Proton MR spectroscopy in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease: comparison of 1.5 and 3 T.
OBJECTIVE
Theoretically, proton ((1)H) MR spectroscopy at a higher field strength has the advantages of higher signal-to-noise ratio and improved spectral resolution. We therefore compared the ability of single-voxel (1)H MR spectroscopy at 1.5 and 3 T to diagnostically discriminate among cognitively normal elderly subjects, patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and patients with Alzheimer disease (AD).


METHODS
At both 1.5 and 3 T, we studied 41 cognitively normal elderly subjects, 20 patients with MCI, and 20 patients with AD. In each subject, (1)H MR spectroscopy was performed at TEs of 30 and 135 ms and from voxels placed over the posterior cingulate gyri.


RESULTS
Average line widths and interexamination variability of metabolite ratios were higher at 3 T than at 1.5 T. Consistent quantification of glutamine (Gln) + glutamate/creatine (Cr) and Gln/Cr peak ratios occurred at 3 T but not at 1.5 T. Choline (Cho)/Cr (at TE = 135 ms) and myo-inositol (MI)/Cr were higher and N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/Cr (at TE = 135 ms) and NAA/MI were lower in patients with MCI than in cognitively normal subjects only at 1.5 T. MI/Cr and Cho/Cr were higher and NAA/Cr and NAA/MI were lower in patients with AD than in cognitively normal subjects at both 1.5 and 3 T. Differentiation of patients with AD from cognitively normal subjects by using the NAA/MI data was similar at both field strengths (P >.05).


CONCLUSIONS
With currently available technology, the diagnostic performance of (1)H MR spectroscopy in patients with MCI and those with AD was not better at 3 T than at 1.5 T.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Kejal
K
Kantarci
Glenn
G
Reynolds
Ronald C
RC
Petersen
Bradley F
BF
Boeve
David S
DS
Knopman
Steven D
SD
Edland
Glenn E
GE
Smith
Robert J
RJ
Ivnik
Eric G
EG
Tangalos
Clifford R
CR
Jack
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000032:analysis; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve
D005973:Glutamine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D007294:Inositol; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline