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For Release After 11:30 a.m. CST, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TO RULE OUT SERIOUS CAUSE OF HEADACHE IS A GOOD INVESTMENT

CHICAGO -- The use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to diagnose the cause of unexplained headaches can be cost-effective for society -- even when the MR findings are negative, according to information presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

"Critics of the high cost of health care often point to MR as an example of an overused, expensive test that drives up costs, but MR can actually save resources when factors such as days lost from work, avoidance of suffering and the reassurance provided by a negative study are factored into the equation," said John Jordan, M.D., assistant clinical professor of radiology, Stanford University, and attending neuroradiologist at Long Beach Memorial, Calif.

"There are many psychological and social implications for patients who suffer from headaches. It may be that there is nothing to worry about, or there could be a serious or even life-threatening condition," Dr. Jordan said. "People with a negative MR finding typically experience a great deal of relief and, often, the headache goes away.

"In this context, MR is valuable, either because it diagnoses a cause for the headache and directs treatment, or because it eases the fears of the person who is suffering."

The researchers calculated the costs and benefits of MR performed on 328 patients who had unexplained headaches. A cause for the headache was identified in 5 patients; the rest had negative findings, according to Dr. Jordan.

The model used by the researchers included the average time that someone could be expected to spend suffering from a headache, decreased productivity, lost wages and the amount that one would spend to avoid the suffering associated with headaches. "The difference between MR imaging costs and the benefits calculated using life-table and willingness-to-pay figures allowed us to calculate net societal economic benefits. We found that the net financial benefit to society ranged from a low of $33,575 to a high of $396,297 in 1997 dollars," Dr. Jordan said.

"Our study emphasizes the value that consumers place on the information provided by an MR study, rather than an arbitrary value selected by health care policy analysts," Dr. Jordan said. The researchers used published data from a 1992 survey to determine the dollar value that consumers place on avoidance of suffering, he said.

Co-authors of a paper on the topic presented by Dr. Jordan during the RSNA meeting are W. Bradley Jr., M.D., Ph.D.; D-Y. Chen, Ph.D.; G. Ramirez, M.D.; J. Lightfoote, M.D., M.B.A.; and L. Teresi, M.D.

The RSNA is an association of 30,000 radiologists and physicists in medicine dedicated to education and research in the science of radiology. The Society's headquarters are located at 2021 Spring Road, Suite 600, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-1860.

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Copies of 1997 RSNA news releases are available online at http://www.pcipr.com/rsna beginning Monday, Dec. 1.