title: Comparison of MR spectroscopy and MR imaging with contrast agent in children with cerebral astrocytomas.
abstract: We studied 33 patients with astrocytomas of different grades (68 examinations) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS). We found that in 80% of the spectra, the presence of signals in the area of 0.8-1.5 ppm, assigned to lipids/lactate in (1)H-MR spectra, correlated with signal enhancement after Gd-DTPA administration. We suggest that visibility of lipid/lactate signals could be due to blood-brain barrier damage, which is characterized by contrast agent enhancement.
authors.affiliation: MR-Unit, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Charles University, Vídensská 1958/9, 140 00 Prague 4, Czech Republic, monika.dezortova@medicon.cz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dezortová
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hájek
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cáp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tichý
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vymazal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019344:Lactic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA