In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of central neurocytomas.
OBJECTIVE
The authors report on the metabolic features of central neurocytomas observed during in vivo single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.


METHODS
Volume-selective single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed with a 1.5-T unit using a point-resolved spectroscopy sequence (TR/TE = 2000 ms/135 and 270 ms) to obtain spectra of a single 8-cc voxel. The subjects were five patients in the Department of Neurosurgery of Seoul National University Hospital whose central neurocytomas had been diagnosed histologically. The peak intensities of compounds containing choline (Cho), N-acetylaspartate, creatine/phosphocreatine, and lactate were analyzed.


RESULTS
The ratios of Cho to creatine/phosphocreatine and Cho to N-acetylaspartate were significantly higher than ratios in normal brains. A lactate signal was present, and an unidentified signal was also observed at 3.55 ppm, which might have been produced by inositol or glycine.


CONCLUSIONS
A combination of the signal at 3.55 ppm and a prominent Cho peak seems to be a characteristic feature of central neurocytomas. Volume-selective single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy could provide additional information to aid in diagnosing this condition.
Kim
D G
DG
Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
Choe
W J
WJ
Chang
K H
KH
Song
I C
IC
Han
M H
MH
Jung
H W
HW
Cho
B K
BK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D018306:Neurocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values
D010725:Phosphocreatine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline