0.0001), and indexed end-diastolic volume (EDVi; HR = 1.02, p = 0.0007) were found as specific predictors of clinical events, with specificities uniformly > 0.75. Additionally a feature of IVC flow (PC2) indicating increased flow in systole was found as a highly sensitive predictor (HR = 0.851, p = 0.027, sensitivity 0.93). In bivariate prediction, combinations of ventricular function (EF, ESVi, EDVi) with this IVC flow feature yielded best overall prediction of composite outcome. This suggests that central venous waveform analysis relays additional information about Fontan patient survival and that coupling sensitive and specific measures in bivariate analysis is a useful approach for obtaining superior prediction of survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing myocardial strain remains challenging, particularly in the pediatric population, due to the smaller heart sizes, higher heart rates, and variability in strain parameters compared to adult populations. This study aimed to investigate the utility of myocardial strain measurements using cardiac magnetic resonance-feature tracking (CMR-FT) for early diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in pediatric patients. Twenty-eight DMD patients and 20 healthy controls were involved in this study. Global circumferential, longitudinal, and radial strain (GCS, GLS, and GRS) were measured for the left ventricle (LV) using CMR-FT. Segmental strain values only of the inferolateral and anterolateral LV segments in DMD patients without late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and DMD patients with LGE were compared to the healthy controls. Strain measurements using CMR-FT in DMD patients were considerably lower than those of healthy controls, with all p-values lower than 0.001. DMD patients without LGE showed decreased inferolateral and anterolateral segmental values only relative to healthy controls. The same behavior was maintained for the LV geometry. Multivariable linear regression demonstrated that the end-systole (ES) wall thicknesses and thickening were associated with decreased GCS and GLS. CMR-FT is crucial in detecting cardiac abnormalities in patients with DMD. It represents an innovative imaging biomarker that can detect initial myocardial alterations in DMD cardiomyopathy without relying on gadolinium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition in medical image segmentation from fine-grained to coarse-grained annotation methods, notably scribble annotation, offers a practical and efficient preparation for deep learning applications. However, these methods often compromise segmentation precision and result in irregular contours. This study targets the enhancement of scribble-supervised segmentation to match the accuracy of fine-grained annotation. Capitalizing on the consistency of target shapes across unpaired datasets, this study introduces a shape-aware scribble-supervised learning framework (MaskMixAdv) addressing two critical tasks: (1) Pseudo label generation, where a mixup-based masking strategy enables image-level and feature-level data augmentation to enrich coarse-grained scribbles annotations. A dual-branch siamese network is proposed to generate fine-grained pseudo labels. (2) Pseudo label optimization, where a CNN-based discriminator is proposed to refine pseudo label contours by distinguishing them from external unpaired masks during model fine-tuning. MaskMixAdv works under constrained annotation conditions as a label-efficient learning approach for medical image segmentation. A case study on public cardiac MRI datasets demonstrated that the proposed MaskMixAdv outperformed the state-of-the-art methods and narrowed the performance gap between scribble-supervised and mask-supervised segmentation. This innovation cuts annotation time by at least 95%, with only a minor impact on Dice performance, specifically a 2.6% reduction. The experimental outcomes indicate that employing efficient and cost-effective scribble annotation can achieve high segmentation accuracy, significantly reducing the typical requirement for fine-grained annotations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery is a rare and aggressive malignancy that presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its nonspecific symptoms and propensity for late detection. This case report aimed to elucidate the diagnostic journey, surgical intervention, and multidisciplinary management of this rare entity. In September 2023, a 42‐year‐old male presented with dyspnea on exertion and retrosternal chest pain, classified as NYHA FC II. Initial investigations, including ECG and lab tests, indicated tachycardia and elevated troponin and NT‐pro‐BNP levels. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography identified a multilobulated mass in the right ventricular outflow tract and main pulmonary artery. Cardiac MRI and CT angiography confirmed a high‐grade pleomorphic spindle cell tumor, leading to surgical resection in October 2023. Histopathology confirmed intimal sarcoma. Postsurgery, the patient underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, showing significant clinical improvement and no recurrence on follow‐up PET‐CT. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing and managing primary intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery, emphasizing the role of advanced imaging, timely surgical intervention, and combined chemotherapy with radiotherapy in improving patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Coronary sinus oxygen saturation is a useful indicator of health and disease states. However, it is not routinely used in clinical practice. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) oximetry can accurately estimate oxygen saturation in the pulmonary artery. This research aimed to provide a method for calculating coronary sinus oxygen saturation (ScsO2) from pulmonary artery oxygen saturation (SpaO2) that could be applied to CMR. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify prior work that included invasive measures of ScsO2 and either SpaO2 or right ventricular oxygen saturation. This revealed one study with appropriate data (ScsO2 and SpaO2 measurements, n = 18). We then carried out agreement and correlation analyses. Results: Regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant, positive relationship between ScsO2 and SpaO2, giving a regression equation of ScsO2 = −31.198 + 1.062 × SpaO2 (r = 0.76, p < 0.001). A multivariable regression analysis of all reported variables, excluding SpaO2, independently identified superior vena cava oxygen saturation (SsvcO2) and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) as predictors of ScsO2 (r = 0.78, p < 0.001), deriving the equation ScsO2 = −452.8345 + 4.3579 × SaO2 + 0.8537 × SsvcO2. Conclusions: In this study, we demonstrated a correlation between coronary sinus oxygen saturation and pulmonary artery oxygen saturation, allowing the estimation of ScsO2 from SpaO2. This association enables the estimation of ScsO2 from purely CMR-derived data. We have also described a second model using arterial and superior vena cava saturation measurements, providing an alternative method. Future validation in larger, independent cohorts is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-modality imaging is the recommended approach to assess the severity of valvular heart diseases. Rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS), however, has yet to benefit from this approach. The aim of this study is to assess the added value of cardiac MRI (CMR) and computed tomography (CT) calcium score in assessing severity of MS when compared to 3D echocardiography. Patients with MS in sinus rhythm were included. Both CMR and 3D echo assessments of the mitral valve were performed. Subsequently, three radiologists and three cardiologists independently measured mitral valve area (MVA). In addition, CT of the mitral valve was conducted. Mitral calcium score was calculated according the Agatston method. A total of 41 patients were included. CMR significantly overestimated MVA when compared to 3D echo MVA regardless of the investigator [F (1, 40) = 23.3, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.36]. The more severe the MS, the greater the overestimation by CMR compared to 3D echo. Regarding CT of the mitral valve, 25 (61%) patients had an undetectable calcium. There was no significant difference in CT calcium scores between severe and non-severe MS (74 ± 282 HU vs. 65 ± 210 HU, p = 0.9). MVA measurement by CMR is overestimated when compared to 3D echo. Additionally, mitral valve calcium score is not correlated to MS severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a standard treatment for patients with heart failure and electrical dyssynchrony. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold standard for assessing left ventricular (LV) function. However, the feasibility of using CMR with active CRT is still uncertain. Purpose: To assess the feasibility of a CRT "off‐on" protocol during CMR and measure the acute effects of CRT interruption on LV function. Methods: Patients underwent CMR before (pre‐CRT) and 6 months after (post‐CRT) an MR‐conditional CRT defibrillator implantation. The post‐CRT scan included two complete sets of cine images, one with inactive (post‐CRTOFF) and one with active CRT (post‐CRTON), maintaining a continuous connection between device and programmer. Results: Out of 29 enrolled patients, 8 (28%) had complete and analyzable post‐CRT data. Unsuccessful procedures were attributed to connection problems between the CRT device and the programmer (n = 10), poor image quality (n = 7), and lack of patient cooperation (n = 4). LV ejection fraction significantly increased between pre‐CRT scan (28.1%) and both post‐CRTOFF (37.9%; p = 0.046) and post‐CRTON CMR (35.0%; p = 0.037), with a nonstatistically significant trend toward decreased LV volumes. No adverse events or significant changes in device electrical parameters (including battery level) were detected during the post‐CMR scan period. Conclusion: A CRT "off‐on" protocol during CMR studies can be safely executed in patients with an MR‐conditional CRT defibrillator. However, technical improvements are needed to facilitate high‐quality scans during active CRT. Favorable changes in LV function induced by CRT remodeling were not acutely reversed with the interruption of electrical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac involvement in Fabry disease constitutes an important challenge for clinicians caring for affected patients. Combining cardiac imaging with laboratory biomarkers appears most appropriate for longitudinal monitoring. Therefore, we examined the use of NT-proBNP and its association with imaging findings in patients with Fabry disease. Methods: We analysed cardiac MRI and echocardiography data, as well as laboratory results, from a single-centre prospective registry. Results: Repetitive follow-ups of 38 patients with Fabry disease, of whom 18 presented with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), revealed a correlation of NT-proBNP with left ventricular (LV) interventricular septal thickness, LV maximum wall thickness, LV and right ventricular (RV) mass index and trabecular mass in patients with LVH. Patients without LVH did not exhibit any tangible association between NT-proBNP and the mentioned parameters. Conversely, we could not detect an association of NT-proBNP with impairment of LV or RV ejection fraction or diastolic volume. Conclusions: NT-proBNP plays a pivotal role as a biomarker for cardiac involvement in patients with Fabry disease. Interestingly, in this specific population with mostly preserved ejection fraction, it seems to reflect ventricular hypertrophy rather than ventricular dysfunction or dilatation. While strong associations were found in hypertrophic patients, NT-proBNP's prognostic value appears limited in non- or pre-hypertrophic stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pericardial haemangiomas represent a very rare subset of benign cardiac tumour in an unusual location, posing a diagnostic and clinical challenge. Historically, the definitive diagnosis was achieved through surgical resection or at biopsy. In recent years, multi-parametric cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proven to offer a non-invasive, biopsy-like approach to tumour characterization. Case summary In our case, multimodality imaging was used to characterize a pericardial mass as a haemangioma discovered coincidentally with a brain glioma. Diagnostic certainty was substantially improved through utilization of successive post-contrast bright-blood imaging at cardiac MRI, demonstrating a characteristic enhancement pattern of haemangiomas in direct comparison to the blood pool. Conservative management and mid-term follow-up showed an uneventful clinical course and partial regression of the presumed pericardial haemangioma. Discussion In the presence of typical features and application of individually tailored protocols, multimodality imaging can characterize cardiac tumours and guide patient management so that more invasive measures may be avoided. In our case of a suspected pericardial haemangioma, a conservative strategy was adopted with clinically uneventful course over a 2-year period. Whether this strategy can be applied to other patients with this rare tumour remains unclear, but the case report provides important information about the natural history of this entity and tissue characterization by cardiac MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cardiac perfusion MRI is vital for disease diagnosis, treatment planning, and risk stratification, with anomalies serving as markers of underlying ischemic pathologies. AI-assisted methods and tools enable accurate and efficient left ventricular (LV) myocardium segmentation on all DCE-MRI timeframes, offering a solution to the challenges posed by the multidimensional nature of the data. This study aims to develop and assess an automated method for LV myocardial segmentation on DCE-MRI data of a local hospital. Methods: The study consists of retrospective DCE-MRI data from 55 subjects acquired at the local hospital using a 1.5 T MRI scanner. The dataset included subjects with and without cardiac abnormalities. The timepoint for the reference frame (post-contrast LV myocardium) was identified using standard deviation across the temporal sequences. Iterative image registration of other temporal images with respect to this reference image was performed using Maxwell's demons algorithm. The registered stack was fed to the model built using the U-Net framework for predicting the LV myocardium at all timeframes of DCE-MRI. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the dice similarity coefficient (DSC) for myocardial segmentation using pre-trained network Net_cine is 0.78 ± 0.04, and for the fine-tuned network Net_dyn which predicts mask on all timeframes individually, it is 0.78 ± 0.03. The DSC for Net_dyn ranged from 0.71 to 0.93. The average DSC achieved for the reference frame is 0.82 ± 0.06. Conclusion: The study proposed a fast and fully automated AI-assisted method to segment LV myocardium on all timeframes of DCE-MRI data. The method is robust, and its performance is independent of the intra-temporal sequence registration and can easily accommodate timeframes with potential registration errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop and validate a highly efficient motion compensated free‐breathing isotropic resolution 3D whole‐heart joint T1/T2 mapping sequence with anatomical water/fat imaging at 0.55 T. Methods: The proposed sequence takes advantage of shorter T1 at 0.55 T to acquire three interleaved water/fat volumes with inversion‐recovery preparation, no preparation, and T2 preparation, respectively. Image navigators were used to facilitate nonrigid motion‐compensated image reconstruction. T1 and T2 maps were jointly calculated by a dictionary matching method. Validations were performed with simulation, phantom, and in vivo experiments on 10 healthy volunteers and 1 patient. The performance of the proposed sequence was compared with conventional 2D mapping sequences including modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery and T2‐prepared balanced steady‐SSFP sequence. Results: The proposed sequence has a good T1 and T2 encoding sensitivity in simulation, and excellent agreement with spin‐echo reference T1 and T2 values was observed in a standardized T1/T2 phantom (R2 = 0.99). In vivo experiments provided good‐quality co‐registered 3D whole‐heart T1 and T2 maps with 2‐mm isotropic resolution in a short scan time of about 7 min. For healthy volunteers, left‐ventricle T1 mean and SD measured by the proposed sequence were both comparable with those of modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery (640 ± 35 vs. 630 ± 25 ms [p = 0.44] and 49.9 ± 9.3 vs. 54.4 ± 20.5 ms [p = 0.42]), whereas left‐ventricle T2 mean and SD measured by the proposed sequence were both slightly lower than those of T2‐prepared balanced SSFP (53.8 ± 5.5 vs. 58.6 ± 3.3 ms [p < 0.01] and 5.2 ± 0.9 vs. 6.1 ± 0.8 ms [p = 0.03]). Myocardial T1 and T2 in the patient measured by the proposed sequence were in good agreement with conventional 2D sequences and late gadolinium enhancement. Conclusion: The proposed sequence simultaneously acquires 3D whole‐heart T1 and T2 mapping with anatomical water/fat imaging at 0.55 T in a fast and efficient 7‐min scan. Further investigation in patients with cardiovascular disease is now warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop a novel low‐rank tensor reconstruction approach leveraging the complete acquired data set to improve precision and repeatability of multiparametric mapping within the cardiovascular MR Multitasking framework. Methods: A novel approach that alternated between estimation of temporal components and spatial components using the entire data set acquired (i.e., including navigator data and imaging data) was developed to improve reconstruction. The precision and repeatability of the proposed approach were evaluated on numerical simulations, 10 healthy subjects, and 10 cardiomyopathy patients at multiple scan times for 2D myocardial T1/T2 mapping with MR Multitasking and were compared with those of the previous navigator‐derived fixed‐basis approach. Results: In numerical simulations, the proposed approach outperformed the previous fixed‐basis approach with lower T1 and T2 error against the ground truth at all scan times studied and showed better motion fidelity. In human subjects, the proposed approach showed no significantly different sharpness or T1/T2 measurement and significantly improved T1 precision by 20%–25%, T2 precision by 10%–15%, T1 repeatability by about 30%, and T2 repeatability by 25%–35% at 