Metabolic properties of band heterotopia differ from those of other cortical dysplasias: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the biochemical properties of band heterotopia in comparison with other cortical developmental malformations (CDMs) by using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).


METHODS
We performed localized single-voxel 1H-MRS studies on 13 patients [five band heterotopia (BH), two focal cortical dysplasia (CD), two unilateral CD, one bilateral perisylvian dysplasia, three hemimegalencephaly]. CDMs other than BH were categorized as CD. Spectra were acquired from volumes of interest (VOIs) localized in the CD and in normal-appearing cortex on the contralateral side. In BH patients, the VOIs were the external cortex and the laminar heterotopia. For the BH study, spectra also were obtained from the cortex of age-matched normal volunteers.


RESULTS
The spectra of CD lesions were characterized by significantly lower ratios of N-acetyl aspartate to creatine (NAA/Cr) and by higher choline to Cr (Cho/Cr) ratios than in the contralateral remote cortex (p = 0.01 and 0.01, respectively). The NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios of the external cortex of BH were not significantly different from those of normal volunteers. The NAA/Cr ratio of the laminar heterotopia was not significantly different from that of the external cortex (p = 0.12) or normal volunteers (p = 0.60), whereas Cho/Cr was significantly higher in laminar heterotopias than in the external cortex (p = 0.04) or controls (p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
1H-MRS can distinguish between the metabolic properties of BH and CD.
Munakata
Mitsutoshi
M
Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. muna@ped.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Haginoya
Kazuhiro
K
Soga
Takashi
T
Yokoyama
Hiroyuki
H
Noguchi
Rie
R
Nagasaka
Tatsuo
T
Murata
Takaki
T
Higano
Shuichi
S
Takahashi
Shoki
S
Iinuma
Kazuie
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002828:Choristoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism