title: In vivo proton spectroscopy of intracranial infections and neoplasms.
abstract: The chemical characteristics of 10 neoplastic and 11 infectious brain masses were studied by in vivo 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In tumors, peak height ratios of n-acetyl-L-aspartate to choline were decreased compared to those in normal brain tissue and infectious masses (p < 0.02), but the ratios in normal brains and those with infections did not differ. N-acetyl-L-aspartate-to-creatine/phosphocreatine ratios were significantly lower in infectious masses and tumors compared to normal brain tissue (p = 0.003). However, in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, N-acetyl-L-aspartate appeared relatively unchanged. Lactate was greater than choline in 9 of 11 brains with infection, 0 of 14 control brains, and 1 of 10 tumors. Lactate-to-choline ratios were significantly elevated in infectious masses compared with tumors (p < 0.01). 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy is promising for the noninvasive diagnosis of focal brain masses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center.
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Yamagata
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Buchthal
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000473:pathology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D011522:Protons