90‐s and 50‐s scan times The proposed approach at the 50‐s scan time also showed comparable results with that of the previous fixed‐basis approach at the 90‐s scan time. Conclusion: The proposed approach improved precision and repeatability for quantitative imaging with MR Multitasking while maintaining comparable motion fidelity, T1/T2 measurement, and septum sharpness and had the potential for further reducing scan time from 90 s to 50 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an infiltrative restrictive cardiomyopathy caused by the deposition of amyloid fibrils in the myocardium. It manifests in two primary subtypes: transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR) and immunoglobulin light chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL). ATTR is further classified into wild-type and hereditary based on transthyretin gene mutation. Advances in diagnostics and therapeutics have transformed CA from a rare and untreatable condition to a more prevalent and manageable disease. Noninvasive diagnostic tools such as electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance can raise suspicion for CA; bone scintigraphy can non-invasively confirm ATTR, while AL necessitates histological confirmation. The severity of ATTR and AL can be assessed through serum biomarker-based staging. Treatment approaches differ, ranging from silencing or stabilizing transthyretin and degrading amyloid fibrils in ATTR to employing anti-plasma cell therapies and autologous stem cell transplantation in AL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to study classical, publicly available convolutional neural networks (3D-CNNs) using a combination of several cine-MR orientation planes for the estimation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) without contour tracing. Methods: Cine-MR examinations carried out on 1082 patients from our institution were analysed by comparing the LVEF provided by the CVI42 software (V5.9.3) with the estimation resulting from different 3D-CNN models and various combinations of long- and short-axis orientation planes. Results: The 3D-Resnet18 architecture appeared to be the most favourable, and the results gradually and significantly improved as several long-axis and short-axis planes were combined. Simply pasting multiple orientation views into composite frames increased performance. Optimal results were obtained by pasting two long-axis views and six short-axis views. The best configuration provided an R2 = 0.83, a mean absolute error (MAE) = 4.97, and a root mean square error (RMSE) = 6.29; the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the classification of LVEF < 40% was 0.99, and for the classification of LVEF > 60%, the AUC was 0.97. Internal validation performed on 149 additional patients after model training provided very similar results (MAE 4.98). External validation carried out on 62 patients from another institution showed an MAE of 6.59. Our results in this area are among the most promising obtained to date using CNNs with cardiac magnetic resonance. Conclusion: (1) The use of traditional 3D-CNNs and a combination of multiple orientation planes is capable of estimating LVEF from cine-MRI data without segmenting ventricular contours, with a reliability similar to that of traditional methods. (2) Performance significantly improves as the number of orientation planes increases, providing a more complete view of the left ventricle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is the noninvasive technique of choice for early detection of cardiac involvement in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD, respectively), but is seldom used in routine clinical practice in the Indian context. We sought to determine the prevalence of CMRI abnormalities in patients with DMD and BMD and to compare the CMRI parameters with the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted on patients genetically diagnosed with DMD and BMD who could complete CMRI between March 2020 and March 2022. Abnormal CMRI was the presence of any late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) that signifies myocardial fibrosis (LGE positivity), regional wall motion abnormality, or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF

Takayasu's Arteritis (TA) is a rare, chronic large-vessel vasculitis that can lead to severe cardiac complications and life-threatening outcomes. Early diagnosis is essential for improving patient prognosis, but its nonspecific clinical presentation and laboratory findings often cause delays. We present a 34-year-old woman with a history of heart murmur who presented with chest pain but no additional symptoms. Imaging revealed aortic regurgitation, ventricular septal defect, myocardial ischemia, pericarditis, aortic wall thickening, and multivessel stenoses, leading to a diagnosis of Takayasu's Arteritis, treated with coronary bypass and aortic tube graft surgery. Takayasu's Arteritis should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with atypical clinical features and cardiac involvement, particularly in cases with valvular disease. This case highlights the essential role of multimodal imaging in the detection and management of TA.

Purpose: To develop a method for quantifying the fatty acid composition (FAC) of human epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) using accelerated MRI and identify its potential for detecting proinflammatory biomarkers in patients with ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A multi‐echo radial gradient‐echo sequence was developed for accelerated imaging during a breath hold using a locally low‐rank denoising technique to reconstruct undersampled images. FAC mapping was achieved by fitting the multi‐echo images to a multi‐resonance complex signal model based on triglyceride characterization. Validation of the method was assessed using a phantom comprised of multiple oils. In vivo imaging was performed in STEMI patients (n = 21; 14 males/seven females). FAC was quantified in EAT, subcutaneous AT, and abdominal visceral AT. Results: Phantom validation demonstrated strong correlations (r > 0.97) and statistical significance (p < 0.0001) between measured and reference proton density fat fraction and FAC values. In vivo imaging of STEMI patients revealed a distinct EAT FAC profile compared to subcutaneous AT and abdominal visceral AT. EAT FAC parameters had significant correlations with left ventricular (LV) end‐diastolic volume index (p < 0.05), LV end‐systolic volume index (p < 0.05), and LV mass index (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Accelerated MRI enabled accurate quantification of human EAT FAC. The relationships between the EAT FAC profile and LV structure and function in STEMI patients suggest the potential of EAT FAC MRI as a biomarker for adipose tissue quality and inflammatory status in cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: This review explores the updates in the application of advanced cardiac imaging modalities, including cardiac computed tomography (CCT), cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, and positron emission tomography (PET) in cardio-oncology. These imaging modalities have distinctive roles in baseline risk stratification, surveillance, and diagnosis of cardiotoxicity. Recent Findings: In recent years, there has been increased recognition of advanced imaging techniques in the field of cardio-oncology. With the advent of newer cancer therapeutics like immunotherapy, there has been a rise in cardiotoxicity related to these agents, including myocarditis, pericarditis, and accelerated atherosclerosis. CMR, in particular, is an essential noninvasive diagnostic test for these immunotherapy-related cardiotoxicities, albeit with diagnostic limitations depending on the disease presentation (Zhang et al. Eur Heart J. 41(18):1733-1743, 2020; Schwartz et al. Am J Med. 82(6):1109-18, 1987). Furthermore, CCT is often used in cardio-oncology patients to rule out CAD, with an expansion of its role in evaluating immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) myocarditis and for evaluating accelerated atherosclerosis in patients on ICI therapy (Suero-Abreu et al. JACC CardioOncol. 4(5):598-615, 2022). Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring on chest CT in cancer patients is a recommended risk stratification tool in addition to dedicated cardiac testing. At the same time, cardiac PET provides additional information in patients with cardiac masses. Functional testing using cardiac PET coronary flow reserve (CFR) is helpful in patients' baseline risk stratification and diagnosing microvascular disease. Summary: Cardio-oncology is a growing field with increased recognition of newer cardiotoxicities and the advent of more unique cancer treatments. Imaging techniques like echocardiogram and echocardiogram-derived global longitudinal strain (GLS) are the current workhorse for baseline risk stratification, surveillance, and cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity (CTR-CVT) diagnosis. However, additional advanced cardiac imaging modalities play a unique role in risk stratification or surveillance in patients with suboptimal echocardiograms for various factors. Additionally, advanced cardiac imaging techniques are crucial in patients with abnormal echocardiograms or clinical presentations concerning for cardiotoxicity to confirm those findings or establish an accurate diagnosis—for example, CMR in ICI myocarditis or PET for cardiac masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance imaging is a novel imaging technique for guiding electrophysiology based ablation operations for atrial flutter and typical atrial fibrillation. When compared to standard electrophysiology ablation, this innovative method allows for better outcomes. Intra-procedural imaging is important for following the catheter in real time throughout the ablation operation while also seeing cardiac architecture and determining whether the ablation is being completed appropriately utilizing oedema sequences. At the same time, intra-procedural imaging allows immediate visualization of any complications of the procedure. We describe a case of a 67 year old male underwent an isthmus-cavo-tricuspid magnetic resonance-guided thermoablation procedure for atrial flutter episodes. During the procedure we noted an atypical focal thinning of the right atrial wall at the isthmus cava-tricuspidal zone. The post-procedural Black Blood T2 STIR showed an area of hyperintensity at the hepatic dome and glissonian capsule, which was consistent with intraparenchymal hepatic oedema, in close proximity to the atrial finding. Given the opportunity to direct monitoring of adjacent tissues, we aim to highlight with our case the ability of magnetic resonance-guided cardiac ablation to immediately detect peri-procedural complications in the ablative treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Abstract Background Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have demonstrated reduction in heart failure outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, although the exact mechanism of benefit remains unclear. Alteration in left atrial (LA) function due to chronic pressure or volume overload is a hallmark of heart failure. Objective To evaluate the effect of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin on LA volume and function. Methods 90 patients with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were randomized to empagliflozin (n = 44) or placebo (n = 46), and underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at baseline and after 6 months. The main outcome was change in LA volume; LA function, including active and passive components, was also measured by a blinded reader. Results At baseline, there was no significant difference in LA volumes between the empagliflozin (indexed maximum LA volume 26.4 ± 8.4mL/m2, minimum LA volume 11.1 ± 5.7mL/m2) and placebo (indexed maximum LA volume 28.7 ± 8.2mL/m2, minimum LA volume 12.6 ± 5.0mL/m2) groups. After 6 months, changes in LA volumes did not differ with adjusted difference (empagliflozin minus placebo): 0.99 mL/m2 (95% CI: -1.7 to 3.7 mL/m2; p = 0.47) for indexed maximum LA volume, and 0.87 mL/m2 (95% CI: -0.9 to 2.6 mL/m2; p = 0.32) for indexed minimum LA volume. Changes in total LA emptying fraction were also similar, with between-group adjusted mean difference − 0.01 (95% CI: -0.05 to 0.03, p = 0.59). Conclusion SGLT2 inhibition with empagliflozin for 6 months did not have a significant impact on LA volume and function in patients with T2DM and coronary artery disease. (Effects of Empagliflozin on Cardiac Structure in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes [EMPA-HEART]; NCT02998970).

Background: The usefulness of monitoring treatment effect of tafamidis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) extracellular volume fraction (ECV) has been reported. Objective: we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the usefulness of this method. Methods: Data from 246 ATTR-CMs from six studies were extracted and included in the analysis. An inverse variance meta-analysis using a random effects model was performed to evaluate the change in MRI-ECV before and after tafamidis treatment. The analysis was also performed by classifying the patients into ATTR-CM types (wild-type or hereditary). Results: ECV change before and after tafamidis treatment was 0.33% (95% CI: −1.83–2.49, I2 = 0%, p = 0.76 for heterogeneity) in the treatment group and 4.23% (95% CI: 0.44–8.02, I2 = 0%, p = 0.18 for heterogeneity) in the non-treatment group. The change in ECV before and after treatment was not significant in the treated group (p = 0.76), but there was a significant increase in the non-treated group (p = 0.03). There was no difference in the change in ECV between wild-type (95% CI: −2.65–3.40) and hereditary-type (95% CI: −9.28–4.28) (p = 0.45). Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that MRI-ECV measurement is a useful imaging method for noninvasively evaluating the efficacy of tafamidis treatment for ATTR-CM.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is the noninvasive technique of choice for early detection of cardiac involvement in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD, respectively), but is seldom used in routine clinical practice in the Indian context. We sought to determine the prevalence of CMRI abnormalities in patients with DMD and BMD and to compare the CMRI parameters with the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted on patients genetically diagnosed with DMD and BMD who could complete CMRI between March 2020 and March 2022. Abnormal CMRI was the presence of any late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) that signifies myocardial fibrosis (LGE positivity), regional wall motion abnormality, or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF <55%). Results: A total of 46 patients were included: 38 patients with DMD and eight with BMD. Cardiac abnormality was seen in 23 (50%) patients. LGE was more common than impaired LVEF in DMD (16, 42.1%), while impaired LVEF was more common in BMD (5, 62.5%). LGE was most frequently found in lateral wall (18/19) followed by inferior (6/19), septal (5/19), anterior (2/19), and apex (1/19). Among the various clinicodemographic parameters, only age (r = 0.495, P = 0.002) and disease duration (r = 0.407, P = 0.011) were found to significantly correlate with LGE in patients with DMD. No association was found between the various CMRI parameters and the genotype. Conclusions: The current study highlights the differences in myocardial fibrosis and LV dysfunction between DMD and BMD, along with other CMRI parameters. Notably, a genotype--CMRI correlation was not found in the current cohort, which needs to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used for non-invasive assessment of cardiac morphology, function, and tissue characteristics due to its exquisite soft-tissue contrast. However, it remains time-consuming and requires proficiency, making it costly and limiting its widespread use. Traditional cardiac MRI is inefficient as signal acquisition is often limited to specific cardiac phases and requires complex view planning, parameter adjustments, and management of both respiratory and cardiac motion. Recent efforts have aimed to make cardiac MRI more efficient and accessible. Among these innovations, the free-running framework enables 5D whole-heart imaging without the need for an electrocardiogram signal, respiratory breath-holding, or complex planning. It uses a fully self-gated approach to extract cardiac and respiratory signals directly from the acquired image data, allowing for more efficient coverage in time and space without the need for electrocardiogram gating, triggering, navigators, or breath-holds. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the free-running framework, detailing its history, concepts, recent improvements, and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) causally increases risk of ischemic and overall stroke. • Programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) has a protective causal effect against atrial fibrillation. • Several inflammatory cytokines, including CCL20, CDCP1, Flt3L and IL-10RA, are causally associated with increased coronary artery disease risk. • Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIF-R) levels are causally related to changes in right ventricular and right atrial structure and function, respectively. Inflammation is implicated in cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathogenesis, but causal roles of specific circulating inflammatory cytokines remain unclear. Mendelian randomization (MR) studies are well-poised to provide etiological insights beyond constraints of conventional research. We conducted a large-scale MR study to investigate potential causal relationships of 91 inflammatory proteins with CVD outcomes and cardiac remodeling using summary-level genetic data. Outcomes included coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, abdominal aortic aneurysm, deep vein thrombosis of lower extremities, pulmonary embolism, cardiac structure and functional parameters. Inverse-variance weighted analysis was undertaken as the primary analysis, with several sensitivity analyses applied. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) demonstrated a causal relationship with increased susceptibility to both any stroke (OR 1.111; 95 % CI 1.044 - 1.183; P = 9.50e-04) and ischemic stroke (OR 1.121; 95 % CI 1.047 - 1.200; P = 1.04e-03). Programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) was negatively associated with atrial fibrillation risk (OR 0.936, 95 % CI 0.901 - 0.973; P = 7.69e-04). CCL20, CDCP1, Flt3L and IL-10RA were identified as causal coronary artery disease risk factors, while LIF and ST1A1 had protective effects. IL-4 and LIF-R demonstrated causal links with right heart functional changes. Our MR study nominates specific circulating inflammatory cytokines as potential targets for CVD treatment and prevention. Further research into mechanisms and clinical translation are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop and evaluate a deep learning (DL) ‐based rapid image reconstruction and motion correction technique for high‐resolution Cartesian first‐pass myocardial perfusion imaging at 3T with whole‐heart coverage for both single‐slice (SS) and simultaneous multi‐slice (SMS) acquisitions. Methods: 3D physics‐driven unrolled network architectures were utilized for the reconstruction of high‐resolution Cartesian perfusion imaging. The SS and SMS multiband (MB) = 2 networks were trained from 135 slices from 20 subjects. Structural similarity index (SSIM), peak SNR (PSNR), and normalized RMS error (NRMSE) were assessed, and prospective images were blindly graded by two experienced cardiologists (5, excellent; 1, poor). For respiratory motion correction, a 2D U‐Net based motion corrected network was proposed, and the temporal fidelity and second‐order derivative were calculated to assess the performance of the motion correction. Results: Excellent performance was demonstrated in the proposed technique with high SSIM and PSNR, and low NRMSE. Image quality scores were (4.3 [4.3, 4.4], 4.5 [4.4, 4.6], 4.3 [4.3, 4.4], and 4.5 [4.3, 4.5]) for SS DL and SS L1‐SENSE, MB = 2 DL and MB = 2 SMS‐L1‐SENSE, respectively, showing no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05 for SS and SMS) between (SMS)‐L1‐SENSE and the proposed DL technique. The network inference time was around 4 s per dynamic perfusion series with 40 frames while the time of (SMS)‐L1‐SENSE with GPU acceleration was approximately 30 min. Conclusion: The proposed DL‐based image reconstruction and motion correction technique enabled rapid and high‐quality reconstruction for SS and SMS MB = 2 high‐resolution Cartesian first‐pass perfusion imaging at 3T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary artery involvement (PAI) is not rare in Takayasu arteritis (TA). Persistently elevated pulmonary arterial pressure in TA‐PAI patients leads to pulmonary hypertension (PH), and eventually cardiac death. Thus, the early detection of right ventricular dysfunction before the onset of PH is important. Purpose: To explore the potential of right ventricular global peak longitudinal and circumferential strain (RVGLS and RVGCS, respectively) in detecting right ventricular myocardial damage in TA‐PAI patients without PH. Study Type: Retrospective. Population: One hundred and six TA patients (39.6 ± 13.9 years), of whom 52 were non‐PAI and 54 were PAI patients (36 without PH and 18 with PH), along with 58 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy volunteers (HVs) (36.7 ± 13.2 years). The involved arteries were validated by aorta magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and pulmonary artery computed tomography angiography. Field Strength/Sequence: 3 T/Cine imaging sequence with a steady‐state free precession readout. Assessment: Cardiac MRI‐derived parameters measured by two radiologists independently were compared among HVs, and TA patients with and without PAI. In addition, these indices were further compared among HVs, and TA‐PAI patients with and without PH. Statistical Tests: Student's t test, one‐way ANOVA analysis, Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis, and reproducibility analysis. A P‐value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Although the TA‐PAI patients without PH had a similar RV ejection fraction (RVEF) with HV (P = 0.348), RVGLS (non‐PH 20.6 ± 3.7% vs. HV 24.0 ± 3.1%) was significantly lower and RVGCS (non‐PH 14.8 ± 3.9% vs. HV 13.0 ± 2.7%) higher. The TA‐PAI patients with PH had significantly poorer RVGLS (PH 13.5 ± 3.8% vs. non‐PH 20.6 ± 3.7%) and RVGCS (PH 10.9 ± 3.2% vs. non‐PH 14.8 ± 3.9%) than those without PH. Data Conclusion: Right ventricular dysfunction was detected in the TA‐PAI patients without PH. MR‐feature tracking may be an effective method for detecting early cardiac damage in the TA‐PAI patients without PH. Level of Evidence: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Mesalazine is an established first-line therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and remains the mainstay of treatment for mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). Both mesalazine and UC are rare but recognized causes of myopericarditis. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a non-invasive method of assessing for myopericarditis. This case reports highlights the importance of early CMR in diagnosis, and management of myocarditis in a patient with IBD. Case summary A 28-year-old male was admitted with a 2-day history of chest pain. Three weeks prior to this presentation, the patient was initiated on mesalazine for UC. Serum troponin T and C-reactive protein were elevated. An echocardiogram showed borderline low left ventricular systolic function (LVEF = 50–55%). A CMR showed extensive patchy late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the mid to epicardial basal and mid lateral wall. The findings were consistent with acute myocarditis, and a working diagnosis of mesalazine-induced myocarditis was made. Mesalazine was stopped and guideline-directed anti-inflammatories initiated. Oral prednisolone was also introduced for IBD control. Follow-up CMR at four months showed near complete resolution of LGE. Discussion Myocarditis in the context of IBD may be infective, immune-mediated or due to mesalazine hypersensitivity. Histological conformation was not available in this case. This case report highlights the importance of access to early CMR in order establish the diagnosis and withdrawal of the culprit medication. In the majority of cases, CMR will replace the need for endomyocardial biopsy; however, this may still be required in the most severe cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Infective endocarditis (IE) predominantly involves the cardiac valves. Timely diagnosis and initiation of therapy significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. Infective endocarditis presenting as a large left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) mass is an atypical manifestation that provides significant challenges to the treating team. Case summary A 19-year-young male presented with exertional shortness of breath, palpitations, and presyncope for 4 months with constitutional symptoms for the last 6 months. Two-dimensional echocardiogram showed a large LVOT mass arising from the mitral aortic intervalvular fibrosa causing dynamic severe aortic valve obstruction, moderate aortic regurgitation, and severe mitral regurgitation. He was managed on lines of IE and received intravenous antibiotics. In view of worsening heart failure and cardiogenic shock, he underwent mass excision, mechanical aortic valve replacement, and mitral valve repair. Histopathology confirmed it as vegetation. He was discharged and is doing well at 2-month follow-up. Discussion An atypical presentation of IE as a large LVOT mass was observed in this young male. Sound clinical judgement, judicious use of ancillary imaging, and a multidisciplinary approach ensured timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Management included appropriate intravenous antibiotics followed by surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to investigate LA strain by feature tracking cardiac MRI in mitral stenosis (MS) patients before and after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV). Patients underwent cardiac MRI before and after successful PBMV (n = 18). Mitral valve area, transmitral velocity and gradients, LA volumes and ejection fraction (LAEF) were measured. LA strain feature tracking analysis was used to calculate LA reservoir, conduit, and booster strain. LA strain, LA volumes, LAEF and mitral valve severity indices were compared before and after PBMV. Correlations between LA strain and other cardiac MRI parameters were assessed. After PBMV, mitral valve area increased from 1.18 ± 0.25 cm2 to 2.26 ± 0.27 cm2, p < 0.001. Transmitral peak velocity decreased from 1.7 ± 0.37 m/s to 1.3 ± 0.27 m/s, p < 0.001. Transmitral peak gradient decreased from 12.4 ± 4.8 mmHg to 6.8 ± 2.9 mmHg, p < 0.001, and mean gradient decreased from 6.9 ± 3.8 mmHg to 2.9 ± 1.4 mmHg, p < 0.001. Maximal LA volume decreased from 73.1 ± 14.2 ml/m2 to 62.7 ± 16.3 ml/m2, p = 0.018; corrected p value = 0.054. LAEF increased from 36.3 ± 8.7% to 44.4 ± 9.5%, p = 0.010. Reservoir strain increased from 11.7 ± 3.1% to 14.9 ± 3.6% after PBMV, p = 0.009, and conduit strain from 3.8 ± 2% to 6 ± 2.3%, p = 0.005. Booster strain insignificantly increased after PBMV. Cardiac MRI feature tracking provides information on the 3 LA functional phases. Significant improvement was observed in reservoir and conduit functions after successful PBMV. Key points: Cardiac MRI feature tracking of the left atrium does not require additional imaging sequences and could be obtained from routine cine imaging. Cardiac MRI feature tracking provides information on the 3 functional phases of left atrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have demonstrated reduction in heart failure outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, although the exact mechanism of benefit remains unclear. Alteration in left atrial (LA) function due to chronic pressure or volume overload is a hallmark of heart failure. