MELVILLE, NEW YORK - FONAR Corporation (NASDAQ-FONR) has reported a case study based on the use of a FONAR UPRIGHT MRI by Bennie W. Chiles III, M.D., F.A.C.S., of Westchester Spine and Brain Surgery, PLLC and Upright Imaging of Westchester, P.C.

Dr. Chiles described the patient as a 49-year-old male who had a 20-year history of chronic back pain and a three-year history of right lower extremity radiculopathy. In earlier scans from a recumbent-only MRI, a right paracentral disk herniation at L5-S1 was seen. Dr. Chiles reported that based on this scan he would have performed a discectomy on L5-S1 to relieve pressure on the nerve root and an L5-S1 fusion for the back pain. Fusing L4-5 was not a consideration because there was no spinal instability at this segment that was visible on the recumbent MRI images.

The dynamic weight-loaded flexion and extension images of the FONAR UPRIGHT MRI revealed that the patient also had a significant spinal instability at L4-5. Consequently, Dr. Chiles fused L4-5 during surgery in addition to the discectomy and fusion of L5-S1. The patient's severe right leg pain is now gone and his back pain is much reduced.
The FONAR UPRIGHT MRI was able to provide the physician with a more complete visualization of the patient's problem than was possible with a recumbent- only MRI. The result was an excellent outcome for the patient.

The complete case study including images can be found on the web site for Upright Imaging of Westchester at: http://www.upright914.com/case%20studies.htm.

The case study is courtesy of Bennie W. Chiles III, M.D., F.A.C.S., of Westchester Spine and Brain Surgery, PLLC, Hartsdale, New York. Upright Imaging of Westchester is located in Yonkers, New York.

About FONAR
FONAR was incorporated in 1978, making it the first, oldest and most experienced MRI manufacturer in the industry. FONAR introduced the world's first commercial MRI in 1980, and went public in 1981. Since its inception, FONAR has installed hundreds of MRI scanners worldwide. Their stellar product line includes the FONAR UPRIGHT MRI (also known as the Stand-Up MRI), the only whole-body MRI that performs Position imaging (pMRI) and scans patients in numerous weight-bearing positions, i.e. standing, sitting, in flexion and extension, as well as the conventional lie-down position. FONAR is headquartered on Long Island, New York, and has approximately 500 employees.

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