FONAR Invents Radiation-Free
Method to Diagnose and Monitor Scoliosis
Breakthrough Can End Later-Life Breast Cancer Induced by Overexposure
To Spine X-Rays
MELVILLE,
NEW YORK, November 26, 2007 - FONAR Corporation (NASDAQ-FONR),
The Inventor of MR Scanning™, announced today at the 93rd
meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in
Chicago a groundbreaking invention in the diagnosis and monitoring
of scoliosis. The patent-pending breakthrough utilizes new software
and a new receiver coil developed for the unique FONAR UPRIGHT®
Multi-Position™ MRI. The dramatic result is a single picture
of the entire spine in the upright position (SEE PHOTO).
|
Upright Scan of Scoliosis
Patient with the Fonar Dynamic™ Upright® MRI |
A
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Report shows a 70% higher risk
of breast cancer for women with scoliosis (www.cancer.gov/newscenter/scoliosis2000).
The NCI report says, "Researchers have found that women with
scoliosis, or abnormal curvature of the spine, who were exposed
to multiple diagnostic X-rays during childhood and adolescence
may be at increased risk of dying of breast cancer.... The 5,466
women in the study, who received an average of 24.7 X-rays, were
found to have a 70% higher risk of breast cancer than women in
the general population." The report goes on to say that "although
radiation exposures to breast tissue are much lower today than
during the time period covered by this study, they are not insignificant."
Current
medical practice consists of ordering baseline X-rays for suspicious
physical findings in children. (http://jaapa.com/issues/j20030901/articles/scoliosis.html).
With X-ray, a scoliosis patient has a PA (posterior-anterior)
and lateral radiograph two or three times a year. To reduce exposure
to radiation, the patient is usually scanned with her back to
the source of the X-ray.
Scoliosis
affects 2-3% of the population or an estimated 6 million people
in the United States, according to the National Scoliosis Foundation
(www.scoliosis.org)
Raymond
Damadian, M.D., president and founder of FONAR, said, "I'm
delighted to announce our invention for the radiation-free evaluation
of scoliosis with the FONAR Dynamic™ UPRIGHT® MRI. An
accurate evaluation of scoliosis requires the patient to be upright.
A conventional recumbent-only static MRI cannot meet this need.
Of critical importance, our radiation-free application can be
performed in the same amount of time and at the same cost as diagnosis
and monitoring by X-ray. I believe it's imperative that every
hospital and practice performing scoliosis examinations consider
providing their patients with the radiation-free choice that is
finally available because of the unique benefits of the FONAR
Dynamic™ UPRIGHT® MRI."
The
FONAR images provide coronal, sagittal and axial views of the
entire spine - with no radiation. The 3-plane visualizations are
achieved by 3-D acquisition with curved multi-planar reconstruction.
Both the Cobb angles and the angular rotation of the vertebrae
are measured. The FONAR UPRIGHT® MRI has another important
advantage over X-ray. It sees, not only the curvature of the vertebrae,
but the soft tissue, including the spinal cord, intervertebral
discs, nerve roots and spinal ligaments.
"This
application to scoliosis is just the latest of many unique advantages
found only on the FONAR UPRIGHT® MRI," continued Dr.
Damadian. "Last week we reported on the landmark independent
study by the UCLA School of Medicine, which reported the comparison
of Dynamic™ UPRIGHT® MRI with static Upright MRI in
more than 1,000 patients (1,301). A significant overall 'miss
rate' of 18.1% by static MRI was cited. This large study proves
the diagnostic advantages of FONAR UPRIGHT® Multi-Position™
weight-bearing MR imaging."
FONAR plans to advertise its groundbreaking radiation-free scoliosis
application in major medical magazines. To see the advertisement
visit: http://www.fonar.com/news/pdf/scoliosis_ad.pdf.
As many as 60,000 people attend the Annual Meeting of The Radiological
Society of North America. FONAR can be visited at booth 7753 in
the South Hall at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois.
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The Inventor of MR Scanning™,
Full Range of Motion™, pMRI™, Dynamic™, Multi-Position™,
True Flow™ and The Proof is in the Picture™ are trademarks
and UPRIGHT® and STAND-UP® are registered trademarks
of FONAR Corporation.
This release may include
forward-looking statements from the company that may or may not
materialize. Additional information on factors that could potentially
affect the company's financial results may be found in the company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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