"More specifically," Dr. Damadian said, "and very much in keeping with the preceding discussion of the need for diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of spine disease, the Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland published a report in the distinguished journal, Radiology, in 2000, that on the average the recumbent-only MRI scanner made the wrong diagnosis 24.35% of the time, when compared with MRIs obtained with the patient erect(2)."

"According to the recent reference book "The Failed Spine" (2005), one of the major identifiable causes of the Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) is the 'failure to identify the structural source(s) of pain correctly' (p.124), i.e. the failure to achieve the correct diagnosis. Interestingly, the failed spine surgery rate, according to this reference (p. 123)(3) ranges from 10-40%. The average of this range is 25%. It is hard to look at the proximity of the average wrong diagnosis rate of 24.35%(2) and the average failed spine surgery rate of 25%," said Dr. Damadian, "and assign this proximity to coincidence. We are seeing images regularly from our installed FONAR Upright^TM MRI machines (now more than 100) that show pathology with the patient erect that is not seen with the patient recumbent."


"Currently there are approximately 800,000 spine surgeries being performed annually in the United States. Thus, it seems to me," said Dr. Damadian, "that there is the very real prospect of substantially reducing the failed back surgery rate by taking MRI pictures of the fully weight-loaded spine with FONAR's new Upright^TM MRI imaging technology before surgery. This will assure that the correct diagnosis has been achieved so that the correct surgery is performed."

(1) For competitive reasons within its community, the hospital does not wish to make its identity known before the scanner is installed and examining patients. FONAR will elaborate on the identity of the hospital chain and its significance within the U.S. hospital community in a subsequent press release.

(2) "the diagnoses changed . . . 26.3% (of the time) between the supine neutral position and seated flexion positions . . . (and) 22.4% of the time between the supine neutral and seated extension positions." [the average of which is 24.35%] (Weishaupt, et al., Radiology 2000; 215:247-253)

(3) Chapter 14 Imaging of the Failed Spine (pages 123-136) in "The Failed Spine", 2005, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins [Eds. M. Szpalski and R. Gunzburg]

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^TM MRI (also known as the Stand-Up^TM MRI), the only whole-body MRI that performs Position^TM 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. The FONAR UPRIGHT^TM MRI often sees the patient's problem that other scanners cannot because they are lie-down only. With nearly one half million patients scanned, the patient-friendly FONAR UPRIGHT^TM MRI has a near zero claustrophobic rejection rate by patients. A radiologist said, "FONAR UPRIGHT^TM MRI - No More Claustrophobia - The Tunnel Is Gone." As another FONAR customer states, "If the patient is claustrophobic in this scanner, they'll be claustrophobic in my parking lot." Approximately 85% of patients are scanned sitting while they watch a 42" flat screen TV. FONAR's latest MRI scanner is the FONAR 360, a room-size recumbent scanner that optimizes openness while facilitating physician access to the patient. FONAR is headquartered on Long Island, New York, and has approximately 500 employees.

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