title: In vivo P-31-MR-spectroscopy of focal hepatic lesions. Effectiveness of tumor detection in clinical practice and experimental studies of surface coil characteristics and localization technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The influence of partial tumor sampling in a volume of interest (VOI) on the ratios of phosphorus metabolites was examined by localized phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (P-31-MRS). Experiments were performed to investigate the characteristics of the surface coil used and precession of spatial localization.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 patients with liver metastases and 20 volunteers were studied by P-31-MRS. Patients were divided in two groups: VOI < 50% (n = 8) and VOI > 50% (n = 16) occupied by tumor. For evaluation of the surface coil and localization method (image selected in vivo spectroscopy), phantom studies were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Superficial focal liver tumors were detectable with a surface coil at a distance within the coil radius. The image selected in vivo spectroscopy permitted the study of phosphorus metabolism in a defined VOI, phosphomonoester/beta-adenosine triphosphate and phosphodiester/beta-adenosine triphosphate were elevated significantly in spectra of both patient groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detection of small tumor volumes within a VOI filled by less than 50% of the tumor is possible, with results statistically different from that in normal volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brinkmann
authors.forename: U H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Melchert
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Emde
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muhle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brossmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008961:Models, Structural; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes
chemical_list: D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D010758:Phosphorus