Introduction In contemporary cardiovascular imaging, one of the methods that has gained significant relevance by adding diagnostic and prognostic information is speckle-tracking–derived Longitudinal Strain, particularly the assessment of left ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS). However, although GLS evaluates global myocardial deformation of the left ventricle, it is highly dependent on loading conditions, which may interfere with the accurate interpretation of its results. In this context, an emerging technique has been introduced, also derived from speckle tracking: Myocardial Work (MW). Compared […]

The increasing participation in high-intensity sports has expanded the role of cardiology in athlete screening and monitoring. Although Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is rare, it has a deep impact on society as a whole. Echocardiography is central in this setting, serving as the primary imaging modality to distinguish physiological remodeling in the athlete’s heart from structural cardiomyopathies. Prolonged and intense exercise induces adaptive phenotypic and physiological changes that enhance myocardial performance. These adaptations, known as “athlete’s heart,” are extensively studied […]

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has been established as a fundamental tool for the diagnosis and management of cardiomyopathies, especially due to its accuracy in tissue characterization, identification, and quantification of myocardial fibrosis., Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) allows accurate assessment, identifying areas of myocardial fibrosis, and it serves to characterize, locate, and quantify them. In recent years, the role of LGE in the risk stratification of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and other genetic cardiomyopathies has been the subject of […]

Climate change directly and indirectly affects human health. The increasing incidence and intensity of extreme weather events are directly associated with adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular events, as well as increased demand and expenditure on health systems globally. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and people with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, face increased risks due to temperature variations and poor air quality. Moreover, high temperatures also limit outdoor exercise, with potential long-term detrimental effects on cardiovascular health. In a […]

Introduction Social media has decisively transformed the way we disseminate medical information and knowledge, launching new digital tools to boost scientific debate and help redesign healthcare education. Globally, X, formerly Twitter, stands out in the medical field as a more scientific platform, with great interaction between peers, helping doctors and other healthcare professionals from all continents connect to discuss publications, debate scientific evidence, and share clinical experiences. X is also highly important as a channel for the dissemination of scientific […]

Introduction Many vascular ultrasound articles were published in 2024, but certainly the most discussed in Brazil this year was “Carotid Plaque-RADS – A Novel Stroke Risk Classification System” by Saba et al. in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. The project brought together 51 specialists in different vascular imaging modalities from 10 countries. This new proposal for categorizing carotid plaque attracted the attention of physicians from various specialties, such as cardiologists, neurologists, radiologists, ultrasound specialists, and vascular surgeons. In this section, we will […]

AI and the Systolic Function Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential parameter used to assess the systolic function; however, it has been historically subjected to interobserver variability and the level of experience of the examiner. AI-based algorithms present solutions for EF, providing automated and reproducible calculations.3–5 A pioneering study published by He et al. evaluated a deep learning (DL) system comprised of convolutional neural networks (CNNs), called EchoNet-Dynamic flow, and compared EF assessments performed by AI with measurements performed by […]

There is a widespread lack of knowledge about one-dimensional echocardiography (M-mode) by the current generation of echocardiographers. Has two-dimensional echocardiography (B-mode) and Doppler made M-mode outdated? M-mode provides information that cannot be obtained by using B-mode or even Doppler—be it spectral, color, or tissue Doppler—for two reasons: Now let us consider some conditions that can only be detected by M-mode and not by B-mode or Doppler, which can aid in the diagnosis via B-mode or in the understanding of pathologies. […]

Aortic stenosis (AS) has become one of the most relevant valve diseases in cardiology care due to its increasing prevalence, resulting from the positive relationship between the preeminently degenerative etiology and global population aging. In Brazil, we highlight an epidemiological scenario characterized by an etiopathogenic coexistence: rheumatic fever and bicuspid valve disease in younger patients and calcific (degenerative) etiology in elderly patients. Regarding the natural history, AS leads to elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in its symptomatic phase, with unfavorable […]

Abstract Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a pathological condition common to several primary and secondary heart diseases. Diffuse MF is a common feature in nearly all heart diseases, playing a crucial role in the progression of heart failure (HF). Several studies have indicated that the existence of MF serves as a prognostic factor for adverse outcomes across a range of heart conditions, underscoring the significance of this factor in clinical settings. Consequently, diagnostic approaches for MF, whether in subclinical phases or […]