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin on LA volume and function. Methods: 90 patients with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were randomized to empagliflozin (n = 44) or placebo (n = 46), and underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at baseline and after 6 months. The main outcome was change in LA volume; LA function, including active and passive components, was also measured by a blinded reader. Results: At baseline, there was no significant difference in LA volumes between the empagliflozin (indexed maximum LA volume 26.4 ± 8.4mL/m2, minimum LA volume 11.1 ± 5.7mL/m2) and placebo (indexed maximum LA volume 28.7 ± 8.2mL/m2, minimum LA volume 12.6 ± 5.0mL/m2) groups. After 6 months, changes in LA volumes did not differ with adjusted difference (empagliflozin minus placebo): 0.99 mL/m2 (95% CI: -1.7 to 3.7 mL/m2; p = 0.47) for indexed maximum LA volume, and 0.87 mL/m2 (95% CI: -0.9 to 2.6 mL/m2; p = 0.32) for indexed minimum LA volume. Changes in total LA emptying fraction were also similar, with between-group adjusted mean difference − 0.01 (95% CI: -0.05 to 0.03, p = 0.59). Conclusion: SGLT2 inhibition with empagliflozin for 6 months did not have a significant impact on LA volume and function in patients with T2DM and coronary artery disease. (Effects of Empagliflozin on Cardiac Structure in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes [EMPA-HEART]; NCT02998970). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder which leads to the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in various organs, including the heart. FD can be subdivided into classic disease resulting from negligible residual enzyme activity and a milder, atypical phenotype with later onset and less severe clinical presentation. The use of multimodality cardiac imaging including echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance and nuclear imaging is important for the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation in these patients. There are gaps in the literature regarding the comprehensive description of cardiac findings of FD and its evaluation by multimodality imaging. In this review, we describe the contemporary practices and roles of multimodality cardiac imaging in individuals affected with Fabry disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to MRI in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains among the poorest in the world. The lack of skilled MRI personnel exacerbates access gaps, reinforcing long-standing health disparities. The Scan With Me (SWiM) program aims to sustainably create a network of highly skilled MRI technologists in LMICs who will facilitate the transfer of MRI knowledge and skills to their peers and contribute to the implementation of highly valuable imaging protocols for effective clinical and research use. The program introduces a case-based curriculum designed using a novel train-the-trainer approach, integrated with peer-collaborative learning to upskill practicing MRI technologists in LMICs. The 6-week curriculum uses the teach-try-use approach, which combines self-paced didactic lectures covering the basics of MR image acquisition (teach) with hands-on expert-guided scanning experience (try) and the implementation of protocols tailored to provide the best possible images on their infrastructures (use). Each program includes research translation skills training using an established advanced MRI technique relevant to LMICs. A pilot program focused on cardiac MRI (CMR) was conducted to assess the program's curriculum, delivery, and evaluation methods. Forty-three MRI technologists from 16 LMICs participated in the pilot CMR program and, over the course of the training, implemented optimized CMR protocols that reduced acquisition times while improving image quality. The training resources and scanner-specific standardized protocols are published openly for public use in an online repository. In general, at the end of the program, learners reported considerable improvements in CMR knowledge and skills. All respondents to the program evaluation survey agreed to recommend the program to their colleagues, while 87% indicated interest in returning to help train others. The SWiM program is the first master class in MRI acquisition for practicing imaging technologists in LMICs. The program holds the potential to help reduce disparities in MRI expertise and access. The support of the MRI community, imaging societies, and funding agencies will increase its reach and further its impact in democratizing MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop an open‐source prototype of myocardial T1 mapping (Open‐MOLLI) to improve accessibility to cardiac T1 mapping and evaluate its repeatability. With Open‐MOLLI, we aim to enable faster implementation and testing of sequence modifications and to facilitate inter‐scanner and cross‐vendor reproducibility studies. Methods: Open‐MOLLI is an inversion‐recovery sequence using a balanced SSFP (bSSFP) readout, with inversion and triggering schemes based on the 5(3)3 MOLLI sequence, developed in Pulseq. Open‐MOLLI and MOLLI sequences were acquired in the ISMRM/NIST phantom and 21 healthy volunteers. In 18 of those subjects, Open‐MOLLI and MOLLI were repeated in the same session (test–retest). Results: Phantom T1 values were comparable between methods, specifically for the vial with reference T1 value most similar to healthy myocardium T1 (T1vial3 = 1027 ms): T1MOLLI = 1011 ± 24 ms versus T1Open‐MOLLI = 1009 ± 20 ms. In vivo T1 estimates were similar between Open‐MOLLI and MOLLI (T1MOLLI = 1004 ± 33 ms vs. T1Open‐MOLLI = 998 ± 52 ms), with a mean difference of −17 ms (p = 0.20), despite noisier Open‐MOLLI weighted images and maps. Repeatability measures were slightly higher for Open‐MOLLI (RCMOLLI = 3.0% vs. RCOpen‐MOLLI = 4.4%). Conclusion: The open‐source sequence Open‐MOLLI can be used for T1 mapping in vivo with similar mean T1 values to the MOLLI method. Open‐MOLLI increases the accessibility to cardiac T1 mapping, providing also a base sequence to which further improvements can easily be added and tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breath‐holding (BH) for cine balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) imaging is challenging for patients with impaired BH capacity. Deep learning‐based reconstruction (DLR) of undersampled k‐space promises to shorten BHs while preserving image quality and accuracy of ventricular assessment. Purpose: To perform a systematic evaluation of DLR of cine bSSFP images from undersampled k‐space over a range of acceleration factors. Study Type: Retrospective. Subjects: Fifteen pectus excavatum patients (mean age 16.8 ± 5.4 years, 20% female) with normal cardiac anatomy and function and 12‐second BH capability. Field Strength/Sequence: 1.5‐T, cine bSSFP. Assessment: Retrospective DLR was conducted by applying compressed sensitivity encoding (C‐SENSE) acceleration to systematically undersample fully sampled k‐space cine bSSFP acquisition data over an acceleration/undersampling factor (R) considering a range of 2 to 8. Quality imperceptibility (QI) measures, including structural similarity index measure, were calculated using images reconstructed from fully sampled k‐space as a reference. Image quality, including contrast and edge definition, was evaluated for diagnostic adequacy by three readers with varying levels of experience in cardiac MRI (>4 years, >18 years, and 1 year). Automated DL‐based biventricular segmentation was performed commercially available software by cardiac radiologists with more than 4 years of experience. Statistical Tests: Tukey box plots, linear mixed effects model, analysis of variance (ANOVA), weighted kappa, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Wilcoxon signed‐rank test were employed as appropriate. A P‐value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was a significant decrease in the QI values and edge definition scores as R increased. Diagnostically adequate image quality was observed up to R = 5. The effect of R on all biventricular volumetric indices was non‐significant (P = 0.447). Data Conclusion: The biventricular volumetric indices obtained from the reconstruction of fully sampled cine bSSFP acquisitions and DLR of the same k‐space data undersampled by C‐SENSE up to R = 5 may be comparable. Evidence Level: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Review: Many novel cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMR) techniques have been developed for diagnosis, risk stratification, and monitoring of myocardial disease. The field is changing rapidly with advances in imaging technology. The purpose of this review is to give an update on next-generation cMR techniques with promising developments for clinical translation in the last two years, and to outline clinical applications. Recent Findings: There has been increasing widespread clinical adoption of T1/T2 mapping into standard of care clinical practice. Development of auto segmentation has enabled clinical integration, with potential applications to minimize the use of contrast. Advances in diffusion tensor imaging, multiparametric mapping with cardiac MRI fingerprinting, automated quantitative perfusion mapping, metabolic imaging, elastography, and 4D flow are advancing the ability of cMR to provide further quantitative characterization to enable deep myocardial disease phenotyping. Together these advanced imaging features further augment the ability of cMR to contribute to novel disease characterization and may provide an important platform for personalized medicine. Summary: Next-generation cMR techniques provide unique quantitative imaging features that can enable the identification of imaging biomarkers that may further refine disease classification and risk prediction. However, widespread clinical application continues to be limited by ground truth validation, reproducibility of the techniques across vendor platforms, increased scan time, and lack of widespread availability of advanced cardiac MRI physicists and expert readers. However, these techniques show great promise in minimizing the need for invasive testing, may elucidate novel pathophysiology, and may provide the ability for more accurate diagnosis of myocardial disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The usefulness of monitoring treatment effect of tafamidis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) extracellular volume fraction (ECV) has been reported. Objective: we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the usefulness of this method. Methods: Data from 246 ATTR-CMs from six studies were extracted and included in the analysis. An inverse variance meta-analysis using a random effects model was performed to evaluate the change in MRI-ECV before and after tafamidis treatment. The analysis was also performed by classifying the patients into ATTR-CM types (wild-type or hereditary). Results: ECV change before and after tafamidis treatment was 0.33% (95% CI: −1.83–2.49, I2 = 0%, p = 0.76 for heterogeneity) in the treatment group and 4.23% (95% CI: 0.44–8.02, I2 = 0%, p = 0.18 for heterogeneity) in the non-treatment group. The change in ECV before and after treatment was not significant in the treated group (p = 0.76), but there was a significant increase in the non-treated group (p = 0.03). There was no difference in the change in ECV between wild-type (95% CI: −2.65–3.40) and hereditary-type (95% CI: −9.28–4.28) (p = 0.45). Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that MRI-ECV measurement is a useful imaging method for noninvasively evaluating the efficacy of tafamidis treatment for ATTR-CM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a disease-modifying antirheumatic used in rheumatological diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Long-term exposure to HCQ results in drug accumulation and predisposes to adverse effects. Case summary We present the case of a 45-year-old woman with long-term treatment with HCQ who presented to the Emergency Department with acute heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiogram, previously normal, showed severe biventricular hypertrophy and biventricular systolic dysfunction. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) confirmed the previous findings and showed elevated native T1 and T2 values, elevated extracellular volume, and extensive mid-wall late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Infiltrative cardiomyopathy was suspected, and endomyocardial biopsy performed. Light microscopy showed myocyte hypertrophy and vacuolar change and absence of lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrates. The diagnosis of HCQ-induced cardiomyopathy was established, and the drug was withdrawn. A CMR performed 1 year later showed normal systolic function of both ventricles and normalization of T2 values, reflecting resolution of myocardial oedema. However, severe hypertrophy, elevated native T1 values, and LGE persisted. Discussion Our case shows that although discontinuation of the drug stops the progression of the disease, established myocardial structural damage persists. Early diagnosis of this entity is therefore essential to improve prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), with poorly characterized aetiology. We present three SCD patients with LVSD due to different underlying mechanisms. Case summary The first case describes rapid deterioration in LV function secondary to severe cardiac iron overload in a 37-year-old female with poor chelation compliance after 10 years of top-up transfusions for SCD. The second case is a severe non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a 42-year-old SCD patient with longstanding sickle nephropathy and hypertension. The final case demonstrates severe LVSD with large transmural infarcts (ischaemic DCM) in the absence of epicardial coronary disease in a 52-year-old SCD patient. Discussion This case series presents the first attempt to characterize the aetiology of LVSD in SCD. We identified three phenotypes: iron-overload cardiomyopathy, non-ischaemic DCM, and ischaemic DCM. These contrasting cases highlight the significance of understanding the underlying pathology in determining individualized treatment plans for these high-risk patients. We discuss the role of cardiac MRI (CMR) in characterizing LV dysfunction, and we believe that this case series will form the basis of prospective studies to further delineate the pathophysiology of LVSD in SCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Women with angina and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA) have a heightened risk for cardiovascular events, and the pathophysiology for ischaemic symptoms may be related to alterations in microvascular structure and function. We examined the use of breathing-enhanced oxygenation-sensitive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (OS-CMR) using vasoactive breathing manoeuvres to assess myocardial oxygenation in women with ANOCA. Methods and results We recruited women (aged 40–65 years) from two sites in Canada who presented to healthcare with persistent retrosternal chest pain and found to have ANOCA, or without a history of cardiovascular disease. All participants were scanned using a clinical 3T MRI scanner, and OS-CMR images were acquired over a breath hold following paced hyperventilation to measure global and regional measurements of heterogeneity. Fifty-four women with ANOCA (age: 55 ± 6.2 years) and 48 healthy controls (age: 51.2 ± 4.8 years) were recruited. There was no significant difference in volume, function, mass, or global myocardial oxygenation between the two groups [mean %Δ in signal intensity (SI): 4.9 (±7.3) vs. 4.5 (±10.1), P = 0.82]. Women with ANOCA had higher regional variations in myocardial oxygenation in circumferential [median %Δ in SI: 5.1 (2.0–7.6) vs. 2.2 (1.4–3.5), P = 0.0004] and longitudinal directions [median %Δ in SI: 11.4 (5.4–16.7) vs. 6.0 (3.0–7.0), P = 0.001], which remained present in a multivariate model. Conclusion Heterogeneous myocardial oxygenation may explain ischaemic symptoms without any associated epicardial obstructive coronary artery disease. Regional variations in myocardial oxygenation on OS-CMR could serve as an important diagnostic marker for microvascular dysfunction in women with ANOCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognostic implications of late gadolinium-enhanced (LGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the context of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) have attracted considerable attention. Nevertheless, a subset of studies has undistinguished confirmed and suspected CS cases, thereby engendering interpretative ambiguities. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the differences in cardiac MRI findings and their prognostic utility between confirmed and suspected CS. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane libraries to compare the findings of cardiac MRI and its prognostic value in CS and suspected CS. A meta-analysis was performed to compare the prevalence of LGE MRI, odds ratios, and hazard ratios for predicting cardiac events in both groups. A total of 21 studies encompassing 24 different populations were included in the meta-analysis (CS: 393 cases, suspected CS: 2151 cases). CS had a higher frequency of LGE of the left ventricle (87.2% vs. 36.4%, p < 0.0001) and right ventricle (62.1% vs. 23.8%, p = 0.04) than suspected CS. In patients with suspected CS, the presence of left ventricular LGE was associated with higher all-cause mortality [odds ratio: 5.70 (95%CI: 2.51–12.93), p < 0.0001, I2 = 8%, p for heterogeneity = 0.37] and ventricular arrhythmia [odds ratio: 15.51 (95%CI: 5.65–42.55), p < 0.0001, I2 = 0, p for heterogeneity = 0.94]. In contrast, in CS, not the presence but extent of left ventricular LGE was a significant predictor of outcome (hazard ratio = 1.83 per 10% increase of %LGE (95%CI: 1.43–2.34, p < 0.001, I2 = 15, p for heterogeneity = 0.31). The presence of left ventricular LGE was a strong prognostic factor in suspected sarcoidosis. However, the extremely high prevalence of left ventricular LGE in confirmed CS suggests that the quantitative assessment of LGE is useful for prognostic estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aging is associated with a progressive decline in the capacity for physical activity. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of an intermittent hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) protocol on maximal physical performance and cardiac perfusion in sedentary older adults. