Sicily launches cardiac stress MRI service linking hospitals in Patti, Milazzo and Barcellona

The cardiology unit of the Barone Romeo Hospital in Patti, directed by Dr. Salvatore Garibaldi, has activated a pharmacological cardiac stress magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service. The exam, performed at the MRI centre of the Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto hospital, is part of a network that also involves the radiology departments of Milazzo and Barcellona hospitals and the intensive‑care team of the Barcellona centre.

The new service expands a public‑health model that already serves a population of about 280,000 residents in the Tirrenico‑Nebroideo area. Since its launch as a simple outpatient unit in 2019, the Patti Emodinamica unit has added heart‑failure and internal‑medicine ambulatory pathways in 2023, offering comprehensive cardiac care including diagnostics, treatment and continuous monitoring. The stress‑MRI technique, highly sensitive for detecting ischemic heart disease, is available in only a few centres in southern Italy and provides a non‑invasive alternative for assessing myocardial perfusion.

The collaboration aims to keep patients within the province for advanced cardiac diagnostics, reducing the need for travel to distant centres and reinforcing the region’s reputation for high‑quality, integrated cardiovascular care.