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial randomized 63 adults (> 64yrs) either to HBOT (n = 30) or control arms (n = 33) for three months. Primary endpoint included the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2Max) and VO2Max/Kg, on an E100 cycle ergometer. Secondary endpoints included cardiac perfusion, evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging and pulmonary function. The HBOT protocol comprised of 60 sessions administered on a daily basis, for 12 consecutive weeks, breathing 100% oxygen at 2 absolute atmospheres (ATA) for 90 min with 5-minute air breaks every 20 min. Results: Following HBOT, improvements were observed in VO2Max/kg, with a significant increase of 1.91 ± 3.29 ml/kg/min indicated by a net effect size of 0.455 (p = 0.0034). Additionally, oxygen consumption measured at the first ventilatory threshold (VO2VT1) showed a significant increase by 160.03 ± 155.35 ml/min (p < 0.001) with a net effect size of 0.617. Furthermore, both cardiac blood flow (MBF) and cardiac blood volume (MBV) exhibited significant increases when compared to the control group. The net effect size for MBF was large at 0.797 (p = 0.008), while the net effect size for MBV was even larger at 0.896 (p = 0.009). Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that HBOT has the potential to improve physical performance in aging adults. The enhancements observed encompass improvements in key factors including VO2Max, and VO2VT1. An important mechanism contributing to these improvements is the heightened cardiac perfusion induced by HBOT. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02790541 (registration date 06/06/2016). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object: To enable high-quality physics-guided deep learning (PG-DL) reconstruction of large-scale 3D non-Cartesian coronary MRI by overcoming challenges of hardware limitations and limited training data availability. Materials and methods: While PG-DL has emerged as a powerful image reconstruction method, its application to large-scale 3D non-Cartesian MRI is hindered by hardware limitations and limited availability of training data. We combine several recent advances in deep learning and MRI reconstruction to tackle the former challenge, and we further propose a 2.5D reconstruction using 2D convolutional neural networks, which treat 3D volumes as batches of 2D images to train the network with a limited amount of training data. Both 3D and 2.5D variants of the PG-DL networks were compared to conventional methods for high-resolution 3D kooshball coronary MRI. Results: Proposed PG-DL reconstructions of 3D non-Cartesian coronary MRI with 3D and 2.5D processing outperformed all conventional methods both quantitatively and qualitatively in terms of image assessment by an experienced cardiologist. The 2.5D variant further improved vessel sharpness compared to 3D processing, and scored higher in terms of qualitative image quality. Discussion: PG-DL reconstruction of large-scale 3D non-Cartesian MRI without compromising image size or network complexity is achieved, and the proposed 2.5D processing enables high-quality reconstruction with limited training data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a systemic disease that can cause restrictive cardiomyopathy (AL-CM). Current imaging techniques are not sensitive to detect myocardial dysfunction in AL-CM. We sought to evaluate role of a novel marker of myocardial dysfunction (myocardial function index, MFI) obtained using changes in left ventricular (LV) blood pool and myocardial volume in diastole and systole. Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with AL-CM who had underwent cardiac MRI between 2001–2017 were identified and compared to healthy individuals. Two independent operators used cardiac MRI to perform epicardial and endocardial tracings in systole and diastole to obtain myocardial volume in diastole (MVd) and myocardial volume in systole (MVs). Changes in myocardial volumes during the cardiac cycle were measured to calculate the MFI by MVd-MVs+StrokevolumeMVd+LVenddiastolicvolume. Multivariable analysis was performed to evaluate predictors of all-cause mortality and survival was evaluated using Kaplan Meier analysis. Results: Patients with AL-CM (n = 129, 61 ± 10 years, 32 % women) were older and more likely to be men compared to the normal cohort (n = 101, 39 ± 15 years, 61 % women). MFI was lower in patients with AL-CM (19 % [15; 23] vs 38 % [35; 41], p

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Recent studies show recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) can still be associated with longitudinal adverse clinical outcomes. Cardiac MRI (CMR) may yield additional prognostic parameters of serious adverse outcomes (SAE) beyond LVEF. Methods: Individuals with PPCM and CMR within 3 months of diagnosis were analyzed from the Investigations in Pregnancy Associated Cardiomyopathy (IPAC) trial and our institution from 2010-present. Indexed left ventricular (LV) mass, ventricular volumes, cardiac output, global longitudinal strain (GLS), extracellular cellular volume (ECV) as well as epicardial fat volume (EFV) were analyzed. SAEs included left ventricular assist device (LVAD), heart transplant and death. CMR parameters were compared between SAE and no SAEs groups by non-parametric techniques. Results: Among 51 individuals with mean age of 31 years at diagnosis, 6/51 (12 %) experienced 11 adverse outcomes. EF at time of CMR (15.0 vs 37.3 %, p

ABSTRACT Primary intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery is a rare and aggressive malignancy that presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its nonspecific symptoms and propensity for late detection. This case report aimed to elucidate the diagnostic journey, surgical intervention, and multidisciplinary management of this rare entity. In September 2023, a 42‐year‐old male presented with dyspnea on exertion and retrosternal chest pain, classified as NYHA FC II. Initial investigations, including ECG and lab tests, indicated tachycardia and elevated troponin and NT‐pro‐BNP levels. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography identified a multilobulated mass in the right ventricular outflow tract and main pulmonary artery. Cardiac MRI and CT angiography confirmed a high‐grade pleomorphic spindle cell tumor, leading to surgical resection in October 2023. Histopathology confirmed intimal sarcoma. Postsurgery, the patient underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, showing significant clinical improvement and no recurrence on follow‐up PET‐CT. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing and managing primary intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery, emphasizing the role of advanced imaging, timely surgical intervention, and combined chemotherapy with radiotherapy in improving patient outcomes.

Background2020 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guidelines state that the ideal time for mitral valve surgery in primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) is when the LV approaches but has not yet reached echocardiographic LV ejection fraction (EF) 40 mm. However, it is difficult to know the imminent risk of crossing this threshold when the surgical outcome is less optimal.ObjectiveUsing machine learning and statistical models, we have shown that cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) LV sphericity index (SI) and LV mid circumferential strain rate (SRcirc) added to LVEF and LVESD predict LVEF

Summary: Background: We aimed to study the clinical characteristics, myocardial injury, and longitudinal outcomes of COVID-19 vaccine-associated myocarditis (C-VAM). Methods: In this longitudinal retrospective observational cohort multicenter study across 38 hospitals in the United States, 333 patients with C-VAM were compared with 100 patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). We included patients ≤30 years of age with a clinical diagnosis of acute myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination based on clinical presentation, abnormal biomarkers and/or cardiovascular imaging findings. Demographics, past medical history, hospital course, biochemistry results, cardiovascular imaging, and follow-up information from April 2021 to November 2022 were collected. The primary outcome was presence of myocardial injury as evidenced by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Findings: Patients with C-VAM were predominantly white (67%) adolescent males (91%, 15.7 ± 2.8 years). Their initial clinical course was more likely to be mild (80% vs. 23%, p 15 years, OR 2.74 [95% CI: 1.28, 5.83, p = 0.009]) and when C-VAM occurred after the first or second dose as compared to the third dose of mRNA vaccine. Mid-term clinical outcomes of C-VAM at a median follow-up of 178 days (IQR 114–285 days) were reassuring. No cardiac deaths or heart transplantations were reported until the time of submission of this report. LGE persisted in 60% of the patients at follow up. Interpretation: Myocardial injury at initial presentation and its persistence at follow up, despite a mild initial course and favorable mid-term clinical outcome, warrants continued clinical surveillance and long-term studies in affected patients with C-VAM. Funding